The Classical Source For All The Performing, Visual And Literary Arts & Entertainment News
Theater

Keke Palmer Joins Julianne Hough, Vanessa Hudgens for Cast of "Grease: Live On Fox" [VIDEO]

Fox is taking a cue from NBC and airing a musical this winter. Yes, Classicalites, Fox is copying NBC and will be airing a performance of Grease: Live. This week it was revealed that Keke Palmer has joined the cast as one of the Pink Ladies, Marty--originally played by Dinah Manoff in the film.

This isn't Palmer's first foray into the world of theater either, nor is it her first musical experience.Palmer has plenty of musical experience, both onscreen and off. She previously played the part of Chilli in CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story and starred in Cinderella on Broadway.

Moreover, according to Entertainment Weekly, she was the first African American to play Cinderella. Palmer has also appeared in TV shows like Key & Peele and Masters of Sex, and will be starring in Ryan Murphy's upcoming Scream Queens

Below is a clip of Palmer in Rodger and Hammerstein's Cinderella on Broadway.

With such a great resume, why isn't Keke Palmer, playing one of the lead female roles in Grease: Live--Sandy or Rizzo? Instead, the aformentioned lead roles (Sandy and Rizzo) went to Julianne Hough and Vanessa Hudgens respectively. Not to begrudge Hough and Hudgens (neither of whom has played Cinderella) their musical talents, but it seems Keke Palmer was miscast.

The show will be the first of its kind for Fox. The network is following earlier successful moves by NBC, which garnered huge ratings with 2013's The Sound of Music Live! and 2014's Peter Pan Live!

According to US Weekly, Fox's Senior VP of Event Series, Shana C. Waterman said, "From Broadway to film, and across generations, Grease is one of the most beloved musical stories ever told--and we can't wait to bring it to our air in a spectacular live event."

 

Real Time Analytics