Writing for WholesomeZine has led me to some strange, creative places. Two weeks ago, I was transported to the strangest place of all: high school.

Jenna Smith and Will Leonard as Sandy and Danny, all photos taken by Michael Brosilow

On Friday, September 25th, I took the train to the Apollo Theater in Lincoln Park, and stepped into Rydell High. I had the privilege of seeing the Off-Broadway musical Vape! The Grease Parody come to Chicago, and wow, was it green (not greased) lightning!

I had never been to the Apollo Theater before, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. Through some pre-show research, I learned of the venue’s rich history; built in 1978, it has been a hub for colorful, critically acclaimed productions for nearly 50 years. On the day of the show, the venue greeted me with its sleek concrete and glass exterior, and glowing purple sign that read “APOLLO”. Upon entering, I quickly made up my mind that it was the perfect venue for Vape!.

The theater’s smaller size (440 seats) provided a more intimate feel, and the ground-level stage, combined with my front row seat, meant the performers could get right up in my face. The decor was simple, yet effective, with Rydell High posters plastered all over the walls, and lockers and bleachers lining stage, lending to the cafe-gym-atorium vibe–where all the best high school drama takes place.

What caught my eye first wasn't a part of the actual set. On each side of the stage, there were T Bird and Pink Lady themed cornhole boards, and off to my left, a giant cardboard print of Sandy and Danny with their faces cut out. The cast showed the first sparks of their lively, engaging personalities as they encouraged audience members to play a round of bean bag toss and take pictures as their favorite Grease characters. After the crowd settled in, these games were slid away, as it was time for the main attraction to begin.

Sandy and Danny at the gas station, the most romantic spot in town to buy a hot dog and a new vape cartridge

Vape! The Grease Parody hits the same iconic plot points as Grease, but with over-the-top, modern twists at every corner. In the Vape! universe, Sandy is a naive fish out of water (literally, a running gag is that Danny found her washed up on shore, thus naming her “Sandy”) who is taken in by the Pink Squad (their version of the Pink Ladies), and Danny is the performative, Prius-driving, nicotine-puffing leader of the T Bros (T Birds). After Sandy “falls for the first boy who is nice to her”, they are forced to part ways at the end of the summer. Not long after, they unexpectedly discover they go to the same school, but how can two people make a relationship work when they’re so different? And when one refuses to vape?

Written and produced by Sketchworks Comedy, and directed by Jack Plotnick, this production was filled with clever jabs at the absurdity of both the original musical and mid 2020s pop culture. There were plenty of moments that had the audience cackling, and though I won’t spoil them all, a few highlights include…

Kazoo props as stand-ins for vapes, which get played during musical numbers
Patty Simcox’s character being played by a muppet
The T Bros racing Toyota Priuses and using their eco-friendliness to pick up girls, hence the “Green Lightnin'” parody
Frenchy’s failed attempts at becoming a social media influencer, transforming the “Beauty School Dropout” sequence into “Internet Flopout”, complete with selfie sticks and ring light haloes

And of course, the outstanding cast, who bring the humor to life. The actors' expressions and deliveries had me laughing just as much as the jokes themselves. A standout performance was Suzanne Sole as Rizzo, who absolutely killed her spoof of “Sandra Dee”, with altered lyrics about being stuck playing parody roles. One of the best gags in the musical was how they cast a visibly older (I say this in the most admiring way possible) actress to play Rizzo, making fun of the original movie, where Stockard Channing played a high schooler when she was 33.

The vibrant cast of *Vape!* with Suzanne Sole on the far right

Grease was a musical I grew fairly attached to as a teenager, but I wasn’t a fan because I related to the plot or characters. I didn’t have a high school sweetheart, much less one I changed my lifestyle for, and I wasn’t a part of any rival gangs or car races. What I loved so much about Grease was rooted in how campy it was. I adored how unapologetically 1970s it was (despite the story taking place in the 50s) with a disco song for the opening sequence, the goofy performances from actors who were almost twice the age of their characters, the iconic musical soundtrack, and how unclear it was if you should be taking any of this seriously.

I believe Vape! is a good tribute because it understands how unserious and of-its-time the source material is, and cranks that up to a 10. Writing a whole musical based on things that are so contemporary–vapes, TikTok, and even Gwyneth Paltrow’s wellness brand Goop–seems obnoxious, and that’s because it is. But its absurdity is intentional, and allows audiences to find humor in the dystopia that is the modern day. For as exhausted as I am by every new headline that comes out, it's nice to be able to laugh at a musical for an hour and a half, with familiar characters smiling and winking at you the whole time, making light of the chaos.

“Beauty School Dropout” reimagined as “Internet Flopout”

When the show ended, standing ovations were given, and I was reintroduced to the charming theater around me, my excitement to write this blogpost was reconfirmed. I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to see this production, and encourage Wholesome readers and fans of Grease to do the same!

Vape! The Grease Parody will continue to run at the Apollo Theater now through January 3rd. During the next few months, if you find yourself in need of a laugh, I highly recommend taking your own gang for a trip back to Rydell High. You might find it even more familiar than you remember.

Get tickets to Vape!

Vape! The Grease Parody at the Apollo Theater: Contemporary Twist on a Camp Classic