Some of Australia’s favourite performers are joining the cast of the multi-million dollar stage production of GREASE, including Patti Newton as Miss Lynch, Marcia Hines as Teen Angel and Jay Laga’aia as Vince Fontaine in the hit musical set to open in Melbourne from 31 December 2023 and in Sydney from March 2024.
They will be joined by Sydney’s Annelise Hall, who most recently featured in The Marvellous Elephant Man as well as Aspects of Love at the Hayes Theatre, in the coveted role of Sandy made famous by Olivia Newton-John.
Melbourne’s own Joseph Spanti, best known for Friends! The Musical Parody and Cruel Intentions: The 90’s Musical, will be donning the famed black leather jacket as Danny Zuko, played by John Travolta in the movie version of the much-loved musical.
“This is a spectacular cast that we have assembled with some of Australia’s best performers who will knock your socks off with their high energy performances of GREASE’s most loved and unforgettable songs,” said producer John Frost.
“I know Australia will fall in love with Annelise and Joseph just like they did with Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta in the movie version and I can’t wait for you all to be part of the fun and electrifying energy of one of the favourite musicals of all time,” said Mr Frost.
Featuring dazzling costumes and all those unforgettable songs from the movie, including Summer Nights, Sandy, Hopelessly Devoted to You, You’re The One That I Want, Greased Lightnin’ and Grease is the Word, GREASE really is “fast, furious and thrilling, an injection of raw energy… and fun, fun, fun!” (The Daily Mirror, UK).
Since the show’s Broadway premiere and the hit movie starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John, which went on to become the highest grossing movie-musical of all time, the Tony Award nominated GREASE has triumphed across the globe, with its irresistible mix of adolescent angst, vibrant physicality and 1950s pop culture.
At the time that it closed originally on Broadway in 1980, GREASE‘s 3,388-performance run was the longest musical in Broadway history, and with the addition of the recent Pink Ladies series, currently on Paramount+, GREASE is officially the most expansive cinematic universe derived from a stage musical.
Following the stage premiere, the musical has famously been produced for the screen and inspired both a 1982 film sequel and a 2007 competition reality series, Broadway revivals of the stage show as well as numerous international productions.
With a Book, Music and Lyrics by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey, with additional songs by Barry Gibb, John Farrer, Louis St. Louis and Scott Simon, GREASE is directed by Luke Joslin, choreography by Eric Giancola, set & costume design by James Browne, lighting design by Trudy Dalgleish and sound design by Michael Waters. Further casting announcements will be made in July. GREASE is produced by John Frost for Crossroads Live Australia
Set to be Melbourne’s big summer musical, tickets go on sale for the Melbourne season of the electrifying brand-new production, opening at Her Majesty’s Theatre from 31 December, on Friday 23 June. Tickets for the Sydney season at the Capitol Theatre go on sale on Friday 21 July 2023. For more information, visit: www.greasemusical.com.au for details.
Image: Joseph Spanti and Annelise Hall will star in GREASE – photo by Hugh Stewart