GREASE Starring IDOL Taylor Hicks to Hit the Marcus Center, 2/23-28, 2010

The new Broadway production of the Tony Award nominated musical GREASE^TM, opens in Milwaukee on February 23-28 presented by Broadway Across America-Milwaukee and the Marcus Center as part of the Time Warner Cable Broadway at the Marcus Center Series. Tickets will go on sale at NOON on December 6.

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 including "Summer Nights," "Greased Lightnin'" and "We Go Together."

Platinum-selling recording artist and "American Idol" winner, Taylor Hicks, stars in the production as "Teen Angel." Hicks made his Broadway debut in the role of "Teen Angel" and has been on the road with GREASE^TM since the tour began on December 2, 2008.

"I had such a great experience performing on Broadway," says Hicks. "This is a great opportunity to visit old fans and new fans across the country while bringing them a great Broadway show!"

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, during the live finale which aired to a worldwide audience of over 200 million viewers. On March 10, 2009, Taylor Hicks released his much anticipated new studio album The Distance, featuring the single "Seven Mile Breakdown."

GREASE^TM 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 sold-out performances, the show made the transition to Broadway taking up residence at the Broadhurst Theatre on June 7, 1972. GREASE^TM was nominated for seven Tony Awards in its spectacular initial run. On November 21, 1972, the show moved to the Royale Theatre before making its final transfer on January 20, 1980 to the Majestic Theatre. It closed as the longest running show in Broadway history after playing 3,388 performances. In 1978, GREASE^TM became a hugely popular feature film starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John in the lead roles.

GREASE^TM, which opened on Broadway on Sunday, August 19, 2007, was born out of NBC's landmark talent competition TV series, "Grease: You're The One That I Want." The weekly talent competition drew 90 million viewers, and allowed America to vote for its favorite contestants to play the lead roles of "Sandy" and "Danny" on Broadway. 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 film 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.

For more information, please visit www.greaseontour.com.

GREASE^TM will play Tuesday, February 23 through Sunday, February 28. Performances are Tuesday through Thursday evenings at 7:30 pm, Friday evenings at 8 pm, Saturday at 2 pm and 8 pm, and Sunday at 1 pm and 6:30 pm. Prices start at $25 and vary depending on performance, seat location and date of purchase. Tickets go on sale Sunday, December 6 at NOON at the Marcus Center Box Office, 929 North Water Street, Downtown Milwaukee (414-273-7206), all Ticketmaster outlets, online at Ticketmater.com or call (800) 982-2787. Group orders (10 or more) may be placed by calling (414) 273-7121 ext. 210. The Milwaukee engagement of GREASE^TM is presented by Broadway Across America - Milwaukee and the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts as part of Time Warner Cable Broadway at the Marcus Center Series.

The Marcus Center for the Performing Arts is owned and partially funded by Milwaukee County. The Marcus Center has been the premier entertainment destination for Milwaukee and Wisconsin since 1969. It provides the setting for outstanding cultural experiences, where the arts come to life for current and future generations. Located in the heart of the Downtown Theater District, the Marcus Center is a community facility that offers live performance of opera, ballet, children's theater, symphony and first-class national touring productions. For more information on Broadway shows presented as part of Time Warner Cable Broadway at the Marcus Center, visit the Marcus Center website at www.MarcusCenter.org or go to www.BroadwayAcrossAmerica.com.

Broadway Across America: Owned and operated by British theatre producer John Gore (CEO) and entertainment industry veteran Thomas B. McGrath (Chairman), Broadway Across America presents first-class touring Broadway musicals and plays, family productions and other live events throughout a network of 43 North American cities. Broadway Across America is also dedicated to the development and production of new and diverse live theatre for productions on Broadway, across America and throughout the world. Broadway Across America most recently produced Irving Berlin's WHITE CHRISTMAS on Broadway, while current and upcoming productions include WEST SIDE STORY, BLITHE SPIRIT, MINSKY'S, and the DeafWest production of PIPPIN. Broadway tours include DORA THE EXPLORER, FROST/NIXON, SPAMALOT, CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG and FIDDLER ON THE ROOF.

 

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