“Grease” is the word, or so we’ve heard, but is this 31-year-old musical — set in 1958 — still relevant in the 21st century?

Poodle skirts, drive-ins (not like Sonic) and T-Birds (the car, not the basketball team) are pretty much passé in “the aughts.”

But the Rio Rancho High School drama department thinks “Grease” is slick enough to perform on the boards of the school’s Performing Arts Center March 11-14. “Grease” is probably best summed up as one of those timeless musicals, like “Bye Bye Birdie,” “West Side Story” and “Camelot.” And “American Idol” winner Taylor Hicks is paying his bills by starring in the touring musical, which Time Magazine crowned its “No. 1 Musical” for 2007.

Seniors Joey Cote and Korie Tatum have the leads in “Grease,” with Cote playing Danny Zuko and Korie as his girlfriend, Sandy Olsen.

In real life they’re just friends; Cote’s real-life girlfriend, Becky Keraly, is in the play, too, as Jan.

Cote has had numerous RRHS drama department roles, from “Once Upon a Mattress” two years ago to “Of Mice and Men” last spring. He’s had two leading roles before and he’s more than comfortable on the boards.

A lifelong Rio Rancho resident, he attended Puesta del Sol, Eagle Ridge Middle School and the Mid-High before heading to RRHS. Next year, he’ll attend Mesa State in Grand Junction, Colo., and major in musical theater.

Growing up, Cote admitted, “I was more of a nerd and I read a lot of books.”

One day, he recalled, a friend encouraged him to attend a drama class.

“I never even thought of that,” he said, and Mid-High drama teacher Marc Roberts was happy he did.

“The first day he asked me if I wanted to be in ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream,’” Cote said.

His favorite role was playing Jack Scott in “High School Musical” at the Albuquerque Little Theater in the summer of 2007. The role he’d love to play would be the phantom in “Phantom of the Opera.”

As for his role in “Grease,” Cote says, “Danny’s trying to be cool but he’s not. He’s not shy with the ladies but I, on the other hand, am.”

“He’s definitely our strongest vocal lead,” Tatum said of her co-star, and that’s no surprise: Cote is in the high school choir and the baritone section leader in the 505 Chorus.

“My grandfather was a big actor; he did opera in Massachusetts,” Cote said. “He gave me his voice. He was an amazing tenor.”

Although Cote said he’s only watched “Grease” with Travolta and Newton-John four or five times, Tatum has seen it more than 100 times.

Educated in the Waldorf School — “They really nurture the mind,” she says — in San Diego and New Mexico before she started classes at the Mid-High as a freshman.

In plays since she was in third grade, Tatum said this is her first lead, although she came close in an understudy role two years ago.

“I’ve paid my dues and worked my way up,” she said.

So what’s her dream role?

“I think this is it,” she said. “ ‘Grease’ is my favorite musical.”

When her original version of the film, a VHS tape broke, she headed to a store to get it on DVD.

While Cote envisions more roles in the future, Tatum’s planning to attend the University of New Mexico next year and major in fine art and business. She could be in her last hurrah.

“I’m not sure I want to do theater,” she said.

Tatum’s departure could be drama’s loss, so it might be a good idea to make plans to see “Grease” this week.

“’Grease’ is definitely a classic,” Cote noted.

“Everyone is going to have fun if they come,” Tatum said. “They won’t be bored. It’s pretty PG. Bring your kids, too.”

They don’t even mind if you sing along.

Playbill

“Grease” will be performed at the Performing Arts Center March 11-14, with a “sneak peek” preview March 11 at 7 p.m. That occasion will be a special “Fifties Night,” with audience members encouraged to dress as their favorite character from the 1950s, with a prize awarded for the best costume.

Shows on the 12th, 13th and 14th are at 7 p.m., with a matinee at 1 p.m. on the 14th, when understudies perform.

Tickets cost $9 for adults, $7 for students, and children 4 and under are admitted free. Tickets to the March 14 matinee are $5.

Following the matinee presentation, there will be a special “Rydell High End of the Year Carnival” with a classic car show, jewelry sale, carnival games, hamburgers, fries and milkshakes.

For more information, call director Gael Natal at 896-5706.