The hit Broadway (and film) musical “Grease” came to town last night, marking the Convocation Center’s first theatrical production.

“What a great way to initiate theatrical production in the Convocation Center,” Rochelle Township High School student Chad Rand said.

For the event, the Convo Center’s floor area was divided into two sections, with the stage in the middle and the empty space blacked out by thick curtain.

“Grease,” written by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey, is a romantic comedy set in the early 1960s that revolves around Goody Two-shoes Sandy Dumbrowski and greaser Danny Zuko. Their relationship, which bloomed in the summer, is tested when both Zuko and Dumbrowski resume class, together.

Before the performance, character deejay Vince Fontaine, played by Arthur J.M. Callahan, held a dancing contest for the children attendees. The contest was judged by the audience members, and two young girls were selected winners. “Madison” was one of the winners, and when given the microphone, she said that she loved her “mom.” Her response was greeted with a heartfelt chorus of “awwws.”

One of the noticeable changes between the film and the stage production is that the stage production is tuned down a notch in terms of sexual language and innuendo. Traditionally, dirty words turned into more appropriate words. For example, the “pussywagon” was changed into the “dragonwagon.”

The first Convo Center theater performance was flawless, said Joe Coots, Convo Center marketing director.

The only complaint seemed to stem from Melanie Penn’s (Sandy Dumbrowski) singing.

“Sandy didn’t sing very well,” Creston Elementary School student Brittany Staten said.

Coots estimated that about 1,400 people came out for “Grease.” The majority of the audience seemed to consist of either children or parents.

“We’re celebrating our 21st wedding anniversary [at ‘Grease’],” Elgin resident Lori Page said.

One college student seemed to lap up the hit musical.

“It’s better than the movie, more relaxing and fun to watch,” undeclared business major Dana Martorano said.