Julianne Hough to Star in Grease: Live!

Grease: Live!

- Headlined by Hough

and Premiering Jan. 31^st !!

Grease is the word!

Get ready, dwtslovers, because School’s just about in and Riverdale High is opening its doors once more to its iconic, musical students in an all new Fox production, Grease: Live!

Grease: LIVE!

That’s right, folks! Danny, Sandy, and the gang are back, ready to kick off yet another semester of hopeless devotion, greased lighting, and hand jiving fun!

Grease: LIVE!

Starring more than its fair share of well known faces from the world of song and dance Musicals, the highly anticipated, live event is set to be headlined by none other than beloved Emmy winner, Julianne Hough (DWTS’ 2-time Mirror Ball Champion / Judge, and Footloose - 2013),

DWTS Judge and 2-time Mirror Ball
Champion, Julianne Hough

and Aaron Tveit (Les Miserables - 2011)

Aaron Tveit

in the lead roles of “Summer” lovers-turned High School sweethearts, Sandy Olsson and Danny Zuko!

Grease: LIVE!

Of course, joining the lovebirds back in class will be the mischief-making Pink Ladies, with Vanessa Hudgens (High School Musical Trilogy - 2006, 2007, 2008) having been cast in the part of Rizzo, 

Vanessa Hudgens as Rizzo

Vanessa Hudgens as Rizzo

Singer/Songwriter Carly Rae Jepsen (“Call Me Maybe” - 2012, and “I Really Like You” - 2015) as Frenchy,

Carly Rae Jepson
as Frenchy

Carly Rae Jepson
as Frenchy

Kether Donohue (Pitch Perfect – 2012) as Jan,

Kether Donohue as Jan

and Keke Palmer (Jump In - 2007) as Marty!

Keke Palmer as Marty

Zuko’s T-Bird posse will naturally be included as well, with Carlos PenaVega (Big time Rush - 2008-2013, and DWTS’ Season 21 Finalist) in the role of Kenickie,

Carlos PenaVega as Kenickie

Broadway Alum Andrew Call as Sonny,

Andrew Call as Sonny

David Del Rio as Putzie (Geek Charming – 2011 and Pitch Perfect – 2012),

David Del Rio as Putzie

and Jordan Fisher (Teen Beach Movie - 2013, Teen Beach Movie 2 - 2015) as Doody!

Jordan Fisher as Doody

Also joining in on the 1950’s-inspired fun will be famous Actor and former DWTS Finalist (Season 03), Mario Lopez, in the role of Host Vince Fontaine; AND one of Pop Music’s superstars, Singer/Songwriter Jesse J, will open the show with the singing of the original film’s hit, opening theme, “Grease (Is the Word)”!

Jesse J

“There’s no pressure like being the first one on stage,” disclosed Jesse, according to Billboard.com, concerning her all-too important role in the positive outcome of the upcoming show, “I love that rush of the nerves I’m going to get, I just feel very honored and very lucky that I’ve been asked to experience something like this.”  The popular Artist also went on to disclose that she has been given a little leeway, in the form of Artistic License, to put her own, personal spin on the Frankie Vali classic.

“… I’ve definitely kind of thrown in what I kind of like to do … Just put a little bit of me in it.”  

Brought back from the past and vividly re-introduced to a modern generation of Music lovers, Grease: Live! will strive to walk that thin line that separates “Beloved Classic” and “Fresh Take”.

Grease: LIVE!
With Julianne Hough as Sandy
and Aaron Tveit as Danny

“I think we’re very much doing our own slant on it,” explained the show’s Director, Alex Rudzinski, who has reportedly directed over 500 hours of live television for the widely popular Reality/Dance program, Dancing With The Stars, “It would be fickle to try to do a copycat live broadcast.  This is a live TV production.  If you get too close then all people will do all night is just compare take for take and you open yourself up for problems.”

“Own slant” is right!  In addition to the original movie’s greatly endeared Musical Score, Grease: Live! is also set to feature an ALL-NEW original piece, “All I need is an Angel”, worked up especially for Singer Jepsen’s portrayal of the well-meaning Frenchy, and due the live event’s Primetime airing slot.  In the cases of the production’s more Adult Songs and content, “school-sanctioned” versions of the Lyrics will be used instead of the originals, according to latimes.com.

In what is possibly an even further effort to meld the past with the present, Didi Conn, class of 1978 (Get it?), is also set to make an appearance, right along the side of the hit Musical’s newest performers.

Conn, who played the loveable Frenchy of the 70’s film,

Didi Conn in Grease (1978)

will switch roles in this most recent Grease adaption, playing the part of Viola (or “Vi”, if you geeks prefer!), the Frosty Palace waitress who lends a sympathetic ear to the character Frenchy’s academic woes and misadventures.

“ … It’s amazing … it’s like the generations staring at each other!” Singer/Actress Hudgens has related of Conn and Jepsen’s Diner scene together.

Didi would seem to think so too, recently gushing about the live production, “It’s just so exciting.  They really capture the DNA of the show – the friendship, the love … I hope that people just get up and dance along.”

And it appears that Didi isn’t the only ecstatic participant of the modern Cast’s massive theatrical undertaking …

“Grease is one of the movies that made me want to be an entertainer,” The show’s Star, Hough, has dished, according to fasionnstyle.com, “… I have literally been waiting my whole life to play Sandy … This is my dream role and performing it live on television will be one of the most thrilling opportunities I’ve had in my career so far,”

Julianne Hough as Sandy

“Being Rizzo is something I’ve never imagined,” admitted the veritable “Disney Princess”, Vanessa Hudgens, of her casting as one of the show’s darker characters, “… I love that because it will be a new challenge,”

Vanessa Hudgens as Rizzo

Of course, recreating such a beloved, Musical classic must be, at some level or other, a nerve-wracking experience, to say the least; but, kicking off live on January 31^st at 7pm, Grease: Live, whether widely loved or ill-received, will likely be a most memorable event for many years to come, as was duly expressed by Hudgens, according to latimes.com, “… I remember thinking, ‘Are we actually doing this?’  It’s sort of surreal to be a part of introducing this iconic musical to a new generation.”

Grease: LIVE!

Check out these videos (below) to see even more great pics/info about Grease: LIVE! courtesy of Fox 's official YouTube Channel!

Maks and Peta, Dancing to the End of Love – DWTS Fantasy Pick

Newly Engaged Couple,

Maksim Chmerkovskiy

and Peta Murgatroyd

Dance a Special Performance

– DWTS Fantasy Pick

Dancing With The Stars’ beloved Mirror Ball Champion Pros, Maksim Chmerkovskiy and Peta Murgatroyd, have agreed to take that timeless Waltz down the aisle together, their Engagement having been made official in early December of last year!

Maks and Peta

The announcement, which was made by Maksim himself via Instagram, was naturally met with much elation by Fans everywhere of the Dancing Duo, not the least of which was THIS dwtslover, which observation brings me to my next DWTS Fantasy Pick (Weeeell, more like a “Shameless Plead” in this particular case!) …

Picture this: A dimly lit, Ballroom Dance floor, where upon Maks and Peta, having been especially invited on the show together for a live Performance as the natural result of their Engagement, are sharing a special, romantic dance together - I should think that a quietly passionate Argentine Tango ought to serve this purpose exquisitely! - to a song so perfectly suited to this setting, it truly is a wonder that any other person or show official hasn't thought of it yet! … (Are you ready for this, dwtslovers?) Singer/Songwriter Leonard Cohen’s “Dance Me to the End of Love”!

Leonard Cohen 

Huh?! Am I RIGHT?!! Wouldn’t that just be all kinds of “Too Perfect”?!

Come now, that idea is positively BRILLIANT (though I say it myself!), and Ooo, ooo, ooo(!!) … The show could even play the song’s actual, official video live, in the background, while Maks and Peta are dancing! … Ahhhhhhhhh, it’s genius!!

Not convinced? Check out this video (courtesy of Leonard Cohen's official Vevo YouTube channel) and see for yourself ...

So, c’mon DWTS, do you think we could possibly make this Fantasy Pick a reality? Because this one is almost too good to pass up, right? … No?? … Well, unfortunately, I’m not at all above begging ... <Wailing hysterically now in all the typical, DWTS-Brat, tantrum-throwing theatrics> … PLEASE?!! Please, please, please, please, please, PLEEEASE!!

DWTS, Season 22 Premiere Date!!

Dancing With The Stars

Returns Next Spring!!

Dancing With The Stars, AKA the BEST television show to have EVER graced the air waves, is already limbering up for another glittering turn around the Dance Floor, with its very latest (and possibly GREATEST!) Season - Season 22 - set to premiere with the coming of Spring, on March 21^st, 2016!

That’s right, dwtslovers, following what is shaping up to be a dreary Winter without the beloved Reality Show, DWTS has duly scheduled its 22nd, bi-annual pick-me-up for the first day of Spring!

And with what appears to be several sequin-filled plans already blossoming, the Fan-enthused excitement circumventing the event grows daily, particularly as regards the prospect of welcoming back one certain, GREATLY-MISSED individual, whom many viewers consider to be the show’s most important and endeared Cast member, Head Judge Len Goodman!

Len Goodman

Len Goodman

<Jumping up and Down while squealing shamelessly> Oooo, I can scarcely wait myself! FINALLY! … Bring on the sense and SANITY!!
(I mean, honestly, and let’s face it folks, without good ol’ Len there to keep everything in constant check, DWTS’ once fairly accurately judging Panel has been floundering … at BEST!)

But it would also seem that, despite the thrilling “hullabaloo” stereotypically promised with the coming of each and every new DWTS Season, not ALL of the show’s newest possibilities are bedecked with the Spring-appropriate “sunshine and daises”, as panic-inducing rumors, such as the impending departure of the fan-favorite Pro, 6-time Mirror Ball Champion, Derek Hough, have already been cropping up.

Hi, Derek!

The 2-time Emmy winning Choreographer had perhaps inadvertently sparked these dreadful rumors himself when he, according to realtytoday.com, responded to a question during an interview concerning his Season 22 return to the program with, “I don’t know, who knows; [but] I have to say this isn’t a bad way to go out.”

Of course, and as much as we the Fans hate to admit it, it’d be impossible for the 30-year-old, renowned Dancer to remain with the show FOREVER, especially in light of his other creative ventures that have been showing up annually, such as Hough’s recent Broadway stint and his highly successful Move tours with his sister and fellow Emmy Winner, Julianne.

Even still, as the REIGNING Mirror Ball Champion, it would not seem at all out of place if we, the Fans, were to plead that Derek return for at least one more, lil’ bitty Season … or TEN ... you know, whatever works ... we’re not picky! … PLEASE?!!

Dancing With The Stars'
6-time Mirror Ball Champion
Derek Hough

Maks and Peta Are Engaged!!

DWTS Mirror Ball Champions

Maksim Chmerkovskiy

and Peta Murgatroyd

to Waltz Down the Isle!

“She said ‘yes’,” former DWTS Pro, Maksim Chmerkovskiy, announced suddenly on Instagram on Saturday, December 5^th, accompanying the elated message with a telling photo of the eldest Chmerkovskiy brother bent down on one knee in front of a tearful looking Peta Murgatroyd, holding up a sparkling diamond ring.

Maks and Peta

Maks was, of course, referring to the response given to him by his then girlfriend and fellow Mirror Ball Champion, Peta, after he surprised her (and the world at large!) by charismatically popping the question, following the couple’s performance on Sway: A Dance Trilogy (an annual dancing event hosted jointly by Maks, his brother, Valentin Chmerkovskiy, and their good friend, Tony Dovolani).

Maks and Peta

“I’m in love with you and I want to be in love with you for the rest of my life,” Maks had sweetly stated to Peta, according to usmagazine.com, just before voicing those four, fateful words, “Will you marry me?”

Maks and Peta

The afore mentioned “yes” from Peta was then duly met with many cheers and much elation, being enthusiastically doled out from the watching group of fellow performers, that included a smiling Val and Tony, crowding around the happy couple to witness the romantic scene unfold.

With a newly received Engagement band now fitted merrily on her left ring finger, the Bride-to-be then followed up her Fiancé’s ecstatic announcement on Social Media with a special message of her own!

“I said yes!!!!!!” recounted Peta on Instagram, along with what seems to be a post-Proposal pic of the couple sharing a kiss.
“You have my heart forever my love.” the moving caption continued.  “Love always wins @Maksc.”

Maks and Peta

The conclusion of the message perhaps refers to Peta and Maks’ tumulus beginnings as a couple...

The pair had started dating in 2012; but, as Peta explains, the love that has now fully and beautifully blossomed between them needed just a little time to grow!

“I thought he as arrogant,” admitted Peta of her first 2009 meeting with her future Husband, in a recent in-depth Interview given by People.

Maks and Peta

“Okay, that’s a defense mechanism,” laughed Maks in response to Peta’s reflections; “I think she was in love with me at first sight and just doesn’t want to admit it.”

Maks and Peta

“No, I walked in the way I walk in … it’s just a lot of presence,” he added, describing his arrival on the set of the Broadway Show, Burn the Floor (in which he and Peta had been cast).

Undaunted, Peta continued, “I learned to like him because I found out he wasn’t that arrogant.  He was really generous to the entire cast; and our friendship grew and grew.”

Over the next few years Peta and Maks would maintain their relationship status-quo as just being Friends and at length co-workers, on Dancing With The Stars; but even then, “there was always an attraction,” shared Peta.

Eventually, of course, that pestering “attraction” would win out, as the resistant pair finally gave and began seeing each other.

But what might have initially appeared to be an all enveloping romance swiftly came to grinding halt after mere months of going out together.

“My heart was broken,” recalled Peta (during that same Interview) of Maks calling it quits with her; and, it seems that hers wasn’t the only one!

“I have a close-knit circle of family and friends and they all love her [Peta],” stated Maks, before disclosing that his Mom had placed him in “time out for like a month …” following his early 2013 Breakup.

“I needed time to grow up,” he would later reason of his Breakup.  Still, Maks is certainly man enough to admit when he’s wrong, as he added, “I realized right away that I’d made a mistake, so I would take every opportunity to hover around [Peta].”

More years passed and the couples’ rumor-mill began to churn once more as the gossip spread of their rekindled love for one another when the two were spotted holding hands in May of this year.

A source would later help to confirm the couples’ reconciliation, adding that they were “simply warming up and not going full-speed ahead on their relationship.”

It would seem, however, that absence had already done its work in causing Maks’ heart to grow even fonder, as the 35-year-old Dancer is clearly now ready to “floor it”,  being more than at ease with the notion of taking that proverbial “Plunge” with Peta after only a brief time of being back together!

But despite the involvement of what are apparently violent affections for one another, the offer of Marriage, albeit delightful, seems to have come as a complete surprise for everyone including Peta, 29, whose visibly emotional expression  (exhibited upon hearing Maks’ Proposal) seemed to plainly spell out the words “Sincere Estatic Shock”!

Maks and Peta

All according to plan, as the Ukraine-born Maksim would later reveal, according to etonline.com, explaining, “I have a big circle of friends that I’ve accumulated over the years that are now her friends and family; and if you say just the closest few, [that would be] like 50 people, so I decided not to say anything to anybody.  No Mom, no Dad.”

(“He was pissed at me for like five hours,” remarked Maks later, according to people.com, on the topic of his father being left out of the loop!)

“I also wanted it to kind of be like a surprise for everybody,” he added.  “Everybody had an amazing moment that was very unforgettable; and things like this need to be unforgettable.”

“It needs to be special,” pointed out the Dance Instructor, who stayed true to his initiative right up until the hour of the Proposal … Maks’ little brother, Val, with whom Maks is very close, would later admit to being made aware of the top-secret event only shortly beforehand!

“I found out a half hour before he did that,” shared Val, “during the intermission of our show, he started showing me the ring; and I bugged out.”

“But honestly,” he further disclosed, “it’s long overdue.  We love Peta, all jokes aside.  I love her honestly with all [of] my heart.  She’s been a part of the family for a long time.  I’m just glad that now it’s official.”

DWTS’ Season 20 Mirror Ball Champ also took to Social Media to express his feelings concerning his brother’s soon-to-be-wife, gushing, “I love the two of you with all my heart.  You have my brother’s loyalty, heart.  His one and only for the rest of his life. You’re family now and that makes you my sister, the second most important woman in my life.  What’s mine is yours.  Forever and always.  Petachka your team got numbers now …”

Peta also had some familial love to dish out, or so it would seem, posting a picture of herself embracing the younger sister of Val and her future Hubby, Nicole Volynets, via Instagram, accompanied with the following, heartfelt caption, “This is one human being who has literally changed my life. To put it quite simply… @nicolevolynets I couldn’t live without you, you’re officially my sister … #love #imengaged”

Peta Murgatroyd with Nicole Volynets

Peta also took the endearing photo as another chance to flash her beautiful rock, proudly raising her left hand to the camera so that the ring could be plainly seen!

And why ever not?!  Seeing as how the jeweled piece is every bit a stunner, its very creation being ever so lovingly supervised by Maks, in what is generally a very lengthy process, but that was in fact, “very quick”, says Chmerkovskiy, “because I knew exactly what I wanted.”

Maks and Peta

Maks and Peta

“I worked with an incredible company [called] Cantamessa,” Maks revealed. “Their women’s designs have been worn by royal families all over the world.  I was Skyping with a group of Italian jewelry makers that are fourth or fifth generation!”

“… Italian guys all arguing amongst themselves about how the ring should be made and then I would give my thoughts.  What came out of it was brilliant.”

<Long, low whistle> and so it is!  VERY nicely done, Maks!
“It should be something special and that you’re proud of,” he later added, “If you have the ability to make it personal, you should make it personal.”

“As long as she liked it!” he noted, the added sentiment almost dripping with hard-earned, albeit smug, self-satisfaction … what with his new Fiancée constantly being photographed while flashing the ring in multiple public forums, quite obviously pleased with the final result!

“I’m obsessed with it,” cried Peta during her Interview with People, “It’s so classy and elegant … It’s the most beautiful thing ever.”

It seems clear, however, that Maks and Peta were almost destined to dance through life together, with or without that fabulous rock, as was perfectly expressed by the enamored latter when she remarked, following the pair’s Engagement, “I couldn’t see myself with anybody else, he’s the love of my life!”

Maks and Peta

“I dodged a bullet,” exclaimed a relieved Chmerkovskiy, “because she could have fallen in love with somebody else and this never would have happened,”

Maks and Peta

And now what else remains but the Wedding details, which will rest squarely in the capable hands of Murgatroyd, to hear the Groom tell it!

“… I told her I’m not planning anything else!  I’m done,” stated Maks, while Peta chimed in with, “I’m happy with that.  I want to do it all … He can just sit there and show up for the big day.”

Though an official Date remains to be set, the promised “I do’s” seem an event not too far off, as Peta has reportedly already spilled that the Ceremony will be “big” and will furthermore take place in L.A.

“It’s going to be a massive party,” shared Peta, according to People magazine.

And what is perhaps the biggest detail of all, the all-important Wedding Dress, has already began to take shape much to the delight of Fans everywhere!

“I went through all the phases” admitted Peta when questioned as to her garment’s style of choice, “… I wanted the usual heart-shaped, poufy dress.  Then a lacy, long slinky dress.  But right now, I just want it to be classic … I want my daughter to be able to look back at it and say, ‘… My Mom was beautiful and timeless.’  I don’t want a cake dress.  No tiaras either.  I loathe tiaras.  I just want a classic dress with a big, long train.”

Of course, the natural assumption that has reigned supreme among Fans of the couple concerning their Nuptials is that these two Ballroom greats would present an elaborate Dance Routine for Friends and Family on their Wedding Day; but, as Peta later corrected, “I want our first dance to just be simple and romantic.  Nothing choreographed.”

“I want a flash mob,” her Fiancé has laughingly countered, “but I leave [the planning] up to her.”

“She could put me in a green suit, I wouldn’t mind,” he added, confirming his desire to see Peta in charge of the day’s ceremonies.

Naturally many congratulations and well wishes will likely continue flooding in from the happy couple’s friends and relations, some having already cropped up via the Social Media network from the duo’s fellow DWTS Professionals.

“… @petamurgatroyd & maksc. Are engaged!!!!!!!!!  Congratulations guys this is awesome news!!..” wrote Pro, Emma Slater; and Peta’s long-time best friend and “sister”, Sharna Burgess, has observed, “It’s about bloody time!!!!!”

“I think it’s awesome that we have a massive history,” expressed Maks to People regarding what has so far been a bumpy but worthwhile road as a couple, “It’ll make a great story to tell our kids one day.”

“I’m done with dumb things,” he further proclaimed, “I finally found the person I can have the perfect life with”.

“She’s my best friend,” was his enamored conclusion, “She makes me a better man.”

Maks and Peta

Check out these videos (below) to see even more great pics/info for Maks and Peta Courtesy of Entertainment Tonight, ABC News, PEOPLE, and Tessa Scott 's official YouTube Channels!