Rydell High’s Pink Ladies and T-Birds are welcome to trill along with the chart-topping score of 1978’s “Grease.” The singalong format, featuring lyrics superimposed on the screen, follows in the path of “The Sound of Music” (with audience members dressed as nuns, Nazis and imaginative incarnations of the Von Trapp family), ” Mary Poppins,” “The Wizard of Oz” and “Mamma Mia!” (it goes without saying that the midnight movie cult hit “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” is the granddaddy of these singalong sensations, with or without the lyrical assist). We have some suggestions for future editions, and welcome yours at ctc-movies.com:
‘Slice-Along Sweeney Todd’
Come dressed as the murderous demon barber of Fleet Street, his nefarious companion Mrs. Lovett or one of their unfortunate victims and sing for your life to “Pretty Women,” “The Worst Pies in London,” “Johanna,” and other classics from the Stephen Sondheim score in this 2007 Tim Burton musical. Suggested props: toy straight razors, meat pies, rats (rubber), vials of fake blood, and perhaps a flashlight to find your way around those inky dark London streets. No barber chairs allowed!
‘Slink-Along Chicago’
Lots of costume possibilities in this 2002 Best Picture winner starring Catherine Zeta-Jones and Renee Zellweger as Velma Kelly and Roxie Hart, a pair of sultry murderous jailhouse vamps/nightclub singers (think fishnet stockings, all manner of lingerie and lots of eyeliner). The Kander-Ebb score offers razzle dazzling originals (“All That Jazz,” “Cell Block Tango,” “When You’re Good to Mama,” etc.) that seamlessly blend with standards of the period. Good prop possibilities too: rat-a-tat machine guns, hip flasks and plenty of fake moola to bribe Queen Latifah as prison matron Mama Morton.
‘Steal-Along Oliver’
Before shipping them to Goodwill, don those tattered rags one last time as one of the street urchins from this beloved 1968, Best Picture-winning musical version of Dickens’ “Oliver Twist.” Lionel Bart’s lively score — featuring “Consider Yourself,” “I’d Do Anything,” “Where Is Love?” and “Who Will Buy?” — has been delighting audiences for decades. Suggested props include an empty bowl (to be filled with gruel when Oliver begs, “Please sir, I want some more”), assorted scarves (to learn pickpocket techniques from Fagin), wallets filled with phony English pound notes, paste jewelry, pocket watches, etc. (loot stolen by the Artful Dodger), and glowsticks (to represent the moonlight when poor Nancy sings “As Long As He Needs Me” about the villainous Bill).
‘Lip Sync-Along Victor/Victoria’
Indulge your dress-up fantasies with a cast of characters that include showgirls, love-sick gangsters and flamboyant “female illusionists” courtesy of this gender-bending musical comedy starring Julie Andrews, Robert Preston and James Garner. With all the attendant glitter, no one will notice if you’re singing or lip-syncing (that’s part of the point anyway) the Leslie Bricusse- Henry Mancini songs, which include “Le Jazz Hot,” “Crazy World,” “The Shady Dame From Seville,” and “Chicago, Illinois.” And if ever a sing-along edition called for the wearing (and eventual removal) of a wig (or two, or three), this 1982 movie is it.
