With eight nights of tapping toes, racing cars and dance-offs, The Regional Theatre of the Palouse (RTOP) will show “Grease” beginning next week.

Featured as a Broadway show and a movie, “Grease” tells the story of a group of high school teenagers and their trials and errors with love, sex, bullying, and other attitudes in a typical 1950s high school.

“I love ‘Grease’ and wanted to get involved,” said Jackie Stone, WSU grad student and stage manager for the show. “It’s been a great experience. Throughout the day the songs will be stuck in my head.”

She said they’re currently going through the show scene by scene for touch-ups and will soon start dress rehearsals.

Along with practice, actors and crew will spend a couple of weekends working on building and painting the sets.

Leonard Hagg, the production manager for the show, said RTOP reuses a lot of its infrastructure, but is constantly changing the base set and paint over old designs.

“The hardest part is that the days seem too short,” said Hagg. “We need to find time to get everything done and make it the best we can, all while making time for classes or eating.”

A couple of actors said the performance is a workout, especially with all the dancing.

“The choreography is really fun and I love the singing,” said WSU professor Hector Aguilar, who plays the Teen Angel. “It’s very different from a straight play; it doesn’t have much of a script. It relies mostly on the musical numbers.”

Kyle Bocinsky, a WSU grad student who plays the role of Kenickie, described the music as a 1950s review, with backup singers and styles ranging from Elvis to ballads.

He said the show has a variety of musical numbers and dynamic choreography. While the pressure may be on, Bocinsky said the show has given him and many actors an output to relieve stress.

He said the actors had to work into the mindset of the 1950s. He said it was a little difficult because his bully-like character is the opposite of his real-life attitude.

“People don’t really act the way these characters act in the show,” said Bocinsky. “But it’s still a lot of fun. We’re a really professional theater with a cast that woks really well together.”

Rita René, assistant costumer and the role of Ms. Lynch, said occasionally the high energy can lead to a lack of focus.

“It’s not an unpleasant challenge,” René said. “The cast is a mix of professionals and people who have only done a few shows, so it’s a bit of a mentoring process.”

Stone agreed, and said it can be difficult to coordinate people and keep track of who’s doing what and who knows what’s going on.

The cast and crew all said they enjoy the theater experience and are excited for the opening night of “Grease.”

“My favorite part is when the audience is zoned in on the show,” Hagg said. “They’re clapping and appreciative. Sometimes we get standing ovations. It makes you feel so good to know these people are coming to see all the hard work we’ve done.”

Opening night is Nov. 7 at 7:30 p.m at the RTOP. More evening shows will play on Nov. 8 and Nov. 13-15, at 7:30 p.m. Matinee shows will be on Nov. 9 and Nov. 16-17, at 1:30 p.m. Ticket prices are $17 advance and $20 at the door for adults, $10 for children.

For more information, visit RTOPtheatre.org or call their box office at 509-334-0750.