"That's Where It Ends": Grease Revival Closes on Broadway Jan. 4
By Andrew Gans
04 Jan 2009
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Grease's Keeling and Spencer
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| photo by Joan Marcus | Grease, the first Broadway musical to have its leads cast via reality TV, plays its final performance at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre Jan. 4 at 7 PM. When it closes, the production — directed and choreographed by Kathleen Marshall — will have played 31 previews and 554 regular performances.
The '50s-set musical began previews at the Atkinson July 24, 2007, and officially opened Aug. 19, 2007. At that time the cast was headed by Max Crumm as Danny Zuko and Laura Osnes as Sandy Dumbrowski; both Crumm and Osnes won their roles on the NBC casting competition "Grease: You're the One That I Want."
The current cast includes Ashley Spencer as Sandy and Derek Keeling as Danny, both contestants on the aforementioned "You're the One That I Want," with "American Idol" finalist Ace Young as Kenickie, Ryan Patrick Binder as Doody, Susan Blommaert as Miss Lynch, Stephen Buntrock as Teen Angel, Todd Buonopane as Roger, Xavier Cano as Sonny, Janine DiVita as Rizzo, Allison Fischer as Patty, Mike McGowan as Vince, Lindsay Mendez as Jan, Jamison Scott as Eugene, Kirsten Wyatt as Frenchy and Helene York as Marty with Natalie Hill (Cha-Cha ), Joe Komara, Amanda Lea LaVergne, Joseph Medeiros, Keven Quillon, Christina Rose, Josh Rouah, Christina Sivrich, Amber Stone and Jason Wooten.
"Grease has been a staple of theatrical entertainment and pop culture on stage and screen for over 30 years. It has been exceedingly rewarding to bring this iconic musical back to Broadway in a new production. The exuberance of our talented young company has been witnessed by the thousands of theatergoers who came from across the country to see a Broadway show, many for the first time. In these difficult economic times, the partners have decided to end our run on Broadway and focus our efforts on the first national tour which successfully launched in Providence last night," said Grease producer Nick Scandalios in a statement.
The musical was nominated for a 2008 Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical.
"After spending a hopelessly devoted summer with Sandy Dumbrowski (Spencer), the new girl in town," Grease press notes state, "Danny Zuko's (Keeling) world is thrown upside down when Sandy appears at Rydell High on the first day of school. What follows is a rock 'n' roll celebration of growin' up, cruisin' with friends and goin' steady."
Grease features scenic design by Derek McLane, costume design by Martin Pakledinaz, lighting design by Kenneth Posner and sound design by Brian Ronan.
Grease features book, music and lyrics by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey. The new production also boasts songs from the hit 1978 film, which co-starred John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John. Among the film songs heard in the Broadway revival are "Sandy," "Hopelessly Devoted to You," "Grease" and "You're the One That I Want."
The new cast recording of Grease is available on the Masterworks Broadway label.
After playing an Off-Broadway engagement at the Eden Theatre, Grease debuted on Broadway in June 1972 at the Broadhurst with a cast that included Barry Bostwick (Danny), Carole Demas (Sandy) and Adrienne Barbeau (Rizzo). The musical closed in April 1980, after playing 20 previews and 3,388 performances. The 1994 revival cast Rosie O'Donnell in the role of Rizzo.
Grease is produced on Broadway by Paul Nicholas and David Ian, Nederlander Presentations, Inc. and Terry Allen Kramer by arrangement with Robert Stigwood.
Tickets for Grease, priced $71.50-$121.50, are available by calling (212) 307-4100 or by visiting www.ticketmaster.com.
For more information visit www.greaseonbroadway.com.
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