GREASE Launches Tour In Denver 10/12 With New Cast Members Joining

By: Jul. 07, 2010
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The 2010-2011 national tour of the new Broadway production ofGREASETM will launch in Denver, CO at the Buell Theatre on October 12, 2010. After spending a hopelessly devoted summer with Sandy Dumbrowski, the new girl intown, Danny Zuko's world is thrown upside down when Sandy appears at Rydell High onthe 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 GREASETM features songs fromthe smash hit 1978 motion picture, including "Sandy," the Academy Award nominatedsong "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 inaddition to the Jacobs/Casey songs made famous by the original stage production suchas "Summer Nights," "Greased Lightnin'" and "We Go Together."Eddie Mekka will star in the tour as DJ "Vince Fontaine." Eddie is best known for hisrole as ‘Carmine Ragusa, The Big Ragu' on the hit ABC-TV sitcom "Laverne & Shirley."He played the role of ‘Carmine' for the show's entire run.

He appeared on many of themost popular TV series of the 70s, 80s and 90s, including "The Love Boat," "FantasyIsland," "Moonlighting," and "The New Rockford Files."On the big screen, Eddie played Bette Midler's cohort in Beaches. He appeared asMadonna's boyfriend in A League of their Own, as ‘Lt. Vincent Barbero' in Taking theHeat with Lynn Whitfield, and as ‘The Prophet' in Garry Marshall's film Dear God. Eddie got his start doing musical theatre as a teenager in Worcester, MA and got his ‘bigbreak' on Broadway in the Vietnam War-themed rock opera The Lieutenant, for whichhe received a Best Actor nomination from both the Tony and Drama Desk committees.Eddie also appeared in such shows as Jumpers, The Magic Show with Doug Henning,and Damn Yankees with Gwen Verdon.

Eddie's love of theatre continues today as he entertains audiences across the countrywith his stage roles. Eddie has taken on such roles as ‘Groucho Marx' in An EveningWith Groucho, ‘Nicky Deluca' in The Right Step (a show he wrote, directed,choreographed and starred in), ‘Pseudolus' in A Funny Thing Happened On The Way ToThe Forum, and since 1993, the role of ‘Tevye' in multiple productions of Fiddler on the Roof.

Alyssa Herrera will star as "Sandy" and Matt Nolan will star as "Danny." Alyssa is a recent graduate of Wagner College. Her favorite roles include parts in High School Musicaland Little Women. Matt was a finalist on NBC's "Grease: You're the One That I Want." Herecently appeared in the national tour of Hairspray. The tour also stars Patrick Cragin as "Kenickie," Audrey Filson as "Patty Simcox," KellyTeal Goyette as "Miss Lynch," Patrick Joyce as "Sonny," Alicia Kelly as "Marty," Brad Lawson as "Roger," Ashley Rubin as "Frenchy," Lauren Elaine Taylor as Rizzo,Lauren Turner as "Jan," and Marc Winski as "Doody." GREASETM originated in Chicago and made its premiere at The Kingston Mines Theaterin 1971 before making its New York premiere off-Broadway at the Eden Theatre onFebruary 14, 1972. After 128 sold-out performances, the show made the transition toBroadway taking up residence at the Broadhurst Theatre on June 7, 1972.

GREASETM 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 January20, 1980 to the Majestic Theatre. It closed as the longest running show in Broadwayhistory after playing 3,388 performances. In 1978, GREASETM became a hugely popular feature film starring John Travolta andOlivia Newton-John in the lead roles. A Broadway revival opened on May 11, 1994 atthe Eugene O'Neill Theatre where it played 1,503 performances and won three TonyAward nominations. The new Broadway production of GREASETM opened on August19, 2007 and was nominated for a 2008 Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical.

The film version of GREASETM produced one of the best-selling soundtracks in historyand is the highest-grossing movie musical of all time. The two Travolta/Newton-Johnduets, "You're The One That I Want" and "Summer Nights" were both #1 hits. The song "Hopelessly Devoted to You" was nominated for an Academy Award (1979)for Best Music - Original Song and the film's title song, "Grease," was a #1 smash hit single for singer Frankie Valli.GREASETM features book, music and lyrics by Jim Jacobs and WarRen Casey. Additional songs from the film are by Barry Gibb, John Farrar, Louis St. Louisand Scott Simon.

Directed by David John O'Brien and choreographed by Joyce Chittick, the 2010 -2011 national tour of GREASETM features scenic design by Tony Award winner DerekMcLane, costume design by Tony Award winner Martin Pakledinaz and lightingdesign by Tony Award winner Kenneth Posner.

Tour dates are as follows, with additional dates to be announced soon:Oct 12 - 17, 2010: Denver, CO (Buell Theatre)Oct 26 - 31, 2010: Vancouver, BC (Queen Elizabeth Theatre)Nov 2 - 7, 2010: Calgary, AB (S. Jubilee Auditorium)Nov 9 - 14, 2010: Edmonton, AB (N. Jubilee Auditorium)Nov 16, 2010: Great Falls, MT (Great Falls Civic Center)Nov 17, 2010: Bozeman, MT (Brick Breeden Fieldhouse)Nov 18, 2010: Billings, MT (Alberta Bair Theatre) Nov 19 - 20, 2010: Rapid City, SD (Rushmore Plaza Civic Center)Nov 21, 2010: Casper, WY (Casper Events Center)



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