'Grease: Live': Who will play Frenchy?
Fox is airing a live production of the musical 'Grease' this January. Is adding more star power to the cast which already includes Aaron Tveit and Julianne Hough.
Carly Rae Jepsen performs at the MTV World Stage Live in Petaling Jaya in 2015.
Joshua Paul/AP
More cast members have been added to Fox鈥檚 upcoming 鈥淕rease: Live鈥� production.聽
鈥淐all Me Maybe鈥� singer Carly Rae Jepsen has reportedly been cast in the show as Frenchy, best friend to the female lead Sandy (Julianne Hough). Jepsen starred in the title role of the Broadway production 鈥淩odgers and Hammerstein鈥檚 Cinderella鈥� in 2014.聽
In addition, Kether Donohue, who stars in the 鈥淧itch Perfect鈥� film series, has signed on to portray Sandy and Frenchy鈥檚 friend Jan, while David Del Rio, who also starred in 鈥淧itch Perfect,鈥� is playing Putzie, a friend of male lead Danny (Aaron Tveit)鈥檚.
鈥淗igh School Musical鈥� actress Vanessa Hudgens, current 鈥淒ancing With the Stars鈥� contender Carlos PenaVega, and singer Keke Palmer are also part of the production. Hudgens is cast as Frenchy鈥檚 friend, Rizzo, PenaVega will portray Danny鈥檚 best friend Kenickie, and Palmer has the role of Sandy and Frenchy鈥檚 friend, Marty.
鈥淕rease鈥� debuted on Broadway in 1972 and was adapted into a popular 1978 movie of the same name starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John.
Fox is airing its live production of the show following the success of NBC鈥檚 live musicals. NBC aired 鈥淭he Sound of Music Live!鈥� during the holiday season in 2013 and the production got huge ratings. NBC followed last year with 鈥淧eter Pan Live!,鈥� which aired during the same time of year, and the show still did well in the ratings, though not at the level of 鈥淢usic.鈥澛�
This year, NBC鈥檚 latest entry in the genre will be 鈥淭he Wiz Live!,鈥� which is scheduled to air this December.聽
Musicals aren鈥檛 the only programs getting live treatment on broadcast networks now. Networks always want to pull in viewers with shows that could be viewed as 鈥渁ppointment viewing鈥� (not watched the next day on the DVR), and networks no doubt think a show being live adds an element of suspense.
鈥淪ound of Music鈥� producer Neil Meron played up this aspect before 鈥淢usic鈥� aired, saying in an , 鈥淭hey have to keep going鈥�. Somebody could trip and fall, somebody could forget their lines, somebody could hit a bad note when they are singing 鈥� anything could happen.鈥澛�
Other efforts to produce live programming outside of the live musicals include NBC鈥檚 projects 鈥淯ndateable,鈥� which is a sitcom that the network airs live and which will debut its new season on Oct. 9, and 鈥淏est Time Ever With Neil Patrick Harris,鈥� which is a live variety show currently on the air. 鈥淏est鈥� has gotten fairly good ratings so far.聽
Fox鈥檚 production of 鈥淕rease鈥� will air this January.