McLemore, who is set to play the stuck-up cheerleader Patty Simcox, joins the previously announced "Call Me Maybe" songstress Carly Rae Jepsen, who made her Broadway debut in Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella and will be playing Pink Lady Frenchy, along with Julianne Hough as Sandy, Aaron Tveit as Danny, Vanessa Hudgens as Rizzo, Carlos PenaVega as Kenickie and Keke Palmer as Marty.
Kether Donohue (“You’re The Worst”) rounds out the Pink Ladies as Jan, while David Del Rio (“Spare Parts,” “The Troop”) will play T-Bird Putzie.
Grammy Award-nominated singer Jessie J will open the live event with a performance of a brand-new version of “Grease (Is the Word),” first heard in the animated opening title sequence of the 1978 film, and written by Barry Gibb.
Joining the creative team, led by executive producer Marc Platt, is “Glee” and “Annie” choreographer Zach Woodlee. His work has been seen on previous television specials, including the 100th episode of “How I Met Your Mother” and 2008’s “MTV Movie Awards,” as well as in the films “Hairspray,” “27 Dresses,” “17 Again” and “Eat Pray Love."
The original 1972 Broadway production was choreographed by Patricia Birch, who also did the 1978 film version and its sequel. "In this live television adaptation of the musical classic," earlier press notes state, "the beginning of senior year means the end of Danny and Sandy's summer romance – until Sandy unexpectedly transfers to Danny’s high school. With their friends pulling them in different directions, it’s up to Danny and Sandy to stay hopelessly devoted as they make their way from Rydell High to a new frontier."
Grease: Live is a Paramount Television production, executive-produced by Marc Platt. Thomas Kail (Hamilton, In the Heights) is the director overseeing the stage direction, and Alex Rudzinski will serve as the live television director.
Broadway writers Robert Cary and Jonathan Tolins will write the television adaptation based on the original musical Grease by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey and Paramount Pictures’ 1978 feature adaptation.
