Talent sought for revival of Grease

America's original high school musical is looking for two new stars. To help search the two new stars, the new TV reality show, Grease: You're the One that I Want is all set to make its debut at 7 p.m. Sunday on WMAQ-Channel 5.

The show will search among America's talent to find the leads for a new revival production of Grease, with the America public ultimately making the final decision. Scores of local actors, dancers, housewives, teachers and professionals had put their singing, dancing and acting to good use in October when the NBC show's judges came to town looking for the next Broadway-bound Sandy and Danny.

Access Hollywood co-anchor Billy Bush and British TV personality and musical star Denise Van Outen share host duties on the reality show. Kathleen Marshall, who will direct and choreograph the Broadway production, is one of the three judges along with theatrical producer David Ian and co-creator of the musical, Jim Jacobs. Their opinion will count alongside audience votes. Newton-John will make guest appearances on the first two shows.

The first episode will be a collection of auditions held in Los Angeles, Chicago and New York. 55 performers were selected and sent to a "Grease Academy", where they were trained for a week. Thereafter, the group was slashed to 24. Eventually the 12 finalists, split evenly between guys and gals were selected after the performed in a showcase in front of an invited audience. They will now compete during six live episodes to become the winning duo.

Kathleen Marshall thinks the show is unique because "there is a real prize at the end of it. Whoever wins is going to star on Broadway. It's not just `Oh, thank you very much, here's your trophy, and your cheque' and then you're sent on your way with a pat on the head. You have to deliver beyond that. So it's a lot of pressure."

The idea behind the show is to get the best dancer-actor-singer. The show is looking for a guy and girl who can dance and sing their hearts out and be strong actors on top of all that. The show isn't about finding someone who looks like Olivia and John but about finding a girl who oozes charm and a guy who is a macho greaser.