Iqaluit (Jan 31/05) - Every year, a high school somewhere presents the musical production Grease. This year, it's Inuksuk high school's turn.

It was the students' idea to put on Grease this year, said drama teacher Renatta Solski.

Grade 12 student Eliane Kanayuk Gabriel plays the role of Frenchie and said "it's a cool play to do when you're graduating."

"It's fun. You get to hang out with your friends," said Thor Simonsen, who plays Danny. "And the after-parties rock."

The choreography has some tricky parts to it. Last week, Simonsen was practising a daring flip he wants to do on stage.

He said it only took him a few days to teach himself the move.

Now it's a matter of perfecting that stunt, along with all of his dialogue and songs, before the curtain rises on Feb. 11.

With songs like Summer Nights, Greased Lightning and Hopelessly Devoted to You, cool dance moves, 1950s-style costumes and the fact that it's set in a high school, the students just couldn't resist the show, said Solski.

The musical revolves around a flirtation between the black leather jacket wearing "greaser" Danny Zuko - who has more styling products in his hair than most women ever use - and the goody-two-shoes Sandy Dumbrowski, who is new in town.

Grease was originally a stage production, with music, lyrics and script by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey, but it's the 1978 film starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton John that most people think of when they hear Grease.

Solski said people expecting the movie version when they come to the play will be disappointed.

The musical always differed from the movie.

"It's like when you read a book then watch the movie. The two are very different," said Solski.

But chances are most people will not be disappointed anyways because the cast of 24 actors, mostly students, are working really hard on their lines and dance moves.

While it is a student production, special adult guest stars from the community include Rosemary Kilpatrick as Miss Lynch and Rob Smith as Vince Fontaine.

Inuksuk high school will present Grease on Feb. 11, 12 and 13. On Friday and Saturday the doors open at 7:30 p.m., and on Sunday they open at 2:30 p.m.

Admission is whatever you want to give and the money goes towards the Iqaluit Music Society.