(DEAL, NJ) -- Center Drama presents the classic musical, Grease, from August 13-23, 2026 at the JCC Performing Arts Center in Deal. With a hip-shaking rock 'n' roll score featuring hits like "Summer Nights" and "We Go Together," Grease celebrates Rydell High's class of 1959 in all their duck-tailed, bobby-soxed, gum-snapping glory.
Here is Rydell High’s senior class of 1959: duck-tailed, hot-rodding “Burger Palace Boys’ and their gum-snapping, hip-shaking “Pink Ladies” in bobby sox and pedal pushers, evoking the look and sound of the 1950s in this rollicking musical.
Head “greaser” Danny Zuko and new (good) girl Sandy Dumbrowski try to relive the high romance of their “Summer Nights” as the rest of the gang sings and dances its way through such songs as “Greased Lightnin’,” “It’s Raining on Prom Night” and “Alone at the Drive-In Movie,” recalling the music of Buddy Holly, Little Richard and Elvis Presley that became the soundtrack of a generation.
The cast includes Kelley Fuller (Danny), Janie Hornstein (Sandy), Kennedy Christensen (Rizzo), Bobby Shaw (Kenickie), Daniella Aleman (Frenchy), Jill Gindi (Marty), Henry Fischer (Doody), Jess Vincello (Jan), Julian Baro (Rodger), Josh Ferro (Sonny), Deni Sobotka (Miss Lynch), Julia Kovacs (Patty), Elana Ades (Cha Cha), Gabe Delima (Eugene), James Steele (Vince Fontaine), Chris Stypa (Johnny Casino), and Steve Cherra (Teen Angel). The ensemble includes Matt Kovar, Merrick Lyons, CJ Evans, Jill Costa, Emma Lightbody-McAllen, Alexa Jensen-Toma, Aja Perez, Joey Nesser, Stephanie Beyda, Grace Gill, Adiele Hall, Quinn Grace, and Emma Hoffman.
Performances take place Thursday, August 13 at 7:00pm; Sunday, August 16 at 2:00pm; Thursday, August 20 at 7:00pm; Saturday, August 22 at 9:00pm; and Sunday, August 23 at 2:00pm. Tickets are available for purchase online. The JCC Performing Arts Center is located at 100 Grant Avenue in Deal, New Jersey.
For nearly a century, Center Drama brought affordable community theater to Monmouth County at the JCC of the Jersey Shore in Deal Park. The theater company went on hiatus for several years but is now back, launching a new chapter while honoring its long-standing tradition.
"This is both a homecoming and a new beginning for Center Drama," said Center Drama Artistic Director Deborah Murad Nesser. "We are building something joyful, inclusive and rooted in tradition. It was clear that this production of Grease struck a chord. We were fortunate to see an extraordinary range of talent in our auditions and the result is a cast that's fresh, vibrant and full of the spirit that makes Grease such an enduring favorite."
Center Drama was founded at the Long Branch YMHA in 1929 by a group of local theater lovers. In 1971, Center Drama moved to the Jewish Community Center in Deal Park. The theater company flourished there and became a pillar of Jewish cultural life in Monmouth County, presenting beloved musicals such as Fiddler on the Roof, Funny Girl, Man of La Mancha, and The Wedding Singer. It later evolved into a professional theater at the Axelrod Performing Arts Center, located in the same building as the JCC.
Now the JCC has decided to reinvest in Center Drama, so the organization is returning to the community it served for nearly a century. From first-time performers to returning alumni, Center Drama welcomes all who share a passion for live theater and the arts in Monmouth County. It's where High School Musical star Ashley Tisdale and NJ101.5 host Judi Franco got their start. The company is led by Ruthie Levy, the house manager at Axelrod PAC, and Perry Award-nominated director Deborah Murad Nesser, longtime friends who met in a production of Follies. They share a passion for community theater, bringing bold artistic vision and professional expertise to the program.
"Center Drama has been part of my life for more than 30 years," said Levy. "Now, thanks to the vision of my dear friend Deborah and JCC's Donald Epstein, Raquel Dayan and Ike Zagha, we have brought it back. Being part of that return with Grease this summer feels incredibly meaningful. It's a reminder that theater has the power to connect generations, create lifelong friendships and inspire new performers for years to come."
It is also a shomer shabbat space, so the group does not have rehearsals or shows from sundown Friday to Saturday night, enabling shabbat observers to participate. For many religious Jews, this makes theater more accessible.
