Alex Rudzinski (“Dancing with the Stars”) will serve as the live broadcast director. Marc Platt (Wicked, Into the Woods) will be executive producer for the live performance that will be broadcast 7-10 PM (ET live/PT tape-delayed) Jan. 31, 2016, on the Fox network.
Vanessa Hudgens, who is making her Main Stem debut in the Broadway musical Gigi, and "Dancing With the Stars" alum (and judge) Julianne Hough were previously announced to topline the production. Hough will play Sandy, and Hudgens will play Rizzo.
As previously announced, FOX will broadcast a live television presentation of the Broadway musical, which will feature songs from the original 1972 stage production and the 1978 film.
In a statement, Hough said that she has "literally been waiting my whole life to play Sandy... This is my dream role and performing it live on television will be one of the most thrilling opportunities I've had in my career so far."
Fox announced the live musical plans following NBC's December 2013 presentation of The Sound of Music Live!, which was a ratings blockbuster for the network. The three-hour broadcast of "Grease Live" will "reimagine" the popular musical, featuring the Warren Casey-Jim Jacobs songs from the stage production, in addition to "Hopelessly Devoted to You" and "You're the One That I Want," which were written by John Farrar for the film.
The live television event will feature a young ensemble cast of actors. "Grease Live" will be a Paramount Television production, and Marc Platt is an executive producer.
"From Broadway to film, and across generations, Grease is one of the most beloved musical stories ever told – and we can't wait to bring it to our air in a spectacular live event," said Shana C. Waterman, senior vice president of Event Series for Fox, in a previous statement. "Its iconic characters and addictive songs make it the perfect fit for FOX, and we're going to give it the kind of star power and production quality to make every Sandy, Danny, Rizzo and Kenickie out there want to get up and sing along."
