Powers, Saldivar, Wyatt, Etc. Join Cast of Grease Revival

A video Grease/video/#mea=85324">announcement on the "Grease: You're the One That I Want" website reveals that more casting has been set for the upcoming Broadway revival of Grease.

The show will feature Robyn Hurder (Chicago) as Marty, Jenny Powers (Little Women, Encores! Of Thee I Sing) as Rizzo, Matthew Saldivar (The Wedding Singer) as Kenickie, Kirsten Wyatt (High Fidelity, Urinetown) as Frenchie, Lindsay Mendez as Jan, José Restrepo (Fame on 42nd Street) as Sonny and Daniel Everidge as Roger.  They join the previously announced Laura Osnes as Sandy and Max Crumm as Danny.  Both were chosen through the NBC reality talent search "Grease: You're the One That I Want," which recently concluded. More casting will be announced

The new production of Grease will open on Broadway in June 2007 and will be directed and choreographed by two-time Tony Award-winner Kathleen Marshall (The Pajama Game).  Paul Nicholas and David Ian Associates, Nederlander Presentations and Phoenix Productions will produce. 

The new production will feature scenic design by Tony Award nominee Derek McLane (The Pajama Game), costume design by two-time Tony Award winner Martin Pakledinaz (Thoroughly Modern Millie, Kiss Me Kate) and lighting design by Tony Award nominee Kenneth Posner (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Wicked).

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. 

On November 21, 1972, the show moved to the Royale Theatre.  It closed on Broadway after playing 3,388 performances, closing as the longest running show in Broadway history.  In 1978, Grease became a hugely popular feature film starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John in the lead roles.   A Broadway revival opened on May 11, 1994 at the Eugene O'Neil Theatre where it played 1,503 performances and won three Tony Award nominations.  A London revival opened on July 15, 1993 at  the Dominion Theatre and ran for 6 years on London's West End and is still touring today.

The new Broadway production will feature the smash Jacobs/Casey songs made famous by the the original play, including "Summer Nights," "Greased  Lightning" and "We Go Together." "You're the One That We Want" is produced by BBC Worldwide Productions. The BBC's Paul Telegdy, Emmy nominated Conrad Green ("Dancing with the Stars") and David Ian are the Executive Producers.

Tickets for Grease are now on sale.  Group Sales are available now by calling Nederlander Group Sales at 212-840-3890.

Visit www.nbc.com/grease for more information.

Photo of Jenny Powers by Ben Strothmann