Grease lightning live fox8/13/2023 ![]() ![]() With so much at stake, “Grease” is no kid stuff. And NBC has no reason to stop: Its next project will be “Hairspray.” ![]() The network also announced a production of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” for fall, starring Laverne Cox.ĪBC is getting into the game, preparing a (taped) “Dirty Dancing” with Abigail Breslin. “Grease: Live” is just the first musical Fox has planned. ![]() The set will be well protected by plastic sheeting, keeping “Grease” from turning into “Singin’ in the Rain.” This could be problematic, given that Sunday’s forecast – thanks to El Niño – is for rain in Southern California. Some of the production will be shot outdoors on a carnival set. Kitt and collaborator Brian Yorkey have written two new songs.Īside from the television audience, the show will have a live audience as well – sometimes visible in the production.ĭesigner Korins built a “cafegymatorium” for the show, but not all of “Grease” will be set indoors. The New York Times reported that the budget is $16 million – massive for television – and the live production will be accompanied by a behind-the-scenes “Internet experience” and a soundtrack album.Īside from Kail, the musical’s brain trust includes “Wicked” producer Marc Platt, “Hamilton” designer David Korins and award-winning composer and music director Tom Kitt. The live-musical game has been golden for the Peacock Network: “The Sound of Music” and “The Wiz,” in particular, brought NBC large audiences.įox has mounted a huge push for “Grease: Live,” as you’ve probably noticed by all the ads during football games. “I want people to do new plays on television.” “I deeply believe that theater should be for everyone,” he told The New York Times. Kail likes the idea of mixing it up between stage and screen. (Also in the cast: “Brady Bunch” favorite Eve Plumb and “Wire” and “Treme” notable Wendell Pierce.)īut the real ace may be the TV production’s director: Kail, who’s the director of the Broadway phenomenon “Hamilton.” Jeff Conaway and Travolta, both of whom also played Broadway, were in the movie version with Stockard Channing, Didi Conn, Michael Tucci and Newton-John.īut the TV version has a few aces, including Vanessa Hudgens as Rizzo, Carly Rae Jepsen as Frenchy and Keke Palmer as Marty alongside Julianne Hough’s Sandy and stage veteran Aaron Tveit’s Danny. The stage and movie versions of “Grease” are hard acts to follow: Among the performers who played the Broadway version are Barry Bostwick, Adrienne Barbeau, Richard Gere, Patrick Swayze, Marilu Henner, Treat Williams and Peter Gallagher. It’s got an able cast – and a terrific director. “To try to honor that and pay homage to something that has moved us and we have such a great affection for, and then try to make our own version of it.” “One of the things we really were very focused on was trying to capture the spirit of both the original companies of ‘Grease’ and that film that has left such an indelible impression on all of us,” director Thomas Kail told The Hollywood Reporter. (In fact, post-film stage productions generally have incorporated some of the film’s material.) Congrats to all - cast, crew, producers.But despite the long run of the show – when the original production closed in 1980, it was the longest-running show in Broadway history – and countless amateur presentations, the film is so deeply etched in people’s minds that it must be acknowledged. Fox's Grease Live sets a new standard for live TV musicals. However, the forced diversity wasn't too glaring and didn't hurt the show overall. It was the equivalent of sticking a bunch of Whites or Asians in The Wiz or Purlie. This Grease version tried a little too hard to integrate the cast and with the exception of the Coach, that really didn't work. The movie was virtually all white as fit the setting of 1959. Unlike NBC, the cameramen did not wind up in each other's shots. Except for a 20 second audio loss during Hand Jive, there was no major technical glitch. GREASE LIVE 'Grease Lighting' FOX Griffin Marini 7.87K subscribers Subscribe 824 139K views 7 years ago Danny and Sandy recount their summertime. The supporting cast was enthusiastic and well-rehearsed. The guy playing Danny - Aaron Tveit - had the right looks and build for the role and is an excellent singer-dancer-actor. I cannot think of anyone who could have done it better. A very young 27, beautiful and talented performer, she was a perfect choice to play Sandy. Julianne Hough was absolutely outstanding. The camera-work was first rate and the audio mix was very good. What a far cry from the lame leads on NBC's versions of The Wiz, Peter Pan and Sound of Music. The two lead actors were up to the roles. For the most part, Fox really got it right. ![]()
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