BWW Live Blog: Head Back to Rydell High with GREASE: LIVE

Wow, did GREASE: LIVE deliver! I thoroughly enjoyed watching this production, and FOX came out so strong with their first live-musical. Everything from the acting, to the music, to the choreography, and especially the directing was perfect, and the entire show was so entertaining! Keep reading to see my live-blog from the night!

GREASE: LIVE will reintroduce and reimagine some of the show's most memorable moments, great music and timeless love story to an entirely new generation. In this live television adaptation of the musical classic, the beginning of senior year means the end of Danny and Sandy's summer romance - until Sandy unexpectedly transfers to Danny's high school. With their friends pulling them in different directions, it's up to Danny and Sandy to stay hopelessly devoted as they make their way from Rydell High to a new frontier.

The live event stars Julianne Hough ("Safe Haven," "Rock of Ages") as the angelic "Sandy" - Rydell High's most talked-about newcomer - and Aaron Tveit ("Graceland," "Les Miserables") as bad boy "Danny Zuko." Also tapped to star are Vanessa Hudgens (Broadway's "Gigi," "Spring Breakers") as iconic bad girl "Rizzo"; Keke Palmer (SCREAM QUEENS, "Masters of Sex") as sassy Pink Lady "Marty Maraschino"; Carlos PenaVega ("Big Time Rush") as "Kenickie," Danny's tough-guy sidekick; multi-Platinum Grammy® Award-nominated singer and songwriter Carly Rae Jepsen as Pink Lady and beauty school dropout "Frenchy"; Kether Donohue ("You're The Worst") as Pink Lady "Jan"; David Del Rio ("Spare Parts," "The Troop") as T-Bird "Putzie; Jordan Fisher as "Doody"; and Andrew Call as "Sonny."

Photo credit: Kevin Estrada, Michael Becker /FOX

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7:00- The Beginning

Here we go! Ok, so Jessie J is starting the show off a little differently than most live telecasts have started: walking through the sound stage and outside.

7:05- Aaron Tveit is as dreamy as always...I feel very much like Cindy right now.

7:08- The Pink Ladies and the T-Birds Meet in the Hallway

The acting is pretty strong so far, and feels a lot more realistic than a lot of live musicals. I'm really loving this so far.

7:09- The Morning Announcements

The xylophone lives on!

7:12- Sandy Meets the Pink Ladies

Elle McLemore-- I mean Patty Simcox for Vice President!

7:15- Summer Nights

Tell me more, tell me more! Aaron Tveit is killing it, and even Julianne is singing better than usual. The staging is incredible, too, Thomas Kail is a star. It's so visually compelling. The choreography is perfect, too.

7:18- Summer Nights Cont.

I audibly giggled when they did the "Oh...those summer nights." I'll do my best not to make this the "Aaron Tveit is insanely dreamy" blog, but the way the show is going, it might be impossible not to.

7:23- Cheerleading Tryouts

Carly Rae Jepsen is a strong Frenchie, almost forget it isn't the original. Vanessa Hudgens is a convincing Rizzo, too, a lot of sass.

Elle McLemore is stealing the show as Patty Simcox, though.

7:27- FOX really embraced the live aspect of the show, and they aren't afraid to show parts of the set/sound stage, and I think that has made the production even stronger. "Mister Conductor, if you please!!"

7:28- Elle McLemore is definitely having Bring It On! deja-vu.

7:30- Pep Rally

Kenickie got his "new" car! The Scorpions show up to challenge the T-Birds at Thunder Road.

7:35- Sandy Finds Out Zuko is at Rydell

Aaron Tveit is killing it as Danny Zuko, wow. Also Vanessa Hudgens' swagger as Rizzo is undeniable.

7:42-The Sleepover

Is that Stockard Channing or Vanessa Hudgens? I can't tell.

Freddy, My Love! One of the songs I missed from the movie. Keke Palmer is a star, and I love this switch from the bedroom to a USO stage. Kail has really used the live aspect to his advantage, and hasn't been afraid to try different things. It's paying off, big time.

7:45- Sleepover cont.

"I read a Twinkie or two before bed fires up your metabolism before bed." -aka me

7:48- Sandra D

I was very hesitant about this song, since it's one of my favorites, but wow, Vanessa Hudgens knocked it out of the park. Even her movements are spot on.

7:49- The T-Birds show up

I may be 21, but I was a little old to have been a fan of Big Time Rush, but I'm not embarrassed to say I was, so seeing Carlos Pena do so well on GREASE: LIVE as Kenickie makes me very happy.

7:50-

Julianne Hough's solo in front of the mirror gave me chills.

7:55- The Principal's Office

"A live broadcast, how exciting! But what if something goes wrong?!"

8:00- Grease Lightning!

Amazing. The lighting, choreography, directing, singing, just amazing. I can't say this enough: Aaron Tveit is a star. I also like the more comedic role they made Kenickie into, I think it fits this modern adaptation well.

8:08- The Diner

The original Frenchie is the waitress at the diner! Ahh, can't wait for Beauty School Drop-Out

8:09-

"Call me!"

"No."

8:13- Those Magic Changes

Jordan Fisher's voice is beautiful in this song.

Also these try-outs. Aaron in those shorts. *faints*

8:24- The Diner cont.

I'm so Jan it hurts.

The more the show progresses, the more I love Rizzo. Vanessa Hudgens is the star of the show tonight.

8:29- Frenchie sings

I love this new song by Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey!!!

Carly Rae sounds beautiful, and I love her with pink hair.

8:30- Beauty School Drop-Out

Boyz II Men singing Beauty School Drop-Out is all I've ever needed in this world.

8:42- The Dance

The 13-year old me is very excited to see Joe Jonas at this dance.

8:45-

"Pretend like I'm your guitar, pluck me!"

8:47- Mario Lopez appears!

I wonder if it's hard for Vince Fontaine to pretend to be attracted to a high schooler. Keke Palmer and he have some good chemistry together, though.

8:49- Dance Contest

Just realized Coach is Bunk from THE WIRE. Took me long enough.

9:00- Dance-Off

First sound technical difficulty of the night, thankfully it was during the dance number so we didn't miss any dialogue!

Speaking of the dance number, this is awesome. Loved the cut to black and white, too.

9:01- Hand Jive

This scene is making me wish I could dance.

9:05- Hopelessly Devoted to You

Julianne Hough sounds great and this scene makes me feel like I'm back in the original film.

9:10-

Blanche is my spirit animal.

9:14- Drive-In Movie

Danny is so awkward in the car with Sandy, I love it.

Word spreads fast at the Drive-In: Rizzo is pregnant!

9:19- Danny is Rejected

Sin Wagon is a great name for a car.

Also, Aaron Tveit's version of Sandy is hauntingly perfect. I want him going "why-y-y-y" to play on a loop for days.

9:27- Garage

Danny and Kenickie have a sweet moment, but it's ruined by Eugene, who offers their help so that they can win at Thunder Road. Thankfully, Danny isn't afraid to hurt their "cool" status and he lets him help them fix the car.

9:28- There Are Worse Things I Could Do

Patty got TOLD! Go Sandy.

Vanessa looks great and is killing this song.

9:39- The Race

The race is at night in this adaptation and I like it a lot. Go Danny, go!!!

Love the camera angles for the race scene: a shot from under the steering wheels?! Amazing.

9:41- Goodbye to Sandra Dee

Can't wait for the transformation!!!

9:46-

Yet again, Blanche is me.

9:49-End Of The Year Carnival

Kenickie and Rizzo are too cute.

I need a framed picture of Aaron Tveit in that Letterman jacket.

9:50- Sandy's Transformation

Aaron fainting is everyone watching's reaction I'm assuming.

9:52- You're The One That I Want

That was amazing, wow. I want to re-watch that ASAP.

9:55-

Ending the show on the golf carts is the perfect way to end it! So cool to see them driving around this massive stage.

9:56- We'll Always Be Together

I loved GREASE: LIVE so much more than I expected to. FOX really showed up and created an incredible live-musical. It ran incredibly smoothly and everyone did an outstanding job!

10:00-

Loved this "curtain call!" That's a wrap on another incredible live musical production! Nothing makes me happier than seeing how musicals are getting the silver screen treatment!! Goodnight!