Olivia Newton-John to Appear on NBC's Grease Reality Show

It was announced today during a press call about the upcoming NBC reality show that film star Olivia Newton-John had agreed to appear on the first two episodes of the show.  Also during the call, director Kathleen Marshall revealed that the Broadway production will be the first to use a blend of material from the film and the stage show including the first live performance of songs like "You're The One That I Want" and "Hopelessly Devoted." The script she stated, will likely be closer to the Broadway script, than the film script. 

It's hoped that other Grease alumni will make appearances throughout the show's run as audience members or to reminisce about their times in the show.

"You're the One That I Want," produced by David Ian, will center on the search for stars on an upcoming Broadway revival of Grease, directed and choreographed by Kathleen Marshall.

After the first two hour-and-a-half-long episodes air on NBC on January 7th and 14th, "You're the One That I Want" will be seen weekly on that channel on Sunday nights in hour installments (check local listings).  Bravo will re-air the episodes on Tuesdays at 6:30 PM, Wednesdays at 12 AM and Thursdays at 11 PM (check local listings).

In addition, a number of Grease stars - from the original stage production, the last Broadway revival, the film version and its sequel Grease 2 - will make guest appearances on the reality show.  The line-up includes Barry Bostwick (original Danny Zuko on Broadway), Jeff Conaway (Danny replacement in the original run and Kenickie in the film), Marilu Henner (Marty replacement in original run), Lucy Lawless (Rizzo replacement in Broadway revival), and Adrian Zmed (Danny replacement in original run and revival, and Johnny in Grease 2).  Jai Rodriguez ("Queer Eye...," Rent, Zanna Don't) and Tony Award-winner Marissa Jaret Winokur (Hairspray) will also appear as guests.

"You're the One That I Want," will be, as previously announced, co-hosted by "Access Hollywood"'s co-anchor Billy Bush and West End theatre and British TV star Denise Van Outen (Chicago, Tell Me on a Sunday).

The new production of Grease will open on Broadway in June 2007 and will be directed and choreographed by two-time Tony Award-winner Marshall (The Pajama Game).  Paul Nicholas and David Ian Associates, Nederlander Presentations and Phoenix Productions will produce.  Jim Jacobs, the co-creator of Grease, along with Marshall and renowned theatre producer David Ian are set as judges on "You're the One That We Want." 

Grease, by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey, "is the all-American musical, based on the sub-cultures of high school life in the 1950's.  The show takes place at the hyperactive Rydell High School, where Danny Zuko fronts his gang - the raucous T-Birds - who romance their sassy female equivalents - the Pink Ladies.  When 'good-girl' Sandy Dumbrowski arrives in town, the Pink Ladies  take her under their collective wing," as the show is described in press notes.

Grease originated in Chicago and made its premiere at The Kingston Mines Theater in 1971 before making its New York premiere off-Broadway at the Eden Theatre on February 14, 1972.  After 128 performances and much popularity,  the show made the transition to Broadway taking up residence at the Broadhurst Theatre on June 7, 1972.  Grease was nominated for seven Tony Awards in its initial run. 

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