Dunedin's Edgar Centre will transform into Rydell High and Pink Ladies and T-Birds will fill the arena for the opening of the musical Grease: The Arena Spectacular Live! tonight.
The Taieri Musical Society and DKCM Ltd production involves 200 cast and crew, including multi-award-winning singer-songwriter, frontman for New Zealand band OpShop and former New Zealand's Got Talent judge Jason Kerrison, who will play the cameo role of Teen Angel.
Kerrison said he had not been involved in such a high-calibre production before.
"By definition this is an amateur production, but this is the most professional production I have ever seen in New Zealand.''
Preparing for the four-show production had taught him a lot and inspired him to do more acting, he said.
Musical director Doug Kamo said work on the Dunedin interpretation of the cult-classic musical had been under way for about two years.
"It has been so long in the making so it is very exciting to be at the point of showing it to everyone.''
The show would feature all of the classic songs and characters, but would add a modern twist to inspire a new generation of Grease lovers, he said.
Tickets were selling "incredibly well'', but there was still room for anyone who decided Grease was the word.
•Shows: Tonight - 7.30pm; Friday July 22 - 7.30pm; Saturday July 23 - 2pm and 7.30pm.
