Watching 30 cast members rehearse for Fairmont Civic Summer Theatre’s production of “Grease,” one impression is immediate. These people are having way too much fun.

Under the direction of Jonas Nissen, the young, energetic cast will sing and dance through six performances July 25-30 at the Fairmont Opera House. Show times are 7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, with a 2 p.m. matinee set for Sunday.

Nissen, former executive director of the Opera House, is surprised but definitely not disappointed in the young age of the cast because the story is set in fictional Rydell High School in 1959.

“We thought older people would audition, but it really worked out well,” he said, adding that the youngest cast members are in junior high school. “We needed to attract new faces, and we want that for every show. New blood is vital for every theater company.”

Nissen refers to this year as “a rebirth of Civic Summer Theater” in Fairmont. In 2015, CST celebrated its 50th anniversary but opted not to sponsor any shows in 2016. This year, instead of the traditional two summer shows consisting of a comedy followed by a musical, CST settled on a single show.

And “Grease” is the ideal way to showcase the continued strength of CST.

“Every high school student deserves the opportunity to do ‘Grease,'” Nissen said. If students are polled as to their choice of musicals, the iconic “greaser” production will likely be their top choice, he said.

Because the show is so well-known, Nissen tried not to imitate or copy any other production, preferring to focus on the young local talent.

“To me, it’s not about the program. It’s about the person,” he said. “There is this hometown energy that they have. It’s an intangible.”

The CST production won’t have the glitzy presentation of a professional show, and that is desired, Nissen said.

“Your expectations aren’t the same, and they shouldn’t be. This is us, doing our thing,” he said.

Three hours per night, five nights a week for the last five weeks, Nissen has led the cast through rehearsals, guiding them through vocal tongue-twisting exercises and offering reinforcement and advice.

Andrea Laven, who plays the edgy Rizzo, is grateful for Nissen’s guidance.

“He’s got a ton of experience. He keeps pushing us to be our best,” she said.

At 39, Laven considers herself old, compared to the many teens and millennials in the cast, but as a mother of four ranging in ages from 4-12, she seamlessly blends in with her cast mates.

She is a performance novice, having appeared in only one other production.

“When I was a fifth-grader, I was the ‘random townsperson,’ but this is something I’ve always wanted to do, kind of a bucket list thing,” she said.

Laven didn’t audition for her particular role, but her frank sense of humor makes her the ideal Rizzo.

“I didn’t care what part I got. I honestly thought I’d be a ‘random high schooler,'” she said.

One aspect of the production surprised her — all the behind-the-scenes preparation that almost makes the on-stage performers seem secondary.

“It has been eye-opening,” she said.

In the lead role of Sandy, Izzy Munsch is utilizing her four years of experience in the Opera House’s children’s theatre program.

“It took about two weeks to memorize all my lines, but I broke it down scene by scene,” she said. “My mom was a big help.”

The many hours of rehearsal also required a commitment from the Fairmont High School sophomore, but she is glad she made the decision to become involved.

“We’ve been working really really hard,” she said. “I think we’re close to being ready for opening night. I’m excited.”

Munsch has another reason to look forward to Tuesday’s opening night. The performance coincides with her 15th birthday.

Logan Potthoff, a senior at Martin County West, has appeared in other local theater productions at the Opera House, and he shared the positive experience with friends and classmates who thought it sounded like fun and joined him in the “Grease” cast.

“It is a lot of fun,” he said. “Of all the plays I’ve been in, this is the most fun.”

Potthoff, who plays Kenickie, praised Nissen as a director.

“It’s really been great having him,” he said.

Like many of his fellow cast mates, Potthoff juggles work and summer activities with the time commitment required for the production.

“It’s really worth it,” he said. “I look forward to coming to rehearsal every night.”

Tickets for “Grease” are only available through the Opera House, at its box office, by calling (507) 238-4900 or at its website at www.fairmontoperahouse.org. Click on the Civic Summer Theatre tab under the 2017-2018 performances. Tickets are $15 for adults and $8 for students through high school.