Entertainment

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) ― Believe it or not, but in my 18 years of growing up in the Twin Cities, I've actually never been to the Orpheum Theatre before.

Sure, I guess you can't really count the first 10 years or so as valid but still. I do remember going to a production of "Phantom of the Opera" with my mom when I was younger, but I really can't even remember where that was. Mostly because as soon as that chandelier started swinging, I spent most of the show under my chair, facing backwards eating Starburst. Oh yeah, I should mention, I'm a huge wuss.

But anyway, back to the Orpheum. There really was no better time than the present to venture into a new venue -- and no better inaugural performance than the good ol' classic, "Grease."

I must admit though, I was a bit hesitant going into this show. Mostly because, as my good friend so aptly put it, one of the more annoying things in this world is when "Summer Nights" hits the speakers at the bars or amid a wedding reception.

That annoyance aside, I was sure the live performance would be much more pleasing. Plus, I was all sorts of curious to find out how gray-haired Taylor Hicks would fit into a stage production about a bunch of high schoolers.

During a Q & A with "Grease's" Sandy, the lovely and uber-talented Lauren Ashley Zakrin, she informed me that the live show was similar to the well-known movie version, but was more so based off the stage production storyline. I remember doing the stage production of "Grease" in high school -- and when I say "doing," clearly I mean, volunteering to help with cast members' make-up. Still, I remember it being a lot of fun. Cheesy fun, no doubt, but fun nonetheless.

I took my skeptical friend "with me to the Orpheum's production Wednesday night and while we're both familiar with the story -- the live show was still something new and admittedly quite cute. There's something about a good stage change that really keeps things interesting.

For example, watching the transformation of the famed "Greased Lightning" live on stage, which integrated peeling away the rust-covered "before look" to reveal glittery lightning bolts and a shiny new paint job, was such a treat. I think it even garnered slight applause -- not an easy feat, especially mid-song.

I also really enjoyed Zakrin's performance as Sandra Dee. She was charming and innocent -- yet could belt out "Hopelessly Devoted To You" like nobody's business. (Sidenote: I find it kind of hilarious that on closer inspection, you can see the performers wear their microphones on their foreheads. It makes complete sense, but also makes them slightly look like robots.)

And then there was Taylor Hicks -- the man who performed one song in the show and literally got a standing ovation from a group of older ladies in the front the moment he emerged from his ice cream cone shell.

I'm not a big fan of "American Idol" -- or Mr. Hicks, no offense -- but I will say that there was something oddly entertaining about his involvement in a live show as the magical "Teen Angel." He was a good match for the role -- and answered my question about whether or not he'd have to dye those gray locks to pass as a teenager.

It was good to see that he could poke a little fun at himself, too. During a scene where he's serenading the nasally-pitched Frenchie, she leans in close, rests her head on his chest and sighs, "I voted for you." Well done, indeed.

The show was a lot of fun and had a good balance of cheesy, but not too cheesy, while it walked the line of adults-only and children welcome. The only reason I say it was close to an adults-only show was due to one scandalous line delivered by Miss Rizzo -- which, if I repeated in this column would likely make this my last.

Still, it was a good time all around and helped me make a great discovery -- the Orpheum and live Broadway shows, in general, are pretty impossible not to enjoy. Here's hoping this is just the first of many to come.

Curiocity is more than a state of mind. It's a fresh look at something familiar. Web producer Sara Boyd rediscovers the city she grew up in and learns new details about what's happening in the place she calls home.

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