Spencer's hometown paper, The Repository, of Canton, OH, reported on June 24 that Spencer, already a Broadway presence as Amber in Hairspray, will succeed Laura Osnes in Grease at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre. CantonRep.com reported that she'll be joined by "You're the One That I Want" finalist Derek Keeling, who'll succeed Max Crumm as Danny. They will reportedly begin performances July 22.
Osnes and Crumm were winners in the 2007 televised competition that sought to cast the new Broadway revival of the hit musical. Spencer placed second. Keeling was a finalist. In fall 2007 he was featured in the pre-Broadway run of the new musical A Tale of Two Cities.
This lead casting has not been officially announced by the producers of Grease, who have had a hit on their hands since summer 2007.
The current cast of Grease, directed and choreographed by Kathleen Marshall, includes Janine DiVita as Rizzo (starting June 26), Crumm as Danny, Osnes as Sandy, Ryan Patrick Binder as Doody, Susan Blommaert as Miss Lynch, Will Blum as Roger, Jeb Brown as Vince, Allison Fischer as Patty, Robyn Hurder as Marty, Lindsay Mendez as Jan, Jose Restrepo as Sonny, Matthew Saldivar as Kenickie, Jamison Scott as Eugene, Kirsten Wyatt as Frenchy and American Idol winner Taylor Hicks as Teen Angel. The ensemble comprises Josh Franklin, Natalie Hill, Matthew Hydzik, Keven Quillon, Allie Schultz, Brian Sears, Christina Sivrich, Amber Stone and Anna Aimee White.
* "After spending a hopelessly devoted summer with Sandy Dumbrowski (Osnes), the new girl in town," Grease press notes state, "Danny Zuko's (Max Crumm) 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.
Grease debuted on Broadway in February 1972 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.
