Emily Choleva, left, is Sandy and Ryan Lamb is Danny in Millennial Theatre Companyás production of the musical "Grease," which runs for two weekends at Youngstown Playhouse. (Submitted photo)

It seems like “Grease” always is being done somewhere.

But until the double dip of productions this month by Trumbull New Theatre and Millennial Theatre Company, MTC Founder Joe Asente said it hadn’t been done locally since Kent-Trumbull Summer Stock did it a decade ago. Youngstown Playhouse’s last production of it was about 15 years ago.

“When we were talking about our season, we want to appeal to a wide audience base, but we also want to do shows our age demographic wants to be in,” Asente said. “There hasn’t been an opportunity to do it since they were too young. I figured it would be a great show that would attract a large audience but also give those a chance to be in the show that haven’t had one.”

The musical opens Friday for a two-weekend run at the Youngstown Playhouse, and this is the first time MTC has used the Playhouse stage.

“We originally pitched the show to DeYor (Performing Arts Center) over a year and a half ago and tabled the discussions on it,” Asente said. “When DeYor and Youngstown Playhouse combined, the Playhouse reached out to us, ‘Hey, would you be interested in doing a summer show with us? That’s how it came to be.

“I think it suits ‘Grease’ really well to have such a big stage to mount the show on. We build a giant set with all the technical things we could want. The fly system adds an extra level of professionalism to the show and allows us to put on a spectacular performance but a technical performance as well.”

The stage allows for a full-sized vehicle on stage for the musical number “Greased Lightning.”

“We purchased the car from a school in Pennsylvania,” Asente said. “It’s not a real car, but it is a full-size replica of a 1950s car. It’s a little more lightweight to push around, but you can’t really tell the difference if you’re not standing right next to it.”

As TNT did earlier this month, MTC is incorporating songs written specifically for the film version — “Grease,” “Hopelessly Devoted to You,” “You’re the One That I Want” and “Sandy” — into the script for the stage musical written by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey.

“When people think about ‘Grease,’ some of the most popular songs are from the movie,” he said. “When I was in it at Kent-Trumbull, we had people who came to see the show who were confused why those songs weren’t in there. I think audiences have come to expect those things when they come to see ‘Grease.'”

Asente said he had more than 50 people turn out to play the students at Rydell High School in 1959.

The cast includes Ryan Lamb, Emily Choleva, Sarahh Kinser, Rebecca Williams, Natalina Kazimir, Kaleigh Ceci, Dominic Adams, Ryan Stewart, Courtney Martin, Tommy Deluca, George Maillis, Gene Metro, Ben Doss, Brianna Rae Quinn, Karlina Wander, Daniel Chiaberta, Mark Williams, Liz Amstutz, Liam Morrison, Hannah Derenzis, Briana Wagner-Matijevivic, Cheyenne Wilkinson, Mia Gagliano, Michelle Jalbert, Angela Toro, Natalie Toro, Heleena Thomas and Kady McClain.

In addition to singing and acting, dancing is integral to musical numbers like “Born to Hand Jive,” and Asente said choreographer Aubrie Morrison has been working with the cast to execute those moves.

“She’s not only bringing out what audiences expect from ‘Hand Jive,’ but she also put her own twist on it,” he said. “She wanted to make it accessible to community theater actors without losing that sparkle and pizazz the audience expects.”

The performers will be backed by a six-piece band led by music director Anthony Ruggiero. Asente said he’s been talking with Ruggiero off and on for a year about working with MTC and their schedules finally aligned.

“The first show he ever music directed when he started was ‘Grease,’ so it’s kind of a full-circle moment for him. He’s such an excellent addition to the production team.”

And the music is why Asente believes “Grease” has such enduring popularity.

“It’s something everyone relates to and everyone knows. It’s the same as the musical appeal of ‘Mamma Mia.’ Even a non-theater person would know those songs. Right now people are looking for an escape, whether they’re going to the theater, a movie or whatever kind of entertainment.

“We need a bright, shiny, colorful distraction where you can sit back, relax and forget your troubles for a couple hours. ‘Grease’ is the perfect escape outlet for that.”

If you go …

WHAT: Millennial Theatre Company — “Grease”

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday through Aug. 7

WHERE: Youngstown Playhouse, 600 Playhouse Lane, Youngstown

HOW MUCH: $20 adults and $18 students and senior citizens. Tickets are available online at www.millennialtheatre.org and by calling 330-788-8739.