After the incredible success of the UK and Ireland tour in 2019, Grease will tour again in 2020, returning to Manchester Palace Theatre in July.
The 2019 tour was the first new production in 25 years of Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey’s iconic musical Grease. The production will be directed by Nikolai Foster and choreographed by Arlene Phillips.
Dan Partridge (Rum Tum Tugger in the International Tour of Cats) will repreise the role of Danny Zuko with further casting to be announced.
[adrotate banner=”4″]
Speaking about the production, producer Colin Ingram commented, “I am delighted that this new production of GREASE will be returning to tour the UK in May 2020. The production has been thrilling audiences and critics up and down the country with standing ovations every night. This fresh take on one of the most popular musicals of all time has gone down brilliantly with the theatre going public who are loving this version. It brings back the reality and grit from the original 1972 Broadway production, yet the characters and story chime so well with a modern audience. All the songs from the film are there, but it feels like a new GREASE for a new generation.”
Grease originally opened in Chicago in 1971, followed by a move to Broadway in 1972, where it received seven Tony Award nominations, including one for Best Musical. During the show’s eight-year run, at the time, little known actors including Peter Gallagher, Patrick Swayze and John Travolta all appeared in the production, with Richard Gere understudying many roles before going on to star as Danny Zuko in the 1973 London premiere.
The 1978 film adaptation starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton John is the fourth highest-grossing live action musical of all time and celebrated its 40th anniversary this year. The musical features beloved songs, including Summer Nights, Greased Lightnin’, Hopelessly Devoted To You and You’re The One That I Want.
When does Grease run at Manchester’s Palace Theatre?
Grease runs at the Palace Theatre Manchester from 20 July – 1 August 2020.
Pictured – The cast of the Grease 2019 tour – image courtesy Manuel Harlan
