The word is out: “Grease” will hit the stage in Vicksburg beginning Friday, May 30, at the Strand Theatre.

Set during the 1950s, “Grease” the musical became one of Broadway’s longest running performances from 1972 to 1980. It also became the highest-grossing musical film of the 20th century after it was released by Paramount Pictures in 1978. The film featured John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John as the leading actors.

The popularity “Grease” generated from both on-stage and on-screen is one of the reasons it was chosen as a Westside Theatre Foundation production, Eli Seratt said. Seratt is serving as the director of the WTF production.

“We wanted to do a show that would really engage the community,” Seratt said. A show, she continued, that could garner the attention of those who may not be familiar with the WTF and as a means of motivating those who may be interested in becoming involved, be it behind the scenes or performing on the stage.

“You know, people who would come and see ‘Grease; and be like, ‘oh that would be fun’ and then come and see that there is a whole community,” she said.

Deciding to perform a show that has been dubbed a “beloved classic,” has already proven to draw in newcomers. Many of the “Grease” cast members are performing with the WTF for the first time, Seratt said, like Jean Santiago-Padilla, who was cast as Danny Zuko, the leading male role.

Santiago-Padilla, who is originally from Puerto Rico and has been in Vicksburg for five years working at ERDC, said, he originally came on to help with choreography, but was later cast as Danny Zuko.

“I started out as one of the choreography directors,” he said. Santiago-Padilla and a group of his friends have been teaching beginner Salsa dance classes at the Southern Cultural Heritage Center and he and SCHF Executive Director Stacey Mahoney had signed on to choreograph “Grease.”

But after one of the cast members had to quit, re-auditions were held and Santiago-Padilla wound up with the leading male role.

Although this is the first time for Santiago-Padilla to perform as an actor, he said he has been on stage since he started performing with the Vicksburg Orchestral Society three years ago.

Maddie Freitas will be playing Sandy Dumbrowski, the leading female role in the production.

Freitas said she had become acquainted with the WTF after looking for ways to get involved in the community.

“I had moved to town this past year and I knew I wanted to get involved with community theater,” Freitas said. And she did so by being an extra in the WTF’s production of ” The Rocky Horror Picture Show” back in October.

“From there I got more involved when I heard about the ‘Grease’ auditions and knew I wanted to show up and do it. It’s my mom’s, my grandmother’s and all my cousin’s favorite show,” she said.

Prior to rehearsals for “Grease” cast members had the opportunity to view the film version at the Strand.

Seratt said the stage production and the 1978 movie have much in common, but there are some differences.

“The biggest difference is the stage production is more of an ensemble production,” she said.

In the movie, the show focuses on the Danny and Sandy story, which is still very central to the plot. But the stage musical doesn’t focus as much on the love story between Sandy and Danny as much as it does basically the whole group,” Seratt said. “That’s still there, but it’s not the central element like it is in the musical.”

Because this is Seratt’s first time directing a musical, she said she has had much support from assistant directors Madalyn Mouton and Stacie Schrader.

Others helping with the production include WTF founder Jack Burns, producer Paul Salgado, choreographers Natalie Barker, Mahoney, and Santiago-Padilla. Lauren Mancewicz, who is cast at Marty in the musical, is also serving as the group’s vocal coach, Seratt said.

“Grease” performances will be held at 7:30 p.m. May 30, 31 and June 6 and 7. Matinee performance will be offered at 4 p.m. June 1 and 8. All performances will be held at the Strand Theatre, 717 Clay St.

Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door and are available at the Highway 61 Coffeehouse,1101 Washington St., or brownpapertickets.com /event/6650389 and at the door.