Finalists Spencer and Keeling From Grease Reality TV Show To Be Broadway Replacements

Ashley Spencer and Derek Keeling, who were both finalists on the NBC reality show Grease - You're the One That I Want, are set to finally play the roles of Sandy and Danny on Broadway after the winners of the TV show (Laura Osnes and Max Crumm) depart the Broadway revival on July 20. Keeling has had a good warm-up, having played Danny in a national tour of Grease. And Spencer has been getting plenty of Broadway experience in another show, Hairspray. The pair will assume their long-awaited roles in Broadway's Grease on July 22.

Idol Taylor Hicks To Make Broadway Debut

In another case of reality TV show mixing, American Idol winner Taylor Hicks is set to make his first Broadway bow in the Broadway revival of Grease. Season Five Idol winner Hicks will play the Teen Angel in Grease beginning June 6 in an engagement that is expected to go through September 7.

Grease Reality TV Show Finalist Kate Rockwell Joins Broadway Cast of Legally Blonde

Kate Rockwell, one of the finalists on the NBC reality TV series Grease - You're The One That I Want, is coming to Broadway, but not as a cast member of Grease. Rockwell is joining the cast of Broadway's Legally Blonde as Elle Woods's sorority sister, Margot. Legally Blonde will be further in the grip of reality TV fever next month, when the Broadway musical comedy's own reality series debuts on MTV.

Cast of Broadway's Grease To Appear at Virgin Megastore Today

Max Crumm, Laura Osnes, and other members of the cast of the current Broadway revival of Grease are appearing today at the Virgin Megastore in Times Square at 6:30pm. The Grease kids are gathering to celebrate the new Broadway cast recording of the show, which was released on October 2. Crumm, Osnes, and company will perform four songs at the event, and then they will sign copies of the CD for fans.

Grease Opens on Broadway

The new revival of the musical Grease opened on Broadway last night, and it looks like the reviews have (predictably) been largely negative. However, the critics -- and the rain -- couldn't dampen the spirits of the celebs who showed up on opening night, the enthusiastic audience, and the cast itself. nytix was there to record all the Broadway buzz, and soon we will have the footage up on our site. In the meantime, check out our stage door footage from the first Broadway preview performance of Grease here.

Grease Opens in London

Broadway isn't the only place feeling the heat of greased lightin' right now. Tonight is the opening of the latest London revival of Grease, which, like the current Broadway production, cast its two leads with the help of a reality TV show. The viewers of British television show Grease Is the Word chose Danny Bayne and Susan McFadden to play Danny and Sandy in the London production. Maybe somebody should create a reality show that pits all of the winners of Grease reality shows against each other to see who comes out on top?

Grease Is the Word!

nytix was at the very first performance of the new Broadway revival of Grease, and fans of Max Crumm and Laura Osnes, the winners of NBC's reality TV show Grease - You're the One That I Want, will be happy to know that the young Broadway debutantes acquitted themselves nicely. With a naturally sweet demeanor and a lovely voice, Laura makes an ideal Sandy. Max still strikes one as ever-so-slightly miscast as leather-clad leader-of-the-pack Danny, but the kid is so confident and talented that he's a joy to watch perform.

As it opens with the guys and gals of Rydell High School crooning the seductively hip "Grease is the Word," this Kathleen Marshall-directed production of the perennial American favorite looks like it might finally put the "cool" back in Grease. But it doesn't take long before the show's inherent bubble gumminess starts to ooze out, and the fact that the storyline isn't always coherent doesn't help. However, in addition to Max and Laura, Marshall has assembled a strong cast that -- even in their first performance -- were full of energy and assurance and had no problem whatsoever revving up the audience. When these kids break into classics like "Summer Nights," "Greased Lightnin'," and "We Go Together," you can't help but get caught up in the fun.

To hear the audience, which undoubtedly was full of fans of the TV show, you would have thought it was a Beatles concert. The hooting, wild applause, and at times even screams (yes, screams!) made the show more than just another performance of a Broadway musical -- this show is an event. The official opening of Grease is not until August 19, so what kinks the production has will likely be ironed out. The fact remains that the show itself is far from the strongest in the musical theatre canon, but this production still makes it a silly good time.

Grease Begins Performances on Broadway Tonight

Tonight, the new Broadway production of Grease will have its first official performance. Stars Max Crumm and Laura Osnes won the lead roles of Danny and Sandy on the reality TV series Grease - You're the One That I Want, which aired earlier this year. Nytix will be getting footage of the stage door after this first performance, so be sure to check back at www.nytix.com in the coming days!