Vape! The Grease Parody gets a one-night-only benefit concert performance at NYC's The Town Hall March 11. Seth Rudetsky is hosting and serves as a creative consultant alongside James Wesley Jackson. Jack Plotnick (Disaster!) is directing, with proceeds benefiting The Entertainment Community Fund.
An array of theatre favorites has been assembled to star in the new musical, including Kerry Butler (Xanadu) as Sandy, James Carpinello (Xanadu) as Danny, Ann Harada (Schmigadoon!) as Jan, Jackie Hoffman (Feud: Bette and Joan) as Rizzo, Aisha Jackson (The Notebook) as Frenchie, Joel Perez (Fun Home) as Kenickie, Jelani Remy (Back to the Future) as Sonny, Rachel Dratch (POTUS) as Teen Angel, and Amy Spanger (Rock of Ages) as Marty.
The work, which made its world premiere in Atlanta in 2018, has been sidelined by a protracted legal battle with the rights-holders of Grease. A planned 2019 NYC debut was called off after the production was served with a cease-and-desist letter. The producers of Vape! then sued, believing the work was protected by fair use and parody law, which was affirmed following a two-and-a-half-year-long legal battle. The musical is by Catie Hogan and Sketchworks Comedy, with lyrics and additional book by Billy Recce and Danny Salles.
The concert performance features music supervision and arrangements by Lena Gabrielle, costume and prop design by Brendan McCann, lighting design by Jamie Roderick, and sound design by Shannon Slaton. Visceral Entertainment is general managing.
Sketchworks Comedy and Visceral Entertainment are producing.
Tickets are at .
