Cuff those Levi’s, perfect that ducktail and grab your best girl in a poodle skirt because Vince Fontaine, “DJ extraordinaire,” will be spinning the best of the golden oldies this weekend as the Broadway musical Grease! makes its way to Ames.

Grease!, the fifth longest-running Broadway musical in history, is a celebration of growing up in the 1950s.

“[The musical] is more of a memorabilia kind of thing,” actor Ryan Williams said. It takes a look at the period when drive-ins, pajama parties and school dances were the “thing to do.”

“[The musical] concentrates on the rebel, Danny, and bobby-socks Sandy,” Williams said. “It’s about their life at Rydell High School and The Burger Palace Boys.”

Grease! also focuses on relationships between friends, especially between the Burger Palace Boys and the “Pink Ladies.”

“The musical is an ensemble piece,” Williams said. “It’s not just concentrating on the roles of Danny and Sandy.”

Playing the role of Kenickie, Williams describes his character as “misunderstood.”

“He puts on a tough-guy act because he is insecure,” Williams added. “His relationship with Rizzo plays a huge role in his life.”

To add to the classic memorabilia feel of Grease! the musical is filled with energetic dancing and songs, Williams said.

Songs include the hits “Greased Lightnin’,” performed by Williams, “Summer Nights,” “Born to Hand- Jive” and “We Go Together.”

There are, however, many differences in comparison to the popular movie version starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John, Williams said.

“The musical was originally a stage play and then became a movie,” Williams continued. “In the stage version, there is no big car race and there will be different songs — more songs.”

Even the ending is different, Williams said. Instead of singing “You’re the One I Want,” Danny and Sandy come out — with Sandy still wearing her skin-tight jeans —singing “All Choked Up.”

“There is a different feel than from the movie,” Williams said. “But audiences are pleasantly surprised.”

“The audience stays excited throughout the whole musical,” Williams continued. “When they hear the base lines for ‘Summer Nights’ you can feel their anticipation. That’s exciting.”

The musical may keep the audience bouncing in their seats, but the pre-show is what gets them “pumped up and ready to go,” Williams said.

A half hour before the musical begins, Vince Fontaine comes out and gives the audience a chance to do the hand-jive and dance to other oldies on stage.

It really gets the audience ready, Williams said. “It’s fun.”

Williams is scheduled to tour with Grease! until September 1998.

“When I grew up, I saw the movie and wanted to be like Danny,” Williams said. “That was my definition of cool. Now I have the thrill of being able to do it.”

“The show is a blast, and I can’t wait to get there and do it,” he added.

Sponsored by Brenton Bank, Grease! will host two performances this weekend.

Both Friday and Saturday evenings’ performances will be at 7:30 p.m. in Stephens Auditorium with the pre-show beginning at 7 p.m.

Tickets are $10, $14 and $17 for Iowa State students and $20, $28 and $34 general admission.

Tickets are still available through the Iowa State Center Ticket Office and all TicketMaster locations.