It's a classic boy-meets-girl love story when Susquehanna Stage presents "Grease." The show, part of the theater's youth and teen production series, will be performed on select dates from Friday, May 10, through Sunday, May 19.

"This show follows a group of high school kids that are known as the bad kids," said Paige Fairbanks, a sophomore at Manheim Township High School who plays Marty. "A new girl is introduced, and she's a goody two shoes. She sees the guy she fell in love with over the summer, but he's a completely different person, and the show goes through her finding herself and finding out about him."

While audiences may be familiar with the 1970s movie "Grease," the cast members emphasize that the stage show provides a different look at the characters. "Where the movie revolves around Danny and Sandy, the stage show revolves around more of the characters and gives them more of a personality and a heart," said Titus Newswanger, a McCaskey High School junior who plays Danny.

Maeve Sasse, an eighth-grader in Wilson School District who plays Patty, agreed, adding, "All of the characters have very unique personalities. That's a really cool aspect to this show. Everyone has a completely different back story and what their intentions are."

Even though the show takes place in the 1950s, its themes are still relevant today, said Riley Fidler, a Conestoga Valley High School sophomore who plays Rizzo. "I feel like in schools, there is always going to be the good kids and the bad kids, and there's always going to be conflict with that," she said. "I feel like a good coming-of-age plot never really goes out of style."

In fact, the cast members say they can identify with their characters. "Teenagers are really the same as they always were in how they act and how they interact with each other," said Charlotte Evans, a Commonwealth Charter Academy freshman who plays Jan. "A lot of times when we're on stage, it feels like we're just hanging out like I would hang out with my friends."

As Sandy, the female lead, works through her emotions to find where she fits in with her new friends, she learns about herself, said Tori Elliott, a Lancaster Catholic High School freshman who plays the role. "This show is about changing yourself, so you feel more confident, not so that somebody else likes you more," she explained. "It's about finding yourself."

And it's full of upbeat, high-energy numbers, said Claire Hanlon, an Elizabethtown Area High School senior who portrays Frenchy. "You can expect to see a lot of the iconic numbers like 'Summer Lovin'' and 'Greased Lightnin','" she said. "There's going to be a lot of fun music."

Audiences will leave the theater with a smile on their faces, said Noah Woods, an Ephrata High School junior who plays Sonny. "Even if you don't know this show, you're going to like what we put out," he said. "It's just a big, fun party."

"Grease" will be performed at 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, May 10, 11, 17 and 18, as well as at 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 18, and Sundays, May 12 and 19. Susquehanna Stage is located at 133 W. Market St., Marietta. For more information, visit http://www.susquehannastage.com.