Oh Sandy: Olivia Newton-John to Appear on NBC's "Grease: You're the One That I Want"
By Ernio Hernandez
02 Jan 2007
Olivia Newton-John, who played Sandy opposite John Travolta's Danny in the "Grease" film, will guest star on the first two episodes of the upcoming NBC talent competition "Grease: You're the One That I Want" — which debuts Jan. 7 at 8 PM (ET).
"Access Hollywood" co-anchor Billy Bush and U.K. television and theatre star Denise Van Outen will host the show, which kicks off with two one-and-a-half hour shows (on Jan. 7 and 14) before continuing on Sunday nights in an hour-long format.
Bravo will rerun the program Tuesdays at 6:30 PM, Wednesdays at 12 AM, Thursdays at 11 PM and Friday at 5:30 PM. Check your local listings.
According to an NBC announcement, "Newton-John will provide her words of wisdom and advice on what it takes to fill the lead roles."
Newton-John joins a number of veterans of the Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey musical (from both stage and screen) who will appear as special guests on the series. Jeff Conaway (Kenickie in the film and a Danny replacement in the original Broadway show), Adrian Zmed (Danny replacement in original and revival, Johnny in "Grease 2"), Marilu Henner (Marty replacement in original Broadway run), Lucy Lawless (Rizzo replacement in revival) and Barry Bostwick (the original Broadway Danny Zuko) are slated to appear on the show as guests.
Jai Rodriguez (Rent, "Queer Eye For The Straight Guy") and Marissa Jaret Winokur (Tony Award winner from Hairspray) will also participate.
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Tony Award winner Kathleen Marshall (The Pajama Game) will direct and choreograph the new Broadway production as well as judge the competition. Her judging co-horts will be Grease co-creator Jim Jacobs and theatre producer David Ian.
Paul Nicholas and David Ian Associates, Nederlander Presentations and Phoenix Productions will produce the Broadway run of the show, which begins rehearsals on or about April 1, 2007.
The musical Grease debuted on Broadway Feb. 14, 1972 and captured the spirit of audiences with its the 1950's-set all-American lovestory of two teens from opposite sides of the fence who fall in love one summer only to discover each other again, this time attending Rydell High School. Will the "bad boy" and the "good girl" be able to rekindle their romance amid the politics of high school?
In 1978, Grease became "the word" with a popular feature-film adaptation starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John as the lovelorn leads. A Broadway revival played as recently as 1994-1998.
The new Broadway production will feature the smash Jacobs-Casey songs made famous by the original play including "Summer Nights," "Greased Lightning" and "We Go Together" as well as the four additional film songs "Grease is the Word," "You're the One That I Want," "Hopelessly Devoted to You" and "Sandy" interpolated into the score.
Tickets for Grease will go on sale Jan. 8, 2007. Group sales are
available now by calling Nederlander Group Sales at (212) 840-3890.
The NBC official website for the show can be found at nbc.com/Grease.
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