BBC Worldwide Productions teams with NBC for the mid-season show in which America will decide the two leads for the new Broadway show. Tony Award-winner Kathleen Marshall (The Pajama Game) will direct and choreograph the new staging as well as judge the competition — along with 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.
"The winning appeal of Grease and its timeless score and storyline extends across all generations and will make for a fantastic series. Americans have grown up with these catchy tunes and appealing characters and we think they'll love the chance to select the next dynamic duo to play Sandy and Danny," stated NBC Entertainment senior vice president of alternative programming and development Craig Plestis.
BBC Worldwide director of content & production Wayne Garvie stated, "This show is the real deal, a talent search with a phenomenal and tangible prize. We've got judges with the best credentials and with a huge investment in the success on Broadway. The stakes have never been higher in a talent show, with America eventually deciding on the next Sandy and Danny."
The musical Grease — by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey — 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 the original play including "Summer Nights," "Greased Lightning" and "We Go Together."
Tickets for Grease will go on sale Dec. 1, 2006. Group sales are available now by calling Nederlander Group Sales at (212) 840-3890.
