TV presenter and winner of Strictly Come Dancing, Ore Oduba will play the role of Teen Angel at certain performances at Leeds Grand Theatre, the opening venue of the UK and Ireland tour of GREASE. Ore alternates the role with the previously announced Peter Andre. Ore will play the role on 24 & 25 June and from 29 June to 16 July. GREASE opens at Leeds Grand Theatre on 19 June, running there until 20 July 2019. The tour then continues until October 2019. This new production of GREASE is directed by Nikolai Foster and choreographed by Arlene Phillips.
Since his Strictly Come Dancing triumph in 2016, Ore Oduba has gone on to present some of TV’s biggest shows, including This Morning and The One Show. He also hosts the Strictly Come Dancing Live Tour and is a familiar voice to listeners of BBC Radio 2, having deputised for the likes of Zoe Ball, Claudia Winkleman and Steve Wright.
Ore Oduba said, “GREASE is one of the most iconic musicals of all time, so to be making my stage debut in such a well-loved piece is a dream come true. I can’t wait to start rehearsals with our talented young cast and creative team; I just know this show is going to be truly electrifyin’!”
Also in the cast are Dan Partridge as Danny, Martha Kirby as Sandy, Louis Gaunt as Kenickie, Rhianne-Louise McCaulsky as Rizzo, Jordan Abey as Doody, Ryan Anderson as Roger, Damian Buhagiar as Sonny, Eloise Davies as Frenchy, Natalie Woods as Jan, Tara Sweeting as Marty, Dale White as Eugene, Jessica Croll as Patty Simcox, Corinna Powlesland as Miss Lynch, Abigail Climer as Cha Cha, Darren Bennett as Vince Fontaine and Will Haswell as Johnny Casino. Completing the cast are Thea Bunting as Cynthia, Emily Beth Harrington as Carly, Jonathan Hermosa Lopez as Bobby, Dom Hutcheson as Mickey, Ruby May Martinwood as Sofia, Lindsay McAllister as Donna Sue and Kevin O’Dwyer as Chad.
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, when adjusted for inflation, is the highest-grossing live action musical of all time and celebrated its 40th anniversary last year. The musical features beloved songs, including Summer Nights, Greased Lightnin’, Hopelessly Devoted To You and You’re The One That I Want.
GREASE is directed by Nikolai Foster and choreographed by Arlene Philips, with designs by Colin Richmond, orchestrations and musical supervision by Sarah Travis, lighting design by Guy Hoare and sound design by Tom Marshall and casting by David Grindrod CDG for DGA.
This new production of GREASE is produced by Colin Ingram for InTheatre Productions, Donovan Mannato, William Sinclair, Ricardo Marques, Hunter Arnold and Curve.
Website: greasethemusicalontour.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/greaseUKTour
Twitter: @greaseuktour
2019 TOUR SCHEDULE
19 June – 20 July Leeds Grand Theatre 0844 848 2700 www.leedsgrandtheatre.com
23 – 27 July Cliffs Pavilion, Southend 01702 351135 www.thecliffspavilion.co.uk
30 July – 3 August Sunderland Empire 0844 871 3022 www.atgtickets.com/venues/sunderland
13 – 24 August Birmingham Hippodrome 0844 338 5000
www.birminghamhippodrome.com
27 – 31 August King's Theatre, Glasgow 0844 871 7648
www.atgtickets.com/venues/glasgow
3 – 14 September Curve, Leicester 0116 242 3595
www.curveonline.co.uk
17 – 28 September Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, Dublin 0844 847 2455 www.bordgaisenergytheatre.ie
1 – 5 October New Theatre, Oxford 0844 871 3020
www.atgtickets.com/oxford
8 – 12 October Churchill Theatre, Bromley 020 3285 6000 churchilltheatre.co.uk
15 – 19 October Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff 029 2063 6464 www.wmc.org.uk
