By: Julia Schexnayder
Grease: Live aired on Sunday, January 31st and delighted viewers across the country with it’s seamless set changes and elaborate dance numbers. Musical theatre fans old and new watched in awe and excitement as stars Aaron Tveit and Julianne Hough hand jived into their hearts.
Critics were raving over the new takes on classic songs such as “Beauty School Drop-Out” and “Summer Nights” along with the surprise cameos such as Boyz II Men, Joe Jonas, and Didi Conn, the original movie Frenchy, playing Vi, a sweet waitress that gives the new Frenchy (Carly Rae Jepsen) advice.
“In this moment overrun with must-see TV events, ‘Grease’ wasn’t just live. It was alive,” expressed Entertainment Weekly’s Darren Franich.
One of the most shocking but amazing parts of the three hour long show was it’s staging. The show used two soundstages, 21 sets total and a live audience to show that live musicals don’t have to be simply on one stage.
Another hit with the audience was Grease: Live’s diverse casting with actors of color such as Keke Palmer (Marty), Jordan Fisher (Doody), Wendell Pierce ( Coach Calhoun), and Haneefah Wood (Blanche) showing just how easy multi-ethic casting is once you decide to do it, something many other television directors should take note of.
Vanessa Hudgens wowed and inspired the crowd when she performed her solo song “There Are Worse Things I Could Do” with grace and bravery despite her father’s death from cancer only hours beforehand. Hudgens dedicated her performance to her father and Fox paid a tribute to him in the closing credits.
“Imagine you had Vanessa Hudgens’ day, and doing that. What a superhero. In total awe,” tweeted Lin-Manuel Miranda, creator and star of the Broadway hit “Hamilton.”
Grease: Live ended with a bubbly curtain call outside the studio leaving the audience emotional and satisfied with the grand opening and ending of the show and excited and hopeful for the future of live TV musicals.
The Chinook 