Webber to Appear on 'You're the One That I Want'

According to Andrew Lloyd Webber's video blog, the Tony Award-winning composer and producer will appear as an upcoming guest star on "Grease, You're the One That I Want," NBC's reality talent search for stars of the next Broadway revival of Grease.

"What else is new?  I've got to go over to America and do one of the 'You're the One That I Want Programs' over there in February, and then I'm really going to get started on The Master and Margarita, I've gotta just disappear for a week or two, and probably take the writer with me, so more of that anon," he said.  The Master and Margarita, based on the satirical Russian classic by Mikhail Bulgakov, was announced last year as the latest musical by Webber, whose many hits include Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita, Cats and The Phantom of the Opera.

As previously announced, Webber will also produce his own reality talent search, "Any Dream Will Do," leading to the casting of stars of an upcoming West End revival of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.  The show will air on BBC 1.

Webber also spoke about Andrea Ross, a 15-year old from Boston, whose debut album "Moon River" Webber will produce with Nigel Wright.  The album will be released on March 5th.  Ross, who played Gabriella in the world premiere stage production of High School Musical at Stage Door Manor, previously performed a ten-song recital at Webber's Sydmonton Festival; she had sent Webber a karaoke tape at the age of 13.  Ross can also be heard on the MySpace page of Webber's sons, Alaistair and Billy, who, with George Kirkpatrick, perform in the band Spinnin Webz.

"We have been writing songs over a long time now, we have about 19 tunes at the moment. The single 'Baby I Miss You' with Andrea Ross is potentially going to be the one that would be released," said Webber's sons, who are both in their early teens.

"You're the One That I Want," co-hosted by Billy Bush and Denise Van Outen, premiered on NBC on 8 PM on January 7th.  The competition for the roles of Sandy and Danny is currently between twelve young performers - all of whom passed through the performing trials of Grease Academy.  The six men and six women will be featured on the live shows, beginning January 28th, and audience votes will determine who stars on Broadway.

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.  Jim Jacobs, the co-creator of Grease, along with Marshall and renowned theatre producer David Ian, served 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.

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 on "You're the One That I Want," www.myspace.com/spinninwebz to hear songs by Spinnin Webz, www.andreaross.com to learn more about Andrea Ross, and www.andrewlloydwebber.com for more on Webber.