While some faithful fans may have been hesitant to watch the remake of the 1978 classic, “Grease: Live” lived up to the hype.
Since FOX announced their plans to transform the classic musical in 2014, fans have been eagerly awaiting the arrival of the three-hour performance that would bring “Grease” to life. On Jan. 31, they were not disappointed. The combination of impressive choreography, on-point costumes and a talented cast came together to create a memorable rendition to the beloved classic.
Here are the top five highlights from the performance:
1) Vanessa Hudgens as Rizzo: Not only did she deliver a dazzling performance of the bold, tenacious Rizzo, but Hudgens did it all just one day after her father passed away from cancer. “Tonight, I do the show in his honor,” Hudgens tweeted. Despite her grief, Hudgens created a bold yet vulnerable character and delivered a compelling rendition of Rizzo’s signature ballad “There Are Worse Things I Could Do.”
2) Star-studded cast: Hudgens was not the only performer who successfully embodied the iconic characters. Julianne Hough and Aaron Tveit worked well together as Sandy and Danny, and Carly Rae Jepsen’s sweet take on Frenchy was engaging. Also joining them was Keke Palmer as Marty and Mario Lopez as Vince Fontaine.
3) Old Frenchy meets new Frenchy: One of the best scenes of the production was the cameo appearance of Didi Conn, the original Frenchy, playing the beloved role of Waitress Vi. The interaction between Conn and Jepsen definitely stirred up everyone’s emotions.
4) Jessie J’s rendition of “Grease is the Word”: Joined by Boyz II Men and Ana Gasteyer, British singer Jessie J opened the show with her cover of Frankie Valli’s 1978 hit. While some viewers feel that her delivery was too strayed from the original, her funky and rockin’ performance set the tone for the whole show. Boyz II Men appeared again as the Teen Angels and Gasteyer portrayed Principal McGee.
5) Original songs: Some of the songs included in “Grease: Live” were originally released in the 1971 Broadway production, making them new to some of the movie’s fanatical fans. “Freddy, My Love,” “Those Magic Changes” and “It’s Raining on Prom Night” brought the Broadway play to the live stage of Hollywood. Also included in “Grease: Live” is an original song “All I Need Is An Angel,” specially written for Jepsen’s portrayal of Frenchy.
If you missed “Grease: Live,” or just want to relive the magic, watch it here.