Theater

It seems the story of Rydell High's Australian beauty Sandy and her leathered-up bad-boy Danny never goes out of style. This year alone, Brat Productions tried an all-girl version that morphed into the indignant Grease and Desist, while a couple more conventional productions hit other stages. Now, Lenape Regional Performing Arts Center suits up with its version of Grease the Musical.

The difference? Two words: Jennifer Childs.

Whether it's her unerring eye as artistic director of 1812 Productions or her irresistible charm as an actress, Childs is a sort of girl wonder of Philly theater, and she'll no doubt put her comedic stamp on this show — which includes exclusive license to use four songs from the 1978 movie version. To boot, Childs will be directing a cast full of names recognizable to Philly audiences. Jorge Maldonado (Danny) starred in Pacific Overtures at the Arden (in addition to dreamy soap opera gigs), while Jessica Lea Patty appeared locally in Cats at the Walnut Street Theatre and in Lenape's recent Waiting for the Moon. Keep an eye out, though, for turns by some of Philly's fresh-faced talent: Ben Dibble as Kenickie, Chris Faith as Sonny, Maggie Lakis as Frenchie, Sarah Bolt as Jan and Joshua Lamon as Roger.

As if this creative team weren't worth the bridge toll alone, Lenape ups the ante by scoring superhot TJ Hooker star Adrian Zmed. In the Broadway revival of Grease, Zmed played Danny Zuko, and in Grease 2 (you know, the one with Michelle Pfeiffer), he essayed the role of T-Bird Johnny with vigor. Now 51 — yikes! — Zmed will bring his so-B-star-it's-kind-of-cool power to the role of Teen Angel, the gentle doo-wop celestial who persuades Frenchy to stay in school. Officer Romano, we hardly knew ye.

Grease, runs through Sept. 11, $35-$50, Lenape Regional PAC, 130 Tomlinson Mill Rd., Marlton, N.J., 856-983-3366, www.sjtheater.com.