The producers of the Tony Award nominated new Broadway production of GREASE are proud to announce that "American Idol" Season Five winner, Taylor Hicks, will make his Broadway debut when he joins the cast in the role of "Teen Angel" on Friday, June 6, 2008 at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre.
Taylor Hicks achieved widespread fame in 2006 as a contestant on the hugely successful FOX singing competition "American Idol." On May 24, 2006, Hicks was named the winner of the fifth season of "Idol" with over 63.4 million votes in total. Winning the title over Katharine McPhee, the announcement was made during the live finale episode which aired to a worldwide audience of over 200 million viewers.
Born in Birmingham, Alabama, Taylor Hicks' passion for music began at an early age. He toured the Southeastern Unites States during his teenage years and released two independent albums. Known for his energetic performances with influences derived from classic soul, blues and R&B music, he quickly grew a large fan base among the millions of viewers and voters who tuned in to "Idol" each week. His fans ultimately dubbed themselves the "Soul Patrol." Immediately following "Idol," Hicks signed a recoding contract with 19 Records Limited / Arista Records. His debut single, "Do I Make You Proud," debuted in the #1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 and was subsequently certified Gold. His eponymous debut album, Taylor Hicks was released on December 12, 2006 and debuted in the #2 spot on the Billboard 200 charts and was later certified as a Platinum Album. After signing a book deal with Random House, Hicks' memoir Heart Full of Soul: An Inspirational Memoir About Finding Your Voice and Finding Your Way was released in July of 2007.
"I am incredibly excited to be a part of one of my favorite musicals" says Hicks. "The Soul Patrol's gonna invade Broadway!"
GREASE™ opened on Broadway at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre (256 West 47th Street) on Sunday, August 19, 2007 following preview performances which began on Tuesday, July 24, 2007. Directed and choreographed by two-time Tony Award-winner
Kathleen Marshall (The Pajama Game, Wonderful Town), GREASE™ features book, music and lyrics by
Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey.
After 12 weeks of nationally televised auditions, 90 million viewers and millions of votes,
Laura Osnes and
Max Crumm are the ones that America wants to play the iconic roles of "Sandy" and "Danny" in the new Broadway production of GREASE™. The two winners were announced during the live finale episode of the NBC talent competition series "GREASE: YOU'RE THE ONE THAT I WANT" on Sunday, March 25, 2007.
In addition to
Max Crumm as "Danny" and
Laura Osnes as "Sandy," GREASE™ also stars
Ryan Patrick Binder as "Doody,"
Susan Blommaert as "Miss Lynch," Will Blum as "Roger,"
Jeb Brown as "Vince,"
Stephen Buntrock as "Teen Angel" (through June 5),
Allison Fischer as "Patty,"
Robyn Hurder as "Marty,"
Lindsay Mendez as "Jan,"
Jenny Powers as "Rizzo,"
Jose Restrepo as "Sonny,"
Matthew Saldivar as "Kenickie,"
Jamison Scott as "Eugene" and
Kirsten Wyatt as "Frenchy." The ensemble of GREASE™ features
Josh Franklin,
Cody Green,
Natalie Hill ("Cha-Cha"), Matthew Hydzik,
Emily Padgett, Keven Quillon,
Brian Sears,
Christina Sivrich,
Amber Stone and
Anna Aimee White.
After spending a hopelessly devoted summer with Sandy Dumbrowski (Osnes), the new girl in town, Danny Zuko's (
Max Crumm) 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™ features songs from the smash hit 1978 motion picture for the first tim ever on Broadway 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 including "Summer Nights," "
Greased Lightnin'" and "We Go Together."
The new production of GREASE™ features 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), lighting design by Tony Award winner Kenneth Posner (The Coast of Utopia,
Wicked) and sound design by
Brian Ronan (
Spring Awakening,
Curtains).
GREASE™ is produced on Broadway by Paul Nicholas and David Ian, Nederlander Presentations, Inc. and Terry Allen Kramer by arrangement with Robert Stigwood.
Tickets for GREASE™ are $121.50 - $71.50 and are available through TicketMaster at (212) 307-4100 or
www.ticketmaster.com or by visiting the Brooks Atkinson box office. Group Sales are available by calling Nederlander Group Sales at 212-840-3890. Premium seating is available.
Performances are Tuesdays at 7 p.m., Thursday through Saturday at 8 p.m., Wednesday and Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sundays at 2 and 7 p.m. For more information on the show and ticket availability, please visit our website,
www.greaseonbroadway.com
