Overview

Vape! The Grease Parody is an irreverent musical spoof of the characters, romances, rivalries and familiar high-school world of Grease. The production updates its source material through contemporary humor, social-media culture and a cloud of strawberry-scented vapor while celebrating the recognizable style of the original musical.

After a benefit presentation at New York’s Town Hall, the production opened Off-Broadway at Theater 555 in 2025. It subsequently transferred to Chicago’s Apollo Theater in 2026.

Contribution

Matthew Solomon served as Costume Designer for the New York and Chicago productions, creating a heightened visual interpretation of the show’s familiar high-school archetypes.

The costumes reference the recognizable silhouettes and character types associated with Grease while introducing exaggerated contemporary details suited to the production’s parody aesthetic. The designs distinguish the principal characters, support multiple-role casting and accommodate the physical demands of choreography, comedy and rapid costume changes.

For the Chicago production, the wardrobe was adapted to a new company and venue while preserving the established character identities and overall visual language of the New York production.

Selected Credits

Production: Vape! The Grease Parody

Original Title: Don’t Vape! The Grease Parody

Writers: Catie Hogan, Leanna Adams, John D. Babcock III, Casey Holloway, Julie Shaer and Brian Troxell

Lyrics and Additional Book: Billy Recce and Danny Salles

Director: Jack Plotnick

Choreographer: Ashley Marinelli

Music Supervision and Arrangements: Lena Gabrielle

Scenic Designer: David Goldstein

Costume Designer: Matthew Solomon

Lighting Designer: Zach Pizza

Sound Designer: Daniel Lundberg

Props Designer: Brendan McCann

Casting: Cindi Rush

Creative Consultants: Seth Rudetsky and James Wesley Jackson

Produced By: Sketchworks Comedy

Executive Producer and General Manager: Visceral Entertainment

New York Venue: Theater 555

Chicago Venue: Apollo Theater Chicago