Ian and Cowell to Create UK 'Grease' Reality Search

America's "You're the One That I Want" won't be the only upcoming reality show to search for stars of a production of Grease.  Producer David Ian will join forces with reality mainstay Simon Cowell for a British counterpart, according to London Theatre Guide.

Ian, who is also involved in the American "You're the One That I Want," worked with Andrew Lloyd Webber on the UK ratings-topper "How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria," which led to the casting of Connie Fisher as the star of the current hit West End revival of The Sound of Music.  Both versions of the Grease reality show will determine who plays Sandy and Danny in the upcoming revivals.

Ian will co-produce the West End revival of Grease.

"The announcement that the pair has gone their separate ways to work on new shows for rival channels sets the stage for a ratings war next year," according to the article.  While Ian is busy with both versions of "You're the One That I Want," Lloyd Webber is planning a new reality show - "Any Dream Will Do" - that will search for stars for an upcoming London revival of his Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. 

Ian will produce the British "You're the One That I Want" for Cowell's production company Syco, as well as Talkback Thames; the American version is a collaboration with the BBC.  Producer/panelist Cowell is known to reality talent show viewers for his stints on "American Idol," "Pop Idol" and "The X Factor."

The American version of "You're the One That I Want" will debut on NBC on January 7th.  Billy Bush and Denise Van Outen co-host the show.  The Broadway revival of Grease, directed and choreographed by Kathleen Marshall, will open on Broadway in June 2007.

Grease, as press notes describe the 1971 musical, "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."