Taking a page from NBC after three years of record-breaking musical broadcasts, FOX is hoping to become the second network to reach ratings gold with the live presentation.  The three-hour telecast will feature songs from the 1972 stage production as well as the 1978 film.

FOX has made a few minor changes that may give NBC a run for its money.  Firstly, the event premieres on a Sunday, which may make the broadcast more accessible to families, theater lovers, and most importantly, theater performers.  Over the years, NBC has scheduled their events on Thursday night, which made it difficult for theater performers (a highly supportive and pivotal demographic) to enjoy the event live, since they too are performing at that time.  In addition, FOX announced they would be performing the show in front of a live audience, a missing element critics noted affected the energy in live filmed adaptations of staged shows.

FOX announced in May that Cinderella star KeKe Palmer would be joining the cast as “Marty Maraschino”, one of the infamous Pink Ladies.  Along with Palmer is Disney heartthrob Jordan Fisher as “Doody” and Broadway Black spotted Bring It On alum “Gregory Haney” and a couple of other chocolate drops on Instagram rounding off the ensemble.   Most importantly, for the Motown Philly lover in all of us, Boyz II Men has signed on to play the crooner role of “Teen Angel” collectively, a role made famous by Frankie Avalon.

“Grease: Live” is being staged by brilliant Hamilton director, Thomas Kail.  The full cast includes Julianne Hough as “Sandy”, Aaron Tveit as “Danny Zuko”, Andrew Call as “Sonny”, David Del Rio as “Putzie”, Kether Donohue as “Jan”, Jordan Fisher as “Doody”, Ana Gasteyer as “Principal”, Vanessa Hudgens as “Rizzo”, Carly Rae Jepsen as “Frenchie”, Mario Lopez as “Vince Fontaine”, Carlos PenaVega as “Kenickie”,  and Eve Plumb as “Mrs. Murdock.”

“Grease: Live” will cruise onto FOX Sunday, Jan. 31 at 8 p.m.  Will you be watching???

The post “Grease: Live” An Upgraded Musical TV Event? appeared first on Broadway Black.

Palmer has significant musical experience both on and off stage. She has several albums under her belt and played the part of rap star Chilli in CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story. Most notably, Palmer starred in the title role of “Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella,” becoming the first African-American and youngest actress to star in that Broadway production.

“Grease is one of the most treasured and favored pop culture phenomenons of our time. It’s fun, it’s endearing and we are so excited to reimagine this iconic story with a shared entertainment event suited for today’s audience,”  Marc Platt, executive producer, said of the Paramount TV production

Grease: Live is based on the original musical and the Paramount Pictures’ 1978 feature adaptation. The three-hour broadcast is set to air on Fox on January 31, 2016 at 7:30 pm.

Broadway Black will be tuned in! Will you be watching?

The post Keke Palmer Cast In Grease: Live On Fox This January appeared first on Broadway Black.