Grease: Live will star the previously announced Julianne Hough as Sandy, Aaron Tveit as Danny, Vanessa Hudgens as Rizzo, Carlos PenaVega as Kenickie, Keke Palmer as Marty, as Frenchy, Kether Donohue as Jan, as Vince Fontaine, as Putzie, as Patty Simcox, Jordan Fisher as Doody, as Sonny and Yvette Gonzalez-Nacer as Cha Cha.
Grammy Award-nominated singer Jessie J will open the 7 PM ET live event with a performance of a brand-new version of "Grease (Is the Word)," first heard in the animated opening title sequence of the 1978 film, and written by Barry Gibb.
(Hamilton, In the Heights) is the director overseeing the stage direction, and Alex Rudzinski will serve as the live television director. The creative team features "Glee" and "" choreographer Zach Woodlee, whose work has been seen on previous television specials, including the 100th episode of "How I Met Your Mother" and 2008's "MTV Movie Awards," as well as in the films "Hairspray," "27 Dresses," "17 Again" and "Eat Pray Love."
The original 1972 Broadway production was choreographed by , who also did the 1978 film version and its sequel.
Grease: Live, according to Fox, "will reintroduce and reimagine some of the show's most memorable moments, great music and timeless love story to an entirely new generation. In this live television adaptation of the musical classic, the beginning of senior year means the end of Danny and Sandy's summer romance 鈥� until Sandy unexpectedly transfers to Danny's high school. With their friends pulling them in different directions, it's up to Danny and Sandy to stay hopelessly devoted as they make their way from Rydell High to a new frontier."
Grease: Live is a Paramount Television production, executive-produced by Platt.
Broadway writers and will write the television adaptation based on the original musical Grease by and and Paramount Pictures鈥� 1978 feature adaptation.
