Derek Keeling and Ashley Spencer to Join 'Grease'

The producers of the Tony Award nominated Broadway revival of GREASE announced today that the gang at Rydell High will get a new "class couple" on Tuesday, July 22, 2008 when Derek Keeling and Ashley Spencer join the cast in the lead roles of "Danny" and "Sandy."  Max Crumm and Laura Osnes will play their final performances as the high school sweethearts on Sunday, July 20, 2008.

Derek and Ashley were both popular finalists on the NBC talent competitions series "Grease: You're the One That I Want."  Derek's good looks and macho leader-of-the-pack confidence and Ashley's good girl charm and blonde tresses evoked an idyllic "Danny" and "Sandy" combination.

Derek most recently appeared as "Chad" in the west coast premiere of All Shook Up.  Previous credits include the role of "Danny Zuko" in a national tour of Grease opposite Frankie Avalon and Chubby Checker.  Ashley comes directly from the Broadway company of Hairspray where she starred as "Amber von Tussle."

GREASE opened on Broadway at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre (256 West 47th Street) on Sunday, August 19, 2007 following preview performances which began on Tuesday, July 24, 2007.  Directed and choreographed by two-time Tony Award-winner Kathleen Marshall (The Pajama Game, Wonderful Town),   GREASE features book, music and lyrics by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey.

In addition to Derek Keeling as "Danny" and Ashley Spencer as "Sandy," GREASE also stars Taylor Hicks as "Teen Angel," Ryan Patrick Binder as "Doody," Susan Blommaert as "Miss Lynch," Will Blum as "Roger," Jeb Brown as "Vince," Janine DiVita as "Rizzo," Allison Fischer as "Patty," Robyn Hurder as "Marty," Lindsay Mendez as "Jan," Jose Restrepo as "Sonny," Matthew Saldivar as "Kenickie," Jamison Scott as "Eugene" and Kirsten Wyatt as "Frenchy."  The ensemble of GREASE features Josh Franklin, Cody Green, Natalie Hill ("Cha-Cha"), Matthew Hydzik, Keven Quillon, Allie Schultz, Brian Sears, Christina Sivrich, Amber Stone and Anna Aimee White.

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™ features songs from the smash hit 1978 motion picture for the first time ever on Broadway 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."

The new production of GREASE features scenic design by Tony Award nominee Derek McLane (The Pajama Game), 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 is produced on Broadway by Paul Nicholas and David Ian, Nederlander Presentations, Inc. and Terry Allen Kramer by arrangement with Robert Stigwood.

 
Tickets for GREASE are $121.50 - $71.50 and are available through TicketMaster at (212) 307-4100 or www.ticketmaster.com or by visiting the Brooks Atkinson box office. Group Sales are available by calling Nederlander Group Sales at 212-840-3890.  Premium seating is available.

Performances are Tuesdays at 7 p.m., Thursday through Saturday at 8 p.m., Wednesday and Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sundays at 2 and 7 p.m.  For more information on the show and ticket availability, please visit our website, www.greaseonbroadway.com.