Broadway’s new ‘Grease’ will let TV viewers cast lead roles

Reality television is headed for Broadway.

Sometime in the middle of its 2006-07 season, NBC plans to air auditions for the lead roles of Sandy Dumbrowski and Danny Zuko in a new Broadway production of “Grease.”

The stage production, to be directed and choreographed by Tony Award winner Kathleen Marshall, is slated to open in June 2007. The TV show, “You’re the One That We Want,” will be produced for NBC by BBC Worldwide Productions.

While director Marshall will narrow the field of competitors along with fellow judges Jim Jacobs, co-creator of the 1950s high school musical, and theater producer David Ian, the final choices will be made by audience vote.

Craig Plestis, senior vice president of alternative programming for NBC, said Tuesday that “You’re the One” would be different from other reality shows because “for this one, it’s a real prize. You are not just winning money and walking away. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Hopefully, this will help Broadway as well.”

Plestis added that the competition would be open to both seasoned professionals and newcomers. “I would hope that the biggest name to the smallest name would give it a try,” he said.

This is not the BBC’s first attempt to turn theater auditions into reality TV. In England, BBC One has recently launched “How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?,” featuring auditions for the leading role of Maria von Trapp in a West End production of “The Sound of Music” that will open in November.