Shaftesbury Wants Grease Hopefuls???

Speaking of reality TV shows, auditions for Grease: You’re the One That We Want - How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria? coproducer David Ian’s talent show to find the star of a West End production of Grease - is holding auditions at the Shaftesbury Theatre this week. Hopefuls for the roles of Danny and Sandy in the hit musical have been queuing outside the theatre for their chance to shine. The TV show, which Ian launched with The X Factor judge Simon Cowell, has already taken off in America, where the producer is using the same format to cast a Broadway production of the musical. Grease has yet to announce exact dates or a venue for its West End run (See News, 21 Dec 2006). Currently dark after Boney M musical Daddy Cool closed earlier this month (See News, 12 Jan 2007), the Shaftesbury will house Runar Borge’s stage version of Eighties screen classic, Fame, returning to London on 8 May 2007 (previews from 4 May) for a limited summer season in its fifth West End home (See News, 21 Feb 2007). Perhaps Grease could open at the Shaftesbury this autumn following Fame’s run – although it has previously been tipped to be vying for the Piccadilly Theatre, currently home of Michael Grandage’s multi-award-winning production of Guys and Dolls (See The Goss, 2 Feb 2007).

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