You're The One That We Want
Encyclopedia
Grease: You're the One that I Want! was an NBC
reality television
series designed to cast the lead roles of Sandy Dumbrowski and Danny Zuko in a $10 million Broadway
revival of the musical
Grease
to be directed and choreographed by two-time Tony Award
-winner, Kathleen Marshall
. The Broadway production began previews at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre
on July 24, 2007 and officially opened on August 19.
The TV show, from the producers of Dancing With the Stars
, was patterned after an original format created by Andrew Lloyd Webber
for the BBC
series How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?
, which selected the lead in the successful 2005 West End
revival of The Sound of Music
. The show's title was taken from the song "You're the One That I Want"
from the 1978 screen adaptation
of Grease. Although the song was not part of the original Broadway production, the revival will add the songs written for the film to those written for the original Broadway production.
The program generated so much interest in the upcoming Broadway revival that, as The New York Post reported on April 4, 2007, ticket sales had topped $9 million (90% of David Ian's investment in the production), although the TV show was a "ratings loser".
, New York City
, Los Angeles
, and Las Vegas
in October and November 2006. The show followed the successes and failures of performers of varying quality and experience through the audition process. The show's hosts, Access Hollywood
anchor Billy Bush and British actress/presenter Denise van Outen
, encouraged and interviewed the auditioners.
The applicants were whittled down to 50, who attended "Grease Academy" for intensive training and testing, particularly in voice and dance. From these, 12 contestants were selected by the judges. The panel of three judges consisted of director/choreographer Kathleen Marshall, Grease co-writer Jim Jacobs
, and British producer David Ian
. In addition, later episodes of the show featured guest judges Olivia Newton-John
, Andrew Lloyd Webber
, Jon Secada
, and Rob Marshall
, as well as guest performer Frankie Avalon
. The number of contestants rose to 14 in the fourth episode when two previously eliminated contestants, Matt Nolan
and Ashley Anderson, were brought back and given a second chance.
On August 20, 2006, it was reported that Andrew Lloyd Webber had taken legal action against David Ian. Lloyd Webber reportedly wanted to take their show's format to the U.S. to cast a Broadway production of Grease and then was angered to discover that Ian had already brought the idea to NBC.
The first episode aired in a 90-minute format at 8:00 pm Eastern U.S. time on January 7, 2007. Subsequent episodes of the limited-run series were one hour long. After the judges had selected the contestants, viewer voting began at the end of the first live show, which aired on January 28. Each week, the contestants were coached on a performance skill – singing, dancing or acting. The contestants' performances were then critiqued by the judges, after which the viewers voted for their favorite performers. The two lowest vote recipients in each group from the previous week were required to compete in a "sing-off", on the next episode, where the judges chose which two should be allowed to remain in the competition, and which two would be eliminated. At the end of each episode, the eliminated Danny will sing "Sandy" as his grand exit, and the eliminated Sandy will sing "Goodbye to Sandra Dee" as her grand exit.
In the season finale
on March 25, 2007, judge Kathleen Marshall stated that if she would have had to choose two performers at the end of the "Grease Academy" section, she would have chosen Julianna and Derek. However, by the time of the finale she was quite vocal in wanting Max and Laura as her "Danny" and "Sandy." Fortunately for her, it was announced that the program's viewing audience agreed as they had chosen contestants Laura Osnes
and Max Crumm
to star, respectively, as Sandy and Danny. The runners up were Ashley Spencer
and Austin Miller
. Osnes and Crumm stayed with the Broadway company till July 20, 2008. Two days later Ashley Spencer
and Derek Keeling took over the roles of Sandy and Danny. Allie Schulz recently understudied the roles of Sandy, Cha-Cha, and Patty on Broadway and originated the role Rizzo in the national tour of Grease with Eric Schneider as Danny and Emily Padgett as Sandy. Season 5 American Idol
winner Taylor Hicks
performed as the Teen Angel. The Broadway production ended on January 4, 2009 after 31 previews and 554 performances.
Week 2: Summer Nights
Week 3: Born to Hand Jive
Week 4 (Sandy Night): Look at Me, I'm Sandra Dee.
Week 5 (Danny Night): Greased Lightning
Week 6: Grease (is the Word)
Week 7: Rock and Roll is Here to Stay
Week 8: We Go Together/You're The One That I Want! (finalists only)/Born to Hand Jive (eliminated contestants only)/Greased Lightning (winner only; Danny)/Hopelessly Devoted to You (winner only; Sandy)/Summer Nights (group reunion)/You're The One That I Want!(finale)
Week 3: Those Magic Changes
Week 4 (Sandy Night): Blue Moon
Week 5 (Danny Night): It's Raining on Prom Night
Week 6: Rock and Roll Party Queen
during the first half of 2007. Grease Is the Word
was broadcast on ITV1
, with judges David Ian
(Producer and man behind the revival), David Gest
, 1980s singer Sinitta, and American dance icon Brian Friedman
. Starting on 7 April 2007 the show followed a similar format to that of the American one. On 11 June 2007, Danny Bayne and Susan McFadden
were named as the new Danny and Sandy, to act in the West End revival at the London's Piccadilly Theatre
from Wednesday, 8 August 2007.
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
reality television
Reality television
Reality television is a genre of television programming that presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people instead of professional actors, sometimes in a contest or other situation where a prize is awarded...
series designed to cast the lead roles of Sandy Dumbrowski and Danny Zuko in a $10 million Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
revival of the musical
Musical theatre
Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...
Grease
Grease (musical)
Grease is a 1971 musical by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey. The musical is named for the 1950s United States working-class youth subculture known as the greasers. The musical, set in 1959 at fictional Rydell High School , follows ten working-class teenagers as they navigate the complexities of love,...
to be directed and choreographed by two-time Tony Award
Tony Award
The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes achievement in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ceremony in New York City. The awards are given for Broadway...
-winner, Kathleen Marshall
Kathleen Marshall
Kathleen Marshall is an American choreographer, director, and creative consultant.-Life and career:Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Marshall graduated from Taylor Allderdice High School and Smith College. She worked in the Pittsburgh theatre scene when she was younger, performing with such...
. The Broadway production began previews at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre
Brooks Atkinson Theatre
The Brooks Atkinson Theatre is a Broadway theater located at 256 West 47th Street in Manhattan.Designed by architect Herbert J. Krapp, it was constructed as the Mansfield Theatre by the Chanin brothers in 1926. After 1933, the theatre fell into relative disuse until 1945, when Michael Myerberg...
on July 24, 2007 and officially opened on August 19.
The TV show, from the producers of Dancing With the Stars
Dancing with the Stars
Dancing with the Stars is the name of several international television series based on the format of the British TV series Strictly Come Dancing, which is distributed by BBC Worldwide – the commercial arm of the BBC. Currently the format has been licensed to over 35 countries...
, was patterned after an original format created by Andrew Lloyd Webber
Andrew Lloyd Webber
Andrew Lloyd Webber, Baron Lloyd-Webber is an English composer of musical theatre.Lloyd Webber has achieved great popular success in musical theatre. Several of his musicals have run for more than a decade both in the West End and on Broadway. He has composed 13 musicals, a song cycle, a set of...
for the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
series How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?
How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?
How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria? was a British television talent series, that was broadcast on Saturday evenings on BBC One between 29 July and 16 September 2006. It documented the search for a new, undiscovered musical theatre performer to play the role of Maria von Trapp in the 2006 Andrew...
, which selected the lead in the successful 2005 West End
West End theatre
West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London's 'Theatreland', the West End. Along with New York's Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English speaking...
revival of The Sound of Music
The Sound of Music
The Sound of Music is a musical by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and a book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse. It is based on the memoir of Maria von Trapp, The Story of the Trapp Family Singers...
. The show's title was taken from the song "You're the One That I Want"
You're the One That I Want
"You're the One That I Want" is a song written by John Farrar for the 1978 film version of the musical Grease. It was performed by John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John....
from the 1978 screen adaptation
Grease (film)
Grease is a 1978 American musical film directed by Randal Kleiser and based on Warren Casey's and Jim Jacobs's 1971 musical of the same name about two lovers in a 1950s high school. The film stars John Travolta, Olivia Newton-John, Stockard Channing, and Jeff Conaway...
of Grease. Although the song was not part of the original Broadway production, the revival will add the songs written for the film to those written for the original Broadway production.
The program generated so much interest in the upcoming Broadway revival that, as The New York Post reported on April 4, 2007, ticket sales had topped $9 million (90% of David Ian's investment in the production), although the TV show was a "ratings loser".
Tryouts, competition, and casting
The show held open auditions in ChicagoChicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, and Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
in October and November 2006. The show followed the successes and failures of performers of varying quality and experience through the audition process. The show's hosts, Access Hollywood
Access Hollywood
Access Hollywood is a weekday television entertainment news program covering events and celebrities in the entertainment industry. It was created by former Entertainment Tonight executive producer Jim Van Messel, and is currently directed by Robert Silverstein. In previous years, Doug Dougherty and...
anchor Billy Bush and British actress/presenter Denise van Outen
Denise van Outen
Denise van Outen is an English actress, singer and television presenter. Her most notable roles to date are as a presenter on The Big Breakfast, and as Roxie Hart in the musical Chicago on both the West End and on Broadway.- Early life :Born Denise Kathleen Outen in Basildon, Essex, she is the...
, encouraged and interviewed the auditioners.
The applicants were whittled down to 50, who attended "Grease Academy" for intensive training and testing, particularly in voice and dance. From these, 12 contestants were selected by the judges. The panel of three judges consisted of director/choreographer Kathleen Marshall, Grease co-writer Jim Jacobs
Jim Jacobs
Jim Jacobs is an American composer, lyricist, and writer for the theatre. He is known for writing the book, lyrics and music, with Warren Casey, for the stage and film musical Grease.-Career:...
, and British producer David Ian
David Ian
David Ian Lane , is a former actor and now a theatre producer who The Stage has called "the most powerful man in UK theatre".-Biography:...
. In addition, later episodes of the show featured guest judges Olivia Newton-John
Olivia Newton-John
Olivia Newton-John AO, OBE is a singer and actress. She is a four-time Grammy award winner who has amassed five No. 1 and ten other Top Ten Billboard Hot 100 singles and two No. 1 Billboard 200 solo albums. Eleven of her singles and 14 of her albums have been certified gold by the RIAA...
, Andrew Lloyd Webber
Andrew Lloyd Webber
Andrew Lloyd Webber, Baron Lloyd-Webber is an English composer of musical theatre.Lloyd Webber has achieved great popular success in musical theatre. Several of his musicals have run for more than a decade both in the West End and on Broadway. He has composed 13 musicals, a song cycle, a set of...
, Jon Secada
Jon Secada
Jon Secada is a Cuban-American singer and songwriter. Secada was born in Havana, Cuba, and raised in Hialeah, Florida. He has won two Grammy Awards and sold 20 million albums since his English-language debut album in 1992. His music fuses funk, soul, pop and Latin percussion...
, and Rob Marshall
Rob Marshall
Rob Marshall is an American theater director, film director and choreographer. He is a six-time Tony Award nominee, Academy Award nominee, Golden Globe nominee and four-time Emmy winner whose most noted work is the 2002 Academy Award for Best Picture winner Chicago.-Life and career:Marshall was...
, as well as guest performer Frankie Avalon
Frankie Avalon
Frankie Avalon is an American actor, singer, playwright, and former teen idol.-Career:By the time he was 12, Avalon was on U.S. television playing his trumpet. As a teenager he played with Bobby Rydell in Rocco and the Saints...
. The number of contestants rose to 14 in the fourth episode when two previously eliminated contestants, Matt Nolan
Matt Nolan
Matt Nolan is an American actor and singer and a contestant for the role of "Danny" on the televised Grease: You're the One that I Want! competition. He is playing Danny in the 2010-2011 National Tour of Grease. The 2010-2011 national tour of the new Broadway production of Grease will launch in...
and Ashley Anderson, were brought back and given a second chance.
On August 20, 2006, it was reported that Andrew Lloyd Webber had taken legal action against David Ian. Lloyd Webber reportedly wanted to take their show's format to the U.S. to cast a Broadway production of Grease and then was angered to discover that Ian had already brought the idea to NBC.
The first episode aired in a 90-minute format at 8:00 pm Eastern U.S. time on January 7, 2007. Subsequent episodes of the limited-run series were one hour long. After the judges had selected the contestants, viewer voting began at the end of the first live show, which aired on January 28. Each week, the contestants were coached on a performance skill – singing, dancing or acting. The contestants' performances were then critiqued by the judges, after which the viewers voted for their favorite performers. The two lowest vote recipients in each group from the previous week were required to compete in a "sing-off", on the next episode, where the judges chose which two should be allowed to remain in the competition, and which two would be eliminated. At the end of each episode, the eliminated Danny will sing "Sandy" as his grand exit, and the eliminated Sandy will sing "Goodbye to Sandra Dee" as her grand exit.
In the season finale
Season finale
A season finale is the final episode of a season of a television program...
on March 25, 2007, judge Kathleen Marshall stated that if she would have had to choose two performers at the end of the "Grease Academy" section, she would have chosen Julianna and Derek. However, by the time of the finale she was quite vocal in wanting Max and Laura as her "Danny" and "Sandy." Fortunately for her, it was announced that the program's viewing audience agreed as they had chosen contestants Laura Osnes
Laura Osnes
Laura Ann Osnes is an American stage actress, and the winner of the role of "Sandy" on the televised Grease: You're the One that I Want! competition. She played Sandy in the 2007 Broadway run of Grease, which opened August 19, 2007, starring alongside the other winner, Max Crumm, who played the...
and Max Crumm
Max Crumm
Aaron Maximillian "Max" Crumm is an American actor, singer, and the winner of the role of "Danny" on the televised Grease: You're the One that I Want! competition. He played Danny in the 2007 Broadway run of Grease...
to star, respectively, as Sandy and Danny. The runners up were Ashley Spencer
Ashley Spencer
Ashley Spencer, an Ohio native, was a contestant on NBC's show Grease: You're the One that I Want!. She was the understudy for Barbie in the Barbie in Fairytopia tour, in which she sang and danced ballet.-Grease: You're the One that I Want!:...
and Austin Miller
Austin Miller
Austin Miller is an American actor, dancer, and singer, known for television and stage performances. He played the part of Hawk in the soap opera Days of our Lives, performed as the lead in the Hairspray musical in both a national tour and a Las Vegas production, and in 2007 was a second place...
. Osnes and Crumm stayed with the Broadway company till July 20, 2008. Two days later Ashley Spencer
Ashley Spencer
Ashley Spencer, an Ohio native, was a contestant on NBC's show Grease: You're the One that I Want!. She was the understudy for Barbie in the Barbie in Fairytopia tour, in which she sang and danced ballet.-Grease: You're the One that I Want!:...
and Derek Keeling took over the roles of Sandy and Danny. Allie Schulz recently understudied the roles of Sandy, Cha-Cha, and Patty on Broadway and originated the role Rizzo in the national tour of Grease with Eric Schneider as Danny and Emily Padgett as Sandy. Season 5 American Idol
American Idol (season 5)
The fifth season of American Idol began on January 17, 2006 and concluded on May 24, 2006. Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell returned to judge, and Ryan Seacrest returned to host. It is the most successful season to date ratings-wise and also with 18 contestants getting record deals -...
winner Taylor Hicks
Taylor Hicks
Taylor Reuben Hicks is an American singer who achieved fame in 2006, when he won the fifth season of American Idol. Hicks got his start as a professional musician in his late teens and performed around the Southeastern United States for well over the span of a decade, during which he also released...
performed as the Teen Angel. The Broadway production ended on January 4, 2009 after 31 previews and 554 performances.
The Sandys
| Name | Color | Nickname | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laura Osnes Laura Osnes Laura Ann Osnes is an American stage actress, and the winner of the role of "Sandy" on the televised Grease: You're the One that I Want! competition. She played Sandy in the 2007 Broadway run of Grease, which opened August 19, 2007, starring alongside the other winner, Max Crumm, who played the... |
Small Town Sandy | Winner | |
| Ashley Spencer Ashley Spencer Ashley Spencer, an Ohio native, was a contestant on NBC's show Grease: You're the One that I Want!. She was the understudy for Barbie in the Barbie in Fairytopia tour, in which she sang and danced ballet.-Grease: You're the One that I Want!:... |
Ballerina Sandy | Second place | |
| Allie Schulz | Baby Sandy | Third place | |
| Kathleen Monteleone | Spiritual Sandy | Eliminated 03-04-2007 | |
| Kate Rockwell | Serious Sandy | Eliminated 02-25-2007 | |
| Juliana Hansen | Rock Chick Sandy | Eliminated 02-18-2007 | |
| Ashley Anderson | Emotional Sandy | Eliminated 02-11-2007 | |
The Dannys
| Name | Color | Nickname | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max Crumm Max Crumm Aaron Maximillian "Max" Crumm is an American actor, singer, and the winner of the role of "Danny" on the televised Grease: You're the One that I Want! competition. He played Danny in the 2007 Broadway run of Grease... |
Slacker Danny | Winner | |
| Austin Miller Austin Miller Austin Miller is an American actor, dancer, and singer, known for television and stage performances. He played the part of Hawk in the soap opera Days of our Lives, performed as the lead in the Hairspray musical in both a national tour and a Las Vegas production, and in 2007 was a second place... |
Hot Danny | Second place | |
| Derek Keeling | Wholesome Danny | Third place | |
| Chad Doreck Chad Doreck Chad Doreck born November 19, 1978 is an American actor. His first job was at age 6 in the music video for Oingo Boingo's "Weird Science". Doreck is also the voice of Crackle for Rice Krispies... |
Ambitious Danny | Eliminated 03-11-2007 | |
| Kevin Greene | Bellhop Danny | Eliminated 02-25-2007 | |
| Jason Celaya | Boy Band Danny | Eliminated 02-18-2007 | |
| Matt Nolan Matt Nolan Matt Nolan is an American actor and singer and a contestant for the role of "Danny" on the televised Grease: You're the One that I Want! competition. He is playing Danny in the 2010-2011 National Tour of Grease. The 2010-2011 national tour of the new Broadway production of Grease will launch in... |
Second Chance Danny | Eliminated 02-11-2007 | |
Group performance
Week 1: You're The One That I Want!/We Go TogetherWeek 2: Summer Nights
Week 3: Born to Hand Jive
Week 4 (Sandy Night): Look at Me, I'm Sandra Dee.
Week 5 (Danny Night): Greased Lightning
Week 6: Grease (is the Word)
Week 7: Rock and Roll is Here to Stay
Week 8: We Go Together/You're The One That I Want! (finalists only)/Born to Hand Jive (eliminated contestants only)/Greased Lightning (winner only; Danny)/Hopelessly Devoted to You (winner only; Sandy)/Summer Nights (group reunion)/You're The One That I Want!(finale)
Singoff performance
Week 2: Tears on My PillowWeek 3: Those Magic Changes
Week 4 (Sandy Night): Blue Moon
Week 5 (Danny Night): It's Raining on Prom Night
Week 6: Rock and Roll Party Queen
United Kingdom version
A similar show was broadcast in the UKUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
during the first half of 2007. Grease Is the Word
Grease Is the Word
Grease Is the Word was the UK version of NBCs Grease: You're the One that I Want!. It aired during Spring/Summer 2007, and was produced by Syco TV ....
was broadcast on ITV1
ITV1
ITV1 is a generic brand that is used by twelve franchises of the British ITV Network in the English regions, Wales, southern Scotland , the Isle of Man and the Bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey. The ITV1 brand was introduced by Carlton and Granada in 2001, alongside the regional identities of their...
, with judges David Ian
David Ian
David Ian Lane , is a former actor and now a theatre producer who The Stage has called "the most powerful man in UK theatre".-Biography:...
(Producer and man behind the revival), David Gest
David Gest
David Alan Gest is an American concert promoter and media personality, perhaps best known for his turbulent marriage to Liza Minnelli, friendship with The Jackson 5 and appearance on the 2006 series of the British reality television show I'm a Celebrity.....
, 1980s singer Sinitta, and American dance icon Brian Friedman
Brian Friedman
Brian L. Friedman, is an American dancer and choreographer, and has created the choreography for many popular music artists - such as Britney Spears, Beyoncé Knowles and Mariah Carey - as well as for music videos, concert tours and television and film productions.-Early life:Friedman was born in...
. Starting on 7 April 2007 the show followed a similar format to that of the American one. On 11 June 2007, Danny Bayne and Susan McFadden
Susan McFadden
Susan McFadden is an actress and singer born in Dublin, Ireland. She is known for playing the role of Elle Woods in Legally Blonde the Musical in London at the Savoy theatre.- Biography :...
were named as the new Danny and Sandy, to act in the West End revival at the London's Piccadilly Theatre
Piccadilly Theatre
The Piccadilly Theatre is a West End theatre located at 16 Denman Street, behind Piccadilly Circus and adjacent to the Regent Palace Hotel, in the City of Westminster, England.-Early years:Built by Bertie Crewe and Edward A...
from Wednesday, 8 August 2007.