Emmy Winner Thomas Kail Weighs In On GREASE Fan Conspiracy Theory

Last week, BWW shared a three-year old fan conspiracy theory regarding the ending of the 1978 film GREASE. According to the original Reddit thread, the user cites the lyrics to the film's opening number, "Summer Nights," in which Danny (played by John Travolta) boasts to his buddies that when he first met Sandy (played by Olivia Newton John) he "saved her life, she nearly drowned." According to the bizarre interpretation, Sandy did not actually survive on the beach the day of their initial encounter. The theory goes, "As she drowned, her brain deprived of oxygen, she had a vivid coma fantasy involving her summer fling Danny, where they shared a magical year of high school together."

In addition, the theory offers that the film's final scene, which sees Sandy and Danny defying the laws of gravity with their flying car, is really symbolic of Sandy making her ascent into heaven.

Following his Emmy win last night as Outstanding Director of a Variety Special for FOX's GREASE LIVE, Thomas Kail shared his thoughts on the bizarre fan theory. "I'd like to address the internet right now: She was alive. She was very, very alive," asserted the recent Tony Award winner. "She was Julianne Hough." He adds, "I love the internet!"

Last week, Jim Jacobs, who wrote the original GREASE book and musical with Warren Casey, spoke to TMZ about the rumor and suggested that whomever thought up the idea "must have been on acid." Regarding the film's final scene, Jacobs confirms that "Sandy was very much alive."

Even filmdom's Sandy herself, Olivia Newton John, had an opinion on the theory. Speaking on a UK talk show last week she shared, "I found it hilarious, so hilarious, that anyone could even conceive of such an idea. But I thought, if that's true, we were the first zombie musical! I think we look pretty good considering!"

Source: TVGuide.com

Photo by Anthony Behar/Fox/PictureGroup

Photo Credit: Walter McBride / WM Photos