THEATRE + COMEDY

The new Broadway production of the Tony Award nominated musical Grease, opens in Houston, TX at Theatre Under The Stars (TUS) on September 8, 2009 and will run through September 20, 2009 at the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts.

After spending a hopelessly devoted summer with Sandy Dumbrowski, the new girl in town, Danny Zuko's 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. The new production of Grease features songs from the smash hit 1978 motion picture for the first time ever in a Broadway production including "Sandy," the Academy Award nominated song "Hopelessly Devoted to You." Also featured are the songs "Grease" and "You're the One That I Want" - both of which were #1 hits on the Billboard Top 100 list. These songs will be heard in addition to the Jacobs/Casey songs made famous by the original stage production including "Summer Nights," "Greased Lightnin'" and "We Go Together."

Platinum-selling recording artist and "American Idol" winner, Taylor Hicks, will guest star at in the production as "Teen Angel" at select performances*. Hicks made his Broadway debut in the role of "Teen Angel" and has been on the road with Grease since the tour began on December 2, 2008.

"I had such a great experience performing on Broadway," says Hicks. "This is a great opportunity to visit old fans and new fans across the country while bringing them a great Broadway show!" Taylor Hicks achieved widespread fame in 2006 as a contestant on the hugely successful FOX singing competition "American Idol." On May 24, 2006, Hicks was named the winner of the fifth season of "Idol" with over 63.4 million votes in total, during the live finale which aired to a worldwide audience of over 200 million viewers.

Grease originated in Chicago and made its premiere at The Kingston Mines Theater in 1971 before making its New York premiere off-Broadway at the Eden Theatre on February 14, 1972. After 128 sold-out performances, the show made the transition to Broadway taking up residence at the Broadhurst Theatre on June 7, 1972. Grease was nominated for seven Tony Awards in its spectacular initial run. On November 21, 1972, the show moved to the Royale Theatre before making its final transfer on January 20, 1980 to the Majestic Theatre. It closed as the longest running show in Broadway history after playing 3,388 performances. In 1978, Grease became a hugely popular feature film starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John in the lead roles.

Opening on Broadway, on Sunday, August 19, 2007, Grease was born out of NBC's landmark talent competition TV series, "Grease: You're The One That I Want." The weekly talent competition drew 90 million viewers, and allowed America to vote for its favorite contestants to play the lead roles of "Sandy" and "Danny" on Broadway. Directed and choreographed by two-time Tony Award-winner Kathleen Marshall (The Pajama Game, Wonderful Town), Grease features book, music and lyrics by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey. Additional songs from the film are by Barry Gibb, John Farrar, Louis St. Louis and Scott Simon.

Scenic design was created by Tony Award winner Derek McLane (33 Variations), costume design by two-time Tony Award winner Martin Pakledinaz (Thoroughly Modern Millie, Kiss Me Kate), lighting design by Tony Award winner Kenneth Posner (The Coast of Utopia, Wicked) and sound design by Brian Ronan (Spring Awakening, Curtains).

On tour, Grease is produced by Paul Nicholas and David Ian, Nederlander Presentations, Inc. and Terry Allen Kramer by arrangement with Robert Stigwood.

Tickets (starting at $24) will go on sale on July 19, 2009 and are available on-line at TUTS.com, by phone at (713) 558-8887, outside the Houston area at (888) 558-3882, or in person at the Theatre Under The Stars Box Office, (800 Bagby at Walker, Mon-Fri 10a.m.-6p.m, Sat-Sun 11a.m.-4p.m.) An audio described performance is available Sunday, September 20, 2009 at 2 p.m.; open captioning Sunday, September 20, 2009 at 7:30p.m. The Hobby Center is wheelchair accessible. Discounts are available for groups of 15 or more and may be purchased by calling (713) 558-8888 or via email at groupsales@tuts.com.

*Taylor Hicks will appear in the following performances only:
Tuesday, September 8 at 8 pm
Wednesday, September 9 at 8 pm
Thursday, September 10 at 8 pm
Saturday, September 12 at 2 & 8 pm
Sunday, September 13 at 2 & 7:30 pm
Tuesday, September 15 at 8 pm

For all of Theatre Under The Stars' 2009-2010 shows, air transportation is provided by Continental Airlines, the official airline of Theatre Under The Stars. Additional support is provided by St. Luke's Episcopal Health System, the official Healthcare Partner of Theatre Under The Stars. Media sponsors include ABC-13 and Houston Chronicle. Season support is funded in part by grants from the City of Houston through the Theater District Association and the Texas Commission on the Arts.

Founded in 1968, Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS) is Houston's acclaimed non-profit musical theatre company and is currently under the direction of President and CEO John C. Breckenridge. TUTS was the first theatrical organization in Houston to perform free to the public in 1968 at Miller Outdoor Theatre in Hermann Park, and is the only Houston arts organization that has performed there free to the public every year since the building opened. Since its founding by Frank M. Young, TUTS has produced more than 300 musicals including many local, national and world premieres such as Kopit and Yeston's Phantom, Disney's Beauty and the Beast, Jekyll & Hyde, and Irving Berlin's White Christmas. TUTS has also produced international tours including Debbie Reynolds in The Unsinkable Molly Brown, Juliet Prowse in Mame, Robert Goulet in Man of La Mancha, as well as critically acclaimed local re-inventions of classics such as Cabaret and Les Miserables. As a way to continue the tradition of musical theatre, TUTS' Humphreys School of Musical Theatre provides instruction and stage experience for more than 1,700 students annually through both The Academy and The Studio, which allow students to flourish in a year-round schedule of classes. Housed in the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts, TUTS also annually presents the Tommy Tune Awards, honoring the best and brightest in Houston's high school musical theatre programs.

Pictured above:  Cast of Grease.

Pictured below:

1.  Will Blum, Brian Crum, David Ruffin, Eric Schneider and Nick Verina. Photo by Joan Marcus.

2.  Taylor Hicks.