Travolta Revives Danny Zuko Live in Person at Hollywood Bowl Song-a-Long

John Travolta, Grease — Courtesy of John Travolta/ Everett Collection

Multiple Oscar nominee John Travolta made surprise appearance at Friday night’s Grease sing-a-long at the Hollywood Bowl dressed as his iconic drag racing, hip swinging 1950s bad boy Danny Zuko.

My Oscar Book:

“Tonight at the Hollywood Bowl, for the first time I surprised everyone at the ‘GREASE’ Sing-A-Long and dressed up as Danny Zuko,” Travolta wrote in an Instagram post Saturday, sharing a video of his appearance. “No one knew. Not even the cast. Thank you for a great evening.”

In the video, Travolta swaggered on stage as the leather-clad greaser, as the packed Hollywood Bowl erupted in cheers.

Grease
Theatrical release poster

Travolta then greeted the other original cast members on stage, who were stunned themselves to see him, before addressing the crowd.

“L.A! I thought you were going back to Australia?” Travolta joked, referencing the iconic line from the classic movie musical. “That’s cool, that’s cool, baby. You know, rocking and rolling and whatnot.”

After a three-count, Travolta and the rest of his former castmates then sang in unison with the crowd, “a-womp-bop-a-looma a-womp-bam-boom.” The “Grease” star then said to the audience, “Enjoy the show. We love you!”

Joining Travolta on stage were Barry Pearl, Didi Conn, Barry Pearl, Kelly Ward and Michael Tucci.

Released in 1978, Travolta starred in “Grease” alongside Olivia Newton-John, who died in 2022.

Other cast members include Stockard Channing, Jeff Conaway, Jamie Donnelly, Dinah Manoff and Eve Arden. Made for only $6 million, the film became Paramount’s highest earner by the end of its run, with gross of $400 million.

Made on a miniscule budget of $6 million, Grease, released June 16, 1978, is one of the most commercially successful (and vastly entertaining) musical in film history!

Credits:

Directed by Randal Kleiser
Screenplay by Bronté Woodard
Adaptation by Allan Carr
Based on Grease by Jim Jacobs, Warren Casey

Produced b Robert Stigwood, Allan Carr

Starring
John Travolta
Olivia Newton-John
Stockard Channing
Jeff Conaway
Eve Arden
Frankie Avalon
Joan Blondell
Edd Byrnes
Sid Caesar
Alice Ghostley
Dody Goodman
Sha Na Na

Cinematography Bill Butler
Edited by John F. Burnett
Music by Michael Gibson

Production: Allan Carr Enterprises, Stigwood Group

Distributed by Paramount Pictures

Release date: June 16, 1978

Running time: 110 minutes
Budget $6 million
Box office $396.3 million