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Taylor Hicks adds his own flourishes to 'Grease'

Mid-Michigan fans of "American Idol" who are willing to take a road trip will be able to watch one of the show's past favorite sons storm the live stage.

Donning a midnight blue suit with 13,000 rhinestones, Taylor Hicks belts out "Beauty School Dropout" in a touring production of "Grease" from June 9-28 at Detroit's Fisher Theatre. He'll also perform songs from his new album, "The Distance," at 8 p.m. June 22 at the Magic Bag in Ferndale.

Since taking on the role of Teen Angel on Broadway last year, Hicks has been thrilling audiences around the country in a touring production of the popular musical.

"I was really nervous when Broadway came calling because I'd never done theater before," Hicks said. "Once I started getting comfortable in the role, the role started expanding. You can take a role and night in and night out, you can expand it."

One New York columnist said Hicks was the big draw to "Grease" last summer and contributed to sold-out houses of the Broadway production.

The popular musical centers around Sandy Dumbrowski (played by Olivia Newton John in the 1978 film version) and Danny Zuko (John Travolta), who fall hopelessly in love one summer. Zuko's world is turned upside down when Sandy appears at Rydell High on the first day of school. What follows is a rock 'n' roll celebration of growing up, cruising with friends and going steady.

"Grease" originated in Chicago and made its premiere at The Kingston Mines Theater in 1971 before heading for off-Broadway and then Broadway in 1972. It closed as the longest-running show in Broadway history.

Hicks said embellishing the role of Teen Angel started with the suit.

"I had a vision for the costume - they helped me design it to have a signature look. It's a very shiny suit to say the least. I would have had more (rhinestones) if there was any room."

Then Hicks added his own flourishes to the music by "writing R&B lines for it." He also showcases his harmonica skills, an instrument he's been playing since he was 16.

The role of Teen Angel affords him the opportunity to "observe musical theater," he said. It's different than performing as a singer because "there's a storyline involved."

Hicks said he's also fortunate to be able to debut his new album, which features 11 tracks including the first single, "What's Right is Right." It's produced by Simon Climie (Eric Clapton, Carlos Santana, Faith Hill).

The Alabama native won the fifth season of "American Idol" in 2006 with more than 63 million votes. His debut album, "Taylor Hicks," was released on Dec. 12, 2006, and debuted in the No. 2 spot on the Billboard 200 charts and was later certified platinum.

During the last three years, Hicks as performed with Earth, Wind & Fire, The Allman Brothers and Willie Nelson. He's toured through Asia and penned a Random House memoir.

'Grease' at Auditorium Theatre with Taylor Hicks

Broadway In Chicago is proud to present GREASE™, the classic musical that has made generations of audiences root for Sandy and Danny’s lighting romance. Tickets are now available for Chicago audiences to bop and jive with the Pink Ladies and the T-Birds at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University during a limited engagement January 6 – 18, 2009.

After spending a hopelessly devoted summer with Sandy Dumbrowski (Emily Padgett), the new girl in town, Danny Zuko's (Eric Schneider) world is thrown upside down when Sandy appears at Rydell High on the first day of school. What follows is a rock n' roll celebration of growin' up, cruisin' with friends and goin' steady. The new version of GREASE™ features, for the first time ever in a Broadway production, songs from the smash hit 1978 film including “Sandy,” and the Academy Award nominated song “Hopelessly Devoted to You.” The new version of the musical also includes the songs from the film adaptation, “Grease” and “You’re the One That I Want,” both of which were #1 hits on the Billboard Top 100 list. These songs are heard in addition to the Jacobs/Casey songs made famous by the original stage production, including “Summer Nights,” “Greased Lightnin’” and “We Go Together.”

As previously announced, “American Idol” Season Five winner Taylor Hicks will star as “Teen Angel.” Taylor Hicks made his debut on Broadway in the role this past summer. He achieved widespread fame in 2006 as a contestant on the hugely successful FOX singing competition “American Idol.” Starring as “Rizzo” will be Allie Schulz, a contestant on NBC’s “Grease: You’re the One That I Want.” Allie comes directly from the Broadway Company of GREASE™.

The tour also stars Scot Patrick Allan as “Eugene,” Will Blum as “Roger,” Bridie Carroll as “Jan,” Kate Morgan Chadwick as “Frenchy,” Brian Crum as “Doody,” Kelly Felthous as “Marty,” Dominic Fortuna as “Vince Fontaine,” Erin Henry as “Patty Simcox,” Roxie Lucas as “Miss Lynch,” David Ruffin (attended Northwestern University) as “Kenickie,” and Nick Verina (studied at Second City) as “Sonny.”

The ensemble features Joseph Corella, Preston Ellis, Melissa Larsen, Ruby Lewis, Lisa Maietta, Dayla Perkins, Mark Raumaker, Mike Russo, Matthew William Schmidt and Brooke Stone.

This new production of GREASE™, which opened on Broadway on August 19, 2007, was born out of NBC’s landmark talent competition TV series, “Grease: You’re The One That I Want.” The weekly talent competition drew 90 million viewers, and America voted for its favorite contestants to play the lead roles of Sandy and Danny on Broadway. The production is directed and choreographed by two-time Tony Award-winner Kathleen Marshall (“The Pajama Game,” “Wonderful Town”). The book, music and lyrics are by the late Warren Casey who made Chicago his home in 1962 and Chicago native Jim Jacobs. Additional songs from the film are by Barry Gibb, John Farrar, Louis St. Louis and Scott Simon.

GREASE™ features scenic design by Tony Award nominee Derek McLane (“The Pajama Game”), costume design by two-time Tony Award winner Martin Pakledinaz (“Thoroughly Modern Millie,” “Kiss Me Kate”), lighting design by Tony Award winner Kenneth Posner (“The Coast of Utopia,” “Wicked”) and sound design by Brian Ronan (“Spring Awakening,” “Curtains”).

GREASE™ originated in Chicago and made its premiere at The Kingston Mines Theater in 1971 before making its New York premiere off-Broadway at the Eden Theatre on February 14, 1972. After 128 sold-out performances, the show made the transition to Broadway taking up residence at the Broadhurst Theatre on June 7, 1972. GREASE™ was nominated for seven Tony Awards in its spectacular initial run. On November 21, 1972, the show moved to the Royale Theatre before making its final transfer on January 20, 1980 to the Majestic Theatre. It closed as the longest running show in Broadway history after playing 3,388 performances. In 1978, GREASE™ became a hugely popular feature film starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John in the lead roles. A Broadway revival opened on May 11, 1994 at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre where it played 1,503 performances and won three Tony Award nominations. The current Broadway production of GREASE™ opened at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre on August 19, 2007 following preview performances which began on July 24, 2007.

The film version of GREASE™ produced one of the best-selling soundtracks in history and is the highest-grossing movie musical of all time. The two Travolta/Newton-John duets, “You're The One That I Want” and “Summer Nights” were both #1 hits and appear on the United Kingdom’s All-Time Best-Selling Singles list. The song “Hopelessly Devoted to You” was nominated for an Academy Award (1979) for Best Music – Original Song and the film's title song, “Grease” was a #1 smash hit single for singer Frankie Valli.



GREASE™ is produced on tour by Paul Nicholas and David Ian, Nederlander Presentations, Inc. and Terry Allen Kramer by arrangement with Robert Stigwood.



The GREASE™ Original Cast Recording is produced by Sony BMG Masterworks Broadway and was released on October 2, 2007.



Performances of GREASE™ at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University are as follows:



Tuesday, January 6 at 8 p.m. Tuesday, January 13 at 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, January 7 at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, January 14 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, January 8 at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, January 15 at 7:30 p.m.

Friday, January 9 at 8 p.m. Friday, January 16 at 8 p.m.

Saturday, January 10 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday, January 17 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Sunday, January 11 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Sunday, January 18 at 2 p.m.



Individual tickets are currently on sale and range in price from $26 to $85. Tickets are available at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University box office (50 E. Congress Pkwy.); all Broadway In Chicago Box Offices (24 W. Randolph St., 151 W. Randolph St., and 18 W. Monroe St.); the Broadway In Chicago Ticket Line at (312) 902-1400; all Ticketmaster retail locations (including Hot Tix, select Carson Pirie Scott stores, Coconuts and fye stores); and online at www.BroadwayInChicago.com. Tickets are available to groups of 20 or more by calling (312) 977-1710.