Grease Academy, the results are in!
Tonight’s episode of Grease: You're the One that I Want showcased the results of Grease Academy. Of the 50 hopefuls who entered the academy at the end of last week’s episode, only 24 came out ~ 12 guys and 12 girls battled it out on stage tonight for a position in the live shows, which begin next week.
The final 6 guys are:
Max Crumm
21 year old Max Crumm, from Ahwatukee Foothills in Arizona started training with the Valley Youth Theater (VYT) in 2000. He graduated high school in 2003 and has played Kenickie (2004) and Doody (2001) in two separate performances of Grease. Max is currently studying at the The American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Hollywood. His mother, Rachel Crumm noted that Max was always interested in theater, stating "Max was dancing and singing and making us laugh since he was two."
Derek Keeling
Derek Keeling studied theater at the University of Kentucky and graduated with his Bachelor of Arts in 2003. Derek has played Danny before, in a national traveling production of Grease.
Chad Doreck
A seasoned actor, Chad Doreck (28) has written, produced and acted on the big screen as well as the small screen. He has appeared in episodes of “NYPD Blue” and “Touched by an Angel” and he produced the 2006 production of “Tupac is Not Dead.”
Austin Miller
Austin Miller (30) has played Link Larkin in 2 off-Broadway productions of Hairspray. He has also played Kinickie in a National tour of Grease. He has a number of regional productions and a few TV roles under his belt, but landing the role of Danny on Broadway could really take his career to a new level.
Kevin Greene
Kevin Greene (22) is a 2002 graduate of Greece Athena High School in Rochester, New York. Kevin went to SUNY Ithica and received bids from 14 agents after participating in an acting showcase in New York City. Judith Ranaletta directed Kevin in his high school musical productions and commented that, "He has a voice that sounds like velvet, and he has amazing versatility."
Jason Celaya
31 year old Jason Celaya recently finished playing the Off-Broadway roll of Matthew in the New York company of Altar Boyz, which he began last April. Having been on NBC before, his casting was featured on the “Today Show” last March. Other credits include roles in West Side Story and Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat, as well as a few roles on TV.
The final 6 girls are:
Laura Osnes
Laura Osnes has played Sandy before- in the Chanhassen Dinner Theatre's production of “Grease”. Hailing from Burnsville, Minnesota, Laura had to leave her role of Sandy at the Chanhassen Dinner Theater to participate in NBC’s search for the next Sandy.
Kate Rockwell
Kate Rockwell (22) is actually Kate Wilfong of Blue Ash, Ohio according to Cincinnati’s The Enquirer. A 2002 Sycamore High School graduate, Kate pursued a degree in music and theater and graduated in May from Baldwin-Wallace College. Kate’s father, Charlie Wilfong is not very optimistic about his daughter’s chance of winning, as he told the Enquirer, ”This seems so far-fetched to us. What are the odds or chances of being talented enough to get this? This kind of thing doesn't happen to people. It's like winning the lottery.”
Juliana Hansen
Juliana Hansen is a 23 year old from Concord, California. She is a self-confessed theater and movie buff and enjoys writing her own music. She has appeared in regional performances of Beauty and the Beast, and Footloose.
Kathleen Monteleone
Kathleen received a BA in Acting and a minor in Musical Theatre from Marymount Manhattan College. She has performed in Off-Broadway and regional productions.
Ashley Spencer
This 21 year old cocktail waitress got her start at the Players Guild Theater in her hometown of Canton, Ohio. She recently played Barbie (yes, the doll) in a national touring production of the musical Barbie Live in Fairytopia.
Allie Shultz
Allie is new to the business and has no credits to speak of (none that I was able to unearth anyway). How will this seemingly inexperienced young woman hold up against her more seasoned competitors? We will find out soon enough!!
The live shows begin next Sunday at 8/7 central, with a special 2 hour episode. Olivia Newton-John will be a guest judge in the first live episode. NBC has hinted that there will be some sort of twist to the show ~ there may be more contestants then the 12 that were chosen tonight! Where they will come from, and who they will be has yet to be unveiled.
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