Grease star John Travolta plays his iconic character, Danny Zuko, more than 40 years after the original movie premiered. The musical, directed by Randal Kleiser, follows the blossoming romance between Danny and Sandy Olsson, who spend a summer together before becoming classmates at Rydell High. Based on the stage production, Grease was released in 1978 and has since become a musical staple, full of memorable songs and characters. Along with Travolta, the cast of Grease includes Olivia Newton-John, Stockard Channing, Didi Conn, Barry Pearl, Jeff Conaway, Eve Arden, and more.

Travolta recently made an appearance at the Hollywood Bowl in California for a Grease sing-along event. As revealed on Instagram, Travolta donned a Danny Zuko-inspired costume, including a leather jacket and classic pompadour hairstyle. Travolta also shared that no one expected him to be there, posting a video of himself greeting former castmates and receiving a standing ovation from the crowd. In the footage, Travolta portrays his now iconic character again and reenacts a scene from Grease, when Danny encounters Sandy in front of the T-Birds. Check out his Danny Zuko look below:

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What This Means For Grease

The Musical Rom-Com Has A Lasting Legacy

The sing-along demonstrates that Grease has maintained long-standing popularity, and that original cast members, including John Travolta, have remained appreciative of it. Since premiering, Grease has become a mᴀssive commercial success, earning over $396 million. The movie soundtrack, featuring “You’re the One That I Want” and “Hopelessly Devoted to You,” is also a bestseller and beloved by fans. Various franchise entries have stemmed from the 1978 musical and countless references to Grease have been made in other projects.

The characters from Grease, notably Danny and Sandy, are well-established in popular culture. The movie musical rom-com was released as Travolta was gaining fame from his roles in Carrie and Saturday Night Fever, the latter of which earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. His performance in Grease has remained iconic for decades, largely because of his energetic musical numbers and on-screen dynamic with Olivia Newton-John.

Our Take On Travolta Playing His Grease Character

A Fun Nod To The Classic Musical

Travolta showing up to a Grease sing-along and playing his famous character of course thrilled longtime fans, as evidenced by the standing ovation captured in his video. Seeing the actor in costume, while sharing a stage with former co-stars and reciting lines from the movie, will have recalled many memories. Considering how successful Grease has become, and how dedicated its fandom is, having Travolta be part of that event, and in such a fun way, likely made the moment more significant for everyone involved.

Source: John Travolta/Instagram