Pygmalion Records, Spain's new theatre-music recording label, debuted on July 13 with the release of Grease, a Spanish language concept album based on the Broadway musical. The release was celebrated with an all-star mini-concert at Madrid's Lope de Vega Theater on July 9. A full Spanish production is scheduled for January 1999 in Madrid. The album, featuring many well-known Spanish rock and pop singers, marks the start of Pygmalion Production's Grease en Espanol ("Grease in Spanish") project. The musical's presenter is the famous Spanish record producer Julian Ruiz.

At the concert, Luis Ramirez, owner of Pygmalion Productions (which also produced Man of La Mancha and Sweeney Todd), announced an aggressive advertising campaign for Grease, which would include television spots (directed by Juamma Bajo Ulloa) and an official website.

The full production boasts a budget of 400 million Spanish Pesetas. It will be, according to Ramirez, the most spectacular performance of Grease ever seen on stage, re-creating complex scenes from the film such as the race and the amusement park (with a 12 meter Ferris Wheel included).

Casting for the production began several weeks ago and, as of now, the producers have seen over 1000 people from all over the world. After its premiere in Madrid's Lope de Vega Theatre, Grease will tour to Montreal, Los Angeles, New York, Miami, Mexico City, Bogota, Caracas and Buenos Aires.

--By Carlos Lorenzo
Spain Correspondent