Ace Young will be the latest “American Idol” finalist to make his Broadway debut.
The former “Idol” contestant will join the Tony-nominated revival of Grease at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre Sept. 9, according to a ticket offer. Young will step into the role of Kenickie.
The current cast of Grease, directed and choreographed by Kathleen Marshall, includes Ashley Spencer as Sandy and Derek Keeling as Danny with Janine DiVita as Rizzo, Ryan Patrick Binder as Doody, Susan Blommaert as Miss Lynch, Will Blum as Roger, Jeb Brown as Vince, Allison Fischer as Patty, Robyn Hurder as Marty, Lindsay Mendez as Jan, Jose Restrepo as Sonny, Jamison Scott as Eugene, Kirsten Wyatt as Frenchy and “American Idol” winner Taylor Hicks as Teen Angel. The ensemble comprises Josh Franklin, Natalie Hill, 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 (Osnes), the new girl in town,” Grease press notes state, “Danny Zuko’s (Max Crumm) 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.”
Grease features scenic design by Derek McLane, costume design by Martin Pakledinaz, lighting design by Kenneth Posner and sound design by Brian Ronan.
Grease features book, music and lyrics by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey. The new production also boasts songs from the hit 1978 film, which co-starred John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John. Among the film songs heard in the Broadway revival are “Sandy,” “Hopelessly Devoted to You,” “Grease” and “You’re the One That I Want.”
The new cast recording of Grease is available on the Masterworks Broadway label.
After playing an Off-Broadway engagement at the Eden Theatre, Grease debuted on Broadway in June 1972 at the Broadhurst with a cast that included Barry Bostwick (Danny), Carole Demas (Sandy) and Adrienne Barbeau (Rizzo). The musical closed in April 1980, after playing 20 previews and 3,388 performances. The 1994 revival cast Rosie O’Donnell in the role of Rizzo.
Grease is produced on Broadway by Paul Nicholas and David Ian, Nederlander Presentations, Inc. and Terry Allen Kramer by arrangement with Robert Stigwood.
Can you say epic failure? Tickets for Grease, priced $71.50-$121.50, are available by calling (212) 307-4100 or by visiting www.ticketmaster.com.
American Idol is adding a fourth judge for the eighth season: Grammy-nominated songwriter Kara DioGuardi.
DioGuardi will appear at the judges’ table with Paula Abdul, Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson on the eighth season of the hit show, which premieres in January.
Show creator and executive producer Simon Fuller said in a statement:
“We are turning the heat up on Idol this year and are thrilled to welcome Kara to the judges’ table.
She is a smart, sassy lady, and one of America’s most successful songwriters. We know she will bring a new level of energy and excitement to the show.”
DioGuardi’s songs have appeared on more than 100 million records by the likes of Christina Aguilera, Gwen Stefani, Celine Dion, Faith Hill, Pink, Britney Spears, Miley Cyrus, the Jonas Brothers, Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey.
The songwriter’s work has also been used by past Idol contestants, including Katharine McPhee, Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Taylor Hicks, Bo Bice, and Clay Aiken.
American Idol was originally slated to have four judges, executive producer Cecile Frot-Coutaz said in the statement announcing the news.
“We’ve seen from our international series that having a fourth judge creates a dynamic that benefits both the contestants and the viewers.”
source: BREAKING NEWS: American Idol Adds Fourth Judge [us magazine]
People are apparently buzzing about the celebrity quotes of the week, so who am I to argue?
“The Wentz family, our Christmas card just got upgraded!” – Pete Wentz, on new wife Ashlee’s decision to change her last name to his, to PEOPLE
“Pole dancing really isn’t as easy as it looks.” - Carmen Electra, who is releasing her own line of stripper poles, to PEOPLE
“I think he’s 1 percent water and 99 percent talent.” - Mike Myers, describing his The Love Guru costar Justin Timberlake, to PEOPLE
“It’s amazing what a haircut and forgetting to shave will do.” – American Idol David Cook, on being a “cougar” magnet, to Today’s Meredith Vieira
“I don’t really like to respond to things I read about myself in the press but, for the record, I was not thrown off anybody’s yacht in Cannes.” – Singer Lily Allen, dismissing rumors of rowdy behavior via her MySpace page
“Can we get the ranch?” – Ellen DeGeneres, asking newlywed Jenna (Bush) Hager if she could have the same no-fly zone wedding location
“I’m about two months pregnant right now and we’re getting married on August 8th of 2008.” – Reality star Kim Kardashian, fooling with reporters (and her boyfriend, NFL star Reggie Bush), at the Hampton Bays nightclub Whitehouse
“I would start by eating an entire box of Fruity Pebbles out of it. Then I’d take an afternoon sponge bath in it. Then I’d retro fit it with handles and make it into a Stanley Cup handbag.” – Detroit Red Wings’ hockey fan Kristen Bell, on what she’d do with the Stanley Cup championship trophy if she had possession of it for a day, to NHL.com
“A little whipping every now and then, Harrison?” – Regis Philbin, asking Harrison Ford if he ever took home the Indiana Jones whip, on Live with Regis and Kelly
“That’s cheap. Everyone’s kissed George Clooney.” – Madonna, after auctioning off her Chanel purse for more than $471,000 – that’s $171,000 more than a kiss from Clooney fetched – at the amfAR Cinema Against AIDS benefit in Cannes
Teen pop sensation THE JONAS BROTHERS wear silver “purity rings” on their ring fingers symbolizing their vows to stay chaste until marriage — and they’re not the only ones! A new abstinence is sweeping Hollywood’s youth, despite what you might read in the tabloids.
“Dancing with the Stars” cutie JULIANNE HOUGH, 19, appeared on a recent cover of CosmoGIRL! declaring her virginity. “I want to be with that special person,” she told the mag. She also doesn’t drink or smoke.
Disney star MILEY CYRUS has also declared her wishes to remain pure, along with “American Idol” JORDIN SPARKS, and believe it or not, Victoria’s Secret model ADRIANA LIMA, who recently posed semi-nude with a palm frond on the cover of GQ magazine. “Sex is just for after marriage,” the gorgeous brunette told the mag. Sorry, guys!
I say… Give Miley time… just give her time.
Are you a celebrity virgin who was left off the list? Just give us a shout!
Sparks, who is only 18 and about to start the biggest tour of her life, is suffering from “an acute vocal cord hemorrhage,” according to officials.
The reigning “American Idol” winner canceled a concert at Penn State scheduled for last night, an Earth Day show on the National Mall in Washington, DC set for today and - most importantly - the first night of the Alicia Keys tour where she is the opening act Saturday night.
“Because of the risk of permanent vocal cord damage, Sparks has been ordered to strict vocal rest and will not be able to perform anywhere until her condition improves,” said a spokesman for the arena at Penn State.
Sparks, her family and reps from her management team at 19 Entertainment could not be immediately reached for comment yesterday.
A medical Web site for the University of Pennsylvania described bleeding in the vocal cord as “a serious problem . . . caused when a person who has laryngitis uses their voice at the height of infection.
“Some severe cases may require laser microsurgery.”
The description of the problem as “acute” also indicates the injury may be severe.
That no one from her family or record label was returning calls yesterday to explain the extent of her problems did not help calm the fears of fans either.
Calls to “pray for Jordin” were all over the “Idol” sites yesterday.
Just because your favorite dramas and comedies are back on the air after the writers strike doesn’t mean you’re necessarily watching them. A preliminary look at ratings of returning programs on the big broadcast networks reveals that the “majority of original programming has failed to return to its pre-strike levels among key demos,” according to Havas media-buying shop MPG. The firm found that audiences are “coming back to some of the shows, but not most of them,” said Nina Kanter, VP-director of communications analysis at MPG.
[...]
There are legitimate reasons for the ratings declines. Some shows have seen their competition alter as networks rearrange their schedules. CBS’s “NCIS” and “Criminal Minds” now face Fox’s “American Idol,” for instance. Because most networks put the bulk of their marketing spending into promos that run on their own air, it’s quite possible that TV audiences, turned off by repeats and strike-replacement programming, didn’t get those messages, according to MPG’s analysis.
Some returning shows are doing well. NBC’s “The Office” and “Scrubs” have demonstrated improved post-strike ratings, MPG said, though both have aired without regular competitor “Grey’s Anatomy” on the air. CBS’s “How I Met Your Mother” also posted ratings gains compared to its pre-strike performance, but the sitcom may also have benefited from a guest appearance by singer Britney Spears.
It may just be that the traditional model has been overtaken by events, with the strike-forced hiatus helping push trends along.
With the exception of sporting events, I seldom watch television shows “live” anymore, instead watching the handful of shows that we TiVo. And, increasingly, my wife and I are mega-time shifting our viewing, simply waiting until the shows are available on DVD. The ability to watch the entire run of a series at one’s own pace and without commercial interruption makes it very difficult to go back to episodic viewing.
The Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell masochistic relationship hit a new level.
After Paula’s new album dropped, Simon sent her a gift to say ‘congrats.’ As she read the card, that is probably filled with a poem about how he wants her to slap him around while she wears his mother’s nightgown, she knew something was up. The gift attached to the note of kudos was a digital picture frame that holds 150 photos.
Simon had taken 150 photographs of himself sitting in his cars, hanging by the pool and dancing around in a fedora while singing “I’m Too Sexy.” (Ok, so maybe not in a fedora.)
“It was reported Paula stormed onto the Idol set, and Simon asked how she liked her gift. She responded with:
“Just great! I’m putting it in my garage because the sight
of you always scares my dogs!”
Awww, so this is like some kind of British foreplay right?
Source: Simon Cowell framed in Paula Abdul gift rift [Rash Manly]
“The Wentz family, our Christmas card just got upgraded!” – Pete Wentz, on new wife Ashlee’s decision to change her last name to his, to PEOPLE
Sparks, who is only 18 and about to start the biggest tour of her life, is suffering from “an acute vocal cord hemorrhage,” according to officials.
“It was reported Paula stormed onto the Idol set, and Simon asked how she liked her gift. She responded with:
