In Grease tour news, Peter Scolari will step into the role of deejay Vince Fontaine when the tour hits Detroit's Fox Theatre, Nov. 19.
This is the touring production of Grease! that will open on Broadway for a five-performance stand Nov. 29-Dec. 1. Detroit will get to see it first.
Scolari, best known from TV's "Bosom Buddies" and "Newhart" shows, as well as his recent television appearance in Stop The World, I Want To Get Off, will take over for Donnie Most, forever remembered as Ralph on ABC-TV's sitcom, "Happy Days."
Scolari's other credits include the ABC movie, "Fire! Trapped On The 37th Floor" and the CBS sitcom, "Dweebs." A professional juggler, Scolari spent seven years with the prestigious Colonnades Theatre Lab in New York where he worked with Jeff Goldblum, Rhea Pearlman and Danny DeVito.
The tour has been doing 90 percent business (according to Director of Marketing and Publicity Anita Dloniak) and will follow Detroit (Nov. 19-27) with stints in NY (Nov. 29-Dec. 1); at Pittsburgh's Benedum (Dec. 3-Dec. 8) and Boston's Colonial Theatre (Dec. 10-Jan. 5, 1997). When the show reaches Ottawa, Canada on Jan. 7, a new (as yet unnanounced) cast will be in place. Richmond, VA, will follow Ottawa (Jan. 14-Jan. 19, 1997). The current cast includes Sally Struthers, Adrian Zmed, and Christiane Noll (Sandy). The word on Broadway's Grease! is that Tracy Nelson is all set to take over for Sheena Easton as Betty Rizzo, Nov. 26-Jan. 12, followed by Jasmine Guy, Jan. 13-March 16, 1997.
Tracy Nelson may best be known for appearing as a nun opposite Tom Bosley on TV's "Father Dowling Mysteries." Jasmine Guy came to national prominence on the post-Cosby sitcom, "A Different World."
Like several other Broadway musicals (Sunset Boulevard, Cats) Grease is cutting prices in a special "Winter Sale." Between Jan. 5 and Feb. 7, 1997, the show will institute a buy-one-get one-free ticket policy for Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday evening performances. Tickets must be ordered by Dec. 15, 1996.
For more Grease stuff, check out the Playbill On-Line story, "Cousin Brucie Opens Grease! Hall of Fame."
-- By David Lefkowitz
