The curtain opens, and the timeless world of "Grease's" Rydell High appears. The school, as well as the Burger Palace and the homes of the Greasers set the stage for the classic musical.

These are the places where the members of the Burger Palace Boys (known as the T-birds in the movie adaptation) and their Pink Ladies live their lives. This is the world of Danny Zuko, the head of the Burger Palace Boys and one of the most sought-after males of Rydell High.

The Charleston Light Opera Guild and Clay Center production of "Grease" opened Friday at the Clay Center. Mitchel Kawash, a recent George Washington High School graduate, took to the stage in the iconic role of Danny.

Kawash has participated in two other CLOG shows. He was Frederick von Trapp in the November 2004 production of "The Sound of Music" and Mark in the May production of "A Chorus Line."

"Danny is a role I really wanted to play, though it's a different role from what I normally do," Kawash said. "I've excelled at playing quirky but sweet characters, even nerdy. Danny has an attitude I haven't done before. It's a challenge."

"And it's hard," he admitted. "Because I know I'll be measured against John Travolta. People will think, 'Oh, okay, but Travolta did it that way.' I have to remind myself to play Danny, not John Travolta."

"Playing Danny" is something that Kawash has practiced for the past two months, as he and the rest of the 27-member cast, the orchestra and the crew have prepared for the show.

"I love all the cast, and there are definitely more people my age in this cast compared to 'A Chorus Line.' The girls in 'Grease' that were also in 'A Chorus Line' with me are still some of my closest friends," he said.

"I was the baby in 'A Chorus Line.' I'm still the baby of the Burger Palace Boys and Pink Ladies. However, I never feel like the baby when I'm playing Danny."

Kawash is college-bound at the end of the summer, not long after "Grease" closes.

"The song 'Country Roads' has taken on a whole new meaning for me," he said. "It really affects me whenever I hear it. It's sad to be leaving West Virginia, and different because I generally have everything planned out."

"I'm not sure what to expect when I get to college, but I'm still pumped for it. It's coming up soon."

In the meantime, Kawash and the rest of the "Grease" crew take the stage five more times - tonight, Aug. 1 and 2 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday and Aug. 3 at 3 p.m. Tickets are $20 for ages 13 and up and $15 for ages 12 and under. Call 561-3570 or visit www.theclaycenter.org.

The curtain opens, and the timeless world of "Grease's" Rydell High appears. The school, as well as the Burger Palace and the homes of the Greasers set the stage for the classic musical.

These are the places where the members of the Burger Palace Boys (known as the T-birds in the movie adaptation) and their Pink Ladies live their lives. This is the world of Danny Zuko, the head of the Burger Palace Boys and one of the most sought-after males of Rydell High.

The Charleston Light Opera Guild and Clay Center production of "Grease" opened Friday at the Clay Center. Mitchel Kawash, a recent George Washington High School graduate, took to the stage in the iconic role of Danny.

Kawash has participated in two other CLOG shows. He was Frederick von Trapp in the November 2004 production of "The Sound of Music" and Mark in the May production of "A Chorus Line."

"Danny is a role I really wanted to play, though it's a different role from what I normally do," Kawash said. "I've excelled at playing quirky but sweet characters, even nerdy. Danny has an attitude I haven't done before. It's a challenge."

"And it's hard," he admitted. "Because I know I'll be measured against John Travolta. People will think, 'Oh, okay, but Travolta did it that way.' I have to remind myself to play Danny, not John Travolta."

"Playing Danny" is something that Kawash has practiced for the past two months, as he and the rest of the 27-member cast, the orchestra and the crew have prepared for the show.

"I love all the cast, and there are definitely more people my age in this cast compared to 'A Chorus Line.' The girls in 'Grease' that were also in 'A Chorus Line' with me are still some of my closest friends," he said.

"I was the baby in 'A Chorus Line.' I'm still the baby of the Burger Palace Boys and Pink Ladies. However, I never feel like the baby when I'm playing Danny."

Kawash is college-bound at the end of the summer, not long after "Grease" closes.

"The song 'Country Roads' has taken on a whole new meaning for me," he said. "It really affects me whenever I hear it. It's sad to be leaving West Virginia, and different because I generally have everything planned out."

"I'm not sure what to expect when I get to college, but I'm still pumped for it. It's coming up soon."

In the meantime, Kawash and the rest of the "Grease" crew take the stage five more times - tonight, Aug. 1 and 2 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday and Aug. 3 at 3 p.m. Tickets are $20 for ages 13 and up and $15 for ages 12 and under. Call 561-3570 or visit www.theclaycenter.org.