Josh Franklin Joins Touring Cast Of GREASE 2/19 In Washington DC.

The producers of the new Broadway production of GREASE^TM are pleased to announce that Josh Franklin has joined the cast as "Danny." Josh Franklin replaces Ace Young who will be joining the Broadway cast of HAIR. Josh Franklin takes over the role of "Danny" on Friday, February 19, 2010, in Washington DC.

Josh Franklin is an actor/singer/songwriter originally from Colorado. He just completed a year with the national tour of Jersey Boys, as Bob Gaudio. He returns to Grease after being a part of the Broadway production (u/s Danny, Teen Angel, Vince). His other credits include Legally Blonde (u/s Emmett) on Broadway and the national tours of All Shook Up (u/s Chad) and Disney's On The Record.
"American Idol" Season 5 winner Taylor Hicks continues to star as "Teen Angel." Taylor Hicks made his debut on Broadway in the role. He achieved widespread fame in 2006 as a contestant on the hugely successful FOX singing competition "American Idol."

The tour continues to star Lauren Ashley Zakrin as "Sandy," Will Blum as "Roger," Bridie Carroll as "Jan," Kate Morgan Chadwick as "Frenchy," Laura D'Andre as "Rizzo," Kelly Felthous as "Marty," Allison Fischer as "Patty Simcox," Dominic Fortuna as "Vince Fontaine," Jesse JP Johnson as "Doody," Roxie Lucas as "Miss Lynch," David Ruffin as "Kenickie," Jamison Scott as "Eugene," and Nick Verina as "Sonny."

The ensemble features Joseph Corella, Preston Ellis, Erin Henry, Ruby Lewis, Dayla Perkins, Mark Raumaker, Mike Russo, Matthew William Schmidt, Christina Sivrich and Elizabeth Stacey.
After spending a hopelessly devoted summer with Sandy Dumbrowski, the new girl in town, Danny Zuko's world is thrown upside down when Sandy appears at Rydell High on the first day of school. What follows is a rock n' roll celebration of growin' up, cruisin' with friends and goin' steady. The new production of GREASE^TM features songs from the smash hit 1978 motion picture for the first time ever in a Broadway production including "Sandy," the Academy Award nominated song "Hopelessly Devoted to You," "Grease" and "You're the One That I Want" - both of which were #1 hits on the Billboard Top 100 list. These songs will be heard in addition to the Jacobs/Casey songs made famous by the original stage production: "Summer Nights," "Greased Lightnin'" and "We Go Together."

Directed and choreographed by two-time Tony Award-winner Kathleen Marshall (The Pajama Game, Wonderful Town), GREASE^TM features book, music and lyrics by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey. Additional songs from the movie are by Barry Gibb, John Farrar, Louis St. Louis and Scott Simon. GREASE^TM features scenic design by Tony Award winner Derek McLane (33 Variations), costume design by two-time Tony Award winner Martin Pakledinaz (Thoroughly Modern Millie, Kiss Me Kate), lighting design by Tony Award winner Kenneth Posner (The Coast of Utopia, Wicked) and sound design by Brian Ronan (Spring Awakening, Curtains).

GREASE^TM is produced on tour by Paul Nicholas and David Ian, Nederlander Presentations, Inc. and Terry Allen Kramer by arrangement with Robert Stigwood.

The national tour of GREASE^TM continues as follows:
- Now - February 21, at the National Theatre, Washington DC
- February 23 - 28, at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts, Milwaukee, WI
- March 9 - 14, at the Benedum Center, Pittsburgh, PA
- March 16 - 21, at the Auditorium Theatre, Rochester, NY (Taylor Hicks will not appear in Rochester)
- March 23 - 28, at Shea's Performing Arts Center, Buffalo, NY
- April 7 - 18, at the Canon Theatre, Toronto, ONT
- April 20 -25, at the Hershey Theatre, Hershey, PA
- April 27 - May 2, at the Times Union Center, Jacksonville, FL
- May 4 - 9, at the Walton Arts Center, Fayetteville, AR
- May 11 - 23, at the Palace Theatre, Cleveland, OH
End of tour