Grease is the word at the Liverpool Empire in 2020

Liverpool’s summer nights will be a whole lot brighter with the return of Grease to the city in 2020.

A new staging of the girl-meets-boy classic, choreographed by Arlene Phillips, comes to the Liverpool Empire in June.

The musical stars Dan Partridge as Danny Zuko and includes hit numbers like Greased Lightning, You’re the One That I Want and Hopelessly Devoted to You.

Producer Colin Ingram said: “I’m delighted that this new production of Grease will be returning to tour the UK in 2020.

“This fresh take on one of the most popular musicals of all time has gone down brilliantly with the theatre going public who are loving this version. It brings back the reality and grit from the original 1972 Broadway production, yet the characters and story chime so well with a modern audience.

“All the songs from the film are there, but it feels like a new Grease for a new generation.”

Grease the musical. Photos by Manuel Harlan

Grease originally opened in Chicago in 1971, followed by a move to Broadway in 1972, where it received seven Tony Award nominations, including one for Best Musical.

During the show's eight-year run, at the time little known actors including Peter Gallagher, Patrick Swayze and John Travolta all appeared in the production, with Richard Gere understudying many roles before going on to star as Danny Zuko in the 1973 London premiere.

The 1978 film adaptation starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton John is the fourth highest-grossing live action musical of all time.

Grease comes to the Liverpool Empire from June 9 to July 4 2020. Tickets from the website HERE