Lindsay Mendez’s “Merrily We Roll Along” Broadway Cast Recording Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard’s Cast Albums Chart

Lindsay Mendez is back on top of the charts…

The new Broadway cast recording of Merrily We Roll Along, featuring the 40-year-old Mexican American Broadway singer/actress, debuts at No. 1 on Billboard’s Cast Albums chart dated November 25.

Lindsay Mendez, Merrily We Roll AlongIn addition to Mendez, the musical also stars Daniel Radcliffe and Jonathan Groff, who have all been part of at least one top 10-charting Cast Album previously. (Groff, notably, performs on both the Nos. 1 and 2 titles on the latest Cast Albums chart – as Merrily We Roll Along bumps Hamilton: An American Musical from the top slot down to No. 2.) 

Billboard’s Top Cast Albums chart ranks the top-selling musical cast recordings of the week in the U.S., based on traditional album sales, as tracked by Luminate. The new Cast Albums chart dated November 25 reflects the sales week ending November 16.

Merrily We Roll Along has music and lyrics written by Stephen Sondheim, with a book by George Furth, based on the play of the same name by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart. The musical premiered on Broadway in 1981 for a brief run, and the 2023 production is its first revival on Broadway. It’s slated to run through March 24, 2024.

The new iteration began off-Broadway in 2022 at the New York Theatre Workshop, with the same leading cast, and played through January 22, 2023. It then began previews on Broadway at the Hudson Theatre on September 19, and officially opened on October 10.

Mendez has appeared on five top 10-charting sets on Cast Albums: Grease (the new 2007 Broadway cast recording, No. 4), Everyday Rapture (original Broadway cast recording; No. 8, 2010), Dogfight (original cast recording; No. 2, 2013), Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Carousel (2018 Broadway cast recording; No. 2, 2013), Godspell (the new 2012 Broadway cast recording; No. 1) and now Merrily We Roll Along.

Mendez also scored a Grammy nomination for best musical theater album, for Carousel.

Paramount+ Releases First Trailer for Marisa Davila’s “Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies” Series

Marisa Davila is a (pink) lady…

Paramount+ has released the first teaser trailer for its upcoming series Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies, starring the Latina actress.

Marisa DavilaThe musical comedy is set to premiere on April 6.

Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies takes place four years before the original Grease; in 1954 before rock ‘n’ roll ruled, before the T-Birds were the coolest in the school, four fed-up, outcasts dare to have fun on their own terms, sparking a moral panic that will change Rydell High forever.

In addition to Davila, who plays Jane, the prequel series also stars Cheyenne Isabel Wells as Olivia, Ari Notartomaso as Cynthia, Tricia Fukuhara as Nancy, Shanel Bailey as Hazel, Madison Thompson as Susan, Johnathan Nieves as Richie, Jason Schmidt as Buddy, Maxwell Whittington-Cooper as Wally and Jackie Hoffman as Asst. Principal McGee.

“Our characters will get to experience from a different lens and how those experiences overlap with others with a marginalized identity,” says Notartomaso. “I think we have the opportunity to represent another struggle that overlaps with things we’re dealing with today like racism.”

Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies is written and executive produced by creator Annabel Oakes, who also serves as showrunner.

The series will feature new original music, written and executive produced by Justin Tranter, a Grammy-nominated songwriter. Jamal Sims, whose work has appeared in When the Beat Drops, 13 The Musical, and RuPaul’s Drag Race, will choreograph the musical numbers for the series. Alethea Jones will direct the first episode and produce.

Marisa Davila to Star in the Prequel Musical Series “Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies”

Aside

Marisa Davila is tickled pink

The Latina actress has been cast in Paramount+’s prequel series Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies as principal photography gets underway in Vancouver, Canada.

Marisa DavilaIn addition to Davila, who stars as Jane, the project also stars Cheyenne Isabel Wells as Olivia, Ari Notartomaso as Cynthia, Tricia Fukuhara as Nancy, Shanel Bailey as Hazel, Madison Thompson as Susan, Johnathan Nieves as Richie, Jason Schmidt as Buddy, Maxwell Whittington-Cooper as Wally and Jackie Hoffman as Asst. Principal McGee.

The musical series takes place in 1954, four years before the original Grease, before rock ‘n’ roll ruled and before the T-Birds were the coolest in the school. It follows four fed-up outcasts who dare to have fun on their own terms, sparking a moral panic that will change Rydell High forever.

Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies is written and executive produced by creator Annabel Oakes, who also serves as showrunner.

Alethea Jones will direct the pilot plus two more episodes and will executive produce.

Choreography by Jamal Sims and music by Grammy nominee and executive music producer Justin Tranter.

The series will feature new original music, written and executive produced by Tranter, a Grammy-nominated songwriter and producer known for albums by Dua Lipa, Lady Gaga’s and The Chicks. Sims, whose work has appeared in When the Beat Drops, 13 The Musical and RuPaul’s Drag Racewill choreograph the musical numbers for the series.

“We are thrilled to unveil our new original series that will introduce an incredible cast of young stars in the making and electrifying musical numbers you will fall in love with,” said Nicole Clemens, President, Paramount Television Studios & Paramount+ Original Scripted Series. “Annabel and Alethea have managed to brilliantly capture the spirit of the iconic beloved classic film which like Rise of the Pink Ladies, is both set in the past but relevant to the present.”

Pena Hand-Jives in First Promo for Fox’s “Grease: Live”

Grease is the word for Carlos Pena, Jr.

Fox has released the first promo for the television adaptation of the 1978 film Grease, with a look at the 26-year-old Spanish, Venezuelan and Dominican American singer/actor and his Big Time Rush band member and other cast members of the live musical.

Carlos Pena, Jr.

Along with Pena, who now goes by Carlos PenaVega, the video introduces Julianne Hough (Sandy), Aaron Tveit (Danny), Vanessa Hudgens (Rizzo) and their co-stars, as they all do the hand jive at Rydell High.

Additionally, viewers also get a first look at Carly Rae Jepsen as Frenchie, Keke Palmer as Pink Lady Marty Maraschino, Pena as Kenickie, David Del Rio as T-Bird “Putzie”, and Kether Donohue as Jan.

The Fox live TV production which has been titled Grease: Live, also stars Mario Lopez as Vince Fontaine, the emcee of a national dance competition. Jessie J, meanwhile, is set to open the show with a performance of Barry Gibb‘s “Grease (Is the Word)” from the classic film.

In this TV version, the beginning of senior year means the end of Danny and Sandy’s summer romance – until Sandy unexpectedly transfers to Danny’s high school. With their friends pulling them in different directions, it’s up to Danny and Sandy to stay hopelessly devoted to each other as they make their way from Rydell High to a new frontier.

Grease: Live will air Sunday, January 31, 2016 at 7:00 pm ET on Fox.

Lopez to Star in Fox’s Live Musical “Grease: Live”

Grease is the word for Mario Lopez

The 42-year-old Mexican American actor and television host has joined the ensemble cast of Grease: Live, set to air Sunday, January 31 on Fox.

Mario Lopez

Lopez will portray television teen dance show host Vince Fontaine, played by Edd Byrnes in the 1978 feature film.

In this live television adaptation of the musical classic, the beginning of senior year means the end of Danny (Aaron Tveit) and Sandy’s (Julianne Hough) summer romance – until Sandy unexpectedly transfers to Danny’s high school.

With their friends pulling them in different directions, it’s up to Danny and Sandy to stay hopelessly devoted as they make their way from Rydell High to a new frontier.

The former Saved by the Bell star hosts the Emmy-winning daily show Extra and Clear Channel radio’s On With Mario Lopez.

His other TV credits include a guest role on Nip/Tuck.

Del Rio Joins the Cast of Fox’s Upcoming Musical “Grease: Live”

Grease is the word for David Del Rio

The 28-year-old Latino actor has joined the cast of Fox’s upcoming musical Grease: Live.

David Del Rio

Del Rio, who starred in the Broadway musical In the Heights, will portray T-Birds’ Putzie in the live event.

Del Rio joins the ensemble cast that includes Julianne Hough (Sandy), Aaron Tveit (Danny), Vanessa Hudgens (Rizzo), Carlos PenaVega (Kenickie), Keke Palmer (Marty), Carly Rae Jepsen (Frenchy) and Kether Donohue (Jan).

Meanwhile singer, Jessie J, will open the live event with a new version of “Grease (Is the Word).” The Bee Gees’ Barry Gibb wrote the song, which originally was performed by Frankie Valli in the animated opening title sequence of the movie and went on top the pop charts.

Also joining the creative team is Glee and Annie choreographer Zach Woodlee. His credits also include the 100th episode of How I Met Your Mother and 2008’s MTV Movie Awards, as well as the films Eat Pray Love, Hairspray, 27 Dresses and 17 Again.

Thomas Kail and Alex Rudzinski are directing the production, which Fox airs on Sunday, January 31 — live in the East and delayed in the West.

Del Rio’s other credits include Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, The Troop, Pitch Perfect and Spare Parts.

Jenner Engaged to “Glee” Co-Star Melissa Benoist

He hasn’t even graduated from William McKinley High yet, but Blake Jenner is already hearing wedding bells.

The 20-year-old half-Cuban American and his Glee co-star Melissa Benoist are engaged, according to Us Weekly.

Blake Jenner and Melissa Benoist

Jenner and Benoist were romantically linked after sharing screen time on the Fox musical dramedy.

Jenner, who landed a role on Glee after winning the second season of Oxygen’s The Glee Project, confirmed the rumor during a live chat with fan. “Yup,” he said with a smile.

Reps for both Blake and Melissa decline to comment on the couple’s personal lives.

Jenner and Benoist’s characters have been caught up in an on-screen love triangle with Jacob Artist’s character the show.

Ryan Murphy, one of the masterminds behind Glee, seems to have a knack for matchmaking. Lea Michele and Cory Monteith, whom he paired up as on/off couple Rachel Berry and Finn Hudson on the show, have also ended up dating in real life.