TORONTO - Like many fans of the 1978 movie-musical "Grease," Torontonian Mary Ivy longed to see her all-time favourite film on the big screen once more.

Ivy will get her wish when "Grease: Sing-A-Long" rolls into the Scotiabank Toronto theatre for a two-night engagement on July 23 and 24.

"You don't understand," Ivy tells CTV.ca. "‘Grease' changed my life back in the 70s. I wanted to dance. I wanted to sing. I wanted to date guys like John Travolta and look like Olivia Newton-John. It still gets me every time I see it. I know I'm not alone."

She definitely is not, judging by the turnouts for "Grease: Sing-A-Long" screenings in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Boston, Dallas, Atlanta, and others North American cities since July 8 -- all of which were demanded by fans by going online to http://www.Eventful.com/Grease.

Women show up in 50s' poodle skirts and big, bouffant hair.

John Travolta look-a-likes cruise around wearing pompadours and tight T-shirts.

Little kids sport Travolta's Danny Zuko wigs, shades and attitude.

"I think 12,000 of the 17,000 people who came to the Hollywood Bowl screening had big, pink hair," says Didi Conn, 59, who played Frenchie -- one of the Pink Ladies in the original film.

"There is always a generation that is discovering this movie for the first time," Conn tells CTV.ca.

"But this sing-along version is just wild," she says.

Interactive touches tap into that 'Grease Lightening'

After a long absence from movie theaters, musicals have seen resurgences lately thanks to such films as "High School Musical," "Mamma Mia!", and the current TV hit "Glee."

That timing has certainly helped this new take on "Grease," a film that remains one of the highest grossing movie musicals of all time.

"If I had known ‘Grease' would have made so much money when we shot it I would have asked for points," Conn jokes.

To date, "Grease" has earned nearly US$400 million in worldwide gross revenues.

It has spawned such enduring songs as "You're the One That I Want," "Summer Nights," and the Academy Award-nominated tune "Hopelessly Devoted to You."

Now this digitally-remastered edition comes with six-track digital sound and pop-up graphics such as hearts and kisses.

It also boasts subtitles that get audiences out of their seats and singing along.

"I was there at the Hollywood Bowl show and it was incredible," says Randal Kleiser, the director who turned the hit Broadway musical into a movie classic.

"It's been 32 years since we made ‘Grease.' To see such a reaction after all this time was unbelievable. I don't think many directors will ever experience a moment like this," says the 64-year-old Kleiser (who also directed "The Blue Lagoon" and "Big Top Pee-wee").

He adds that technology has enabled him to see ‘Grease' in ways he's never seen it before.

"The colour is crisp. The images are sharp. The whole experience is bigger than life," he says.

But the film's enduring appeal comes down to one thing: a timeless high-school love story.

"The chemistry that John and Olivia shared in ‘Grease' was where the real, lasting magic comes from," says Kleiser.

Conn adds: "‘Grease' has stayed with fans' because it's about firsts."

"First love, first car, first big disappointments in life. The actors were cute in it and the dancing was brilliant and effortless on screen."

"No matter how sophisticated audiences get, they'll always connect with a story about high-school nerds, jocks and the girls who love them."