Grease Live! (2016)

It's 1959 and a wholesome girl (Julianne Hough) from Utah is a new student at Rydell high school where she runs into her summer romance (Aaron Tveit) who she discovers isn't really the clean cut lifeguard she thought he was. He's a greaser! Based on the hit Broadway musical by way of the smash 1978 film and directed by Thomas Kail and Alex Rudzinski. Overall, this is a sensational production that captures the excitement of a live performance (it rained that day and the opening number incorporates the wet streets and umbrellas) while retaining elements from both the original stage production and the beloved film. Zachary Woodlee's choreography is wonderful and the camera work is a marvel as it whizzes and swirls all around the action. The opening number, a terrific rendition of Grease by Jesse J,  is done in a long uninterrupted single take that's as dazzling as TOUCH OF EVIL! Alas, Hough and Tveit are rather weak and the legacy of John Travolta and Olivia Newton John are safe. But the rest of the cast is good and sometimes better than that especially Vanessa Hudgens as Rizzo. Her father died the day before but you'd never know it from performance (the production is dedicated to him). I liked the use of the live audience who at times are part of the musical itself. For fans of musicals, this is a must! With Carly Rae Jepsen (her rendition of All I Need Is An Angel is a highlight), Keke Palmer, Kether Donohue, Mario Lopez, Ana Gasteyer, Carlos Penavega, Eve Plumb, and from the film's cast (but in different roles): Didi Conn and Barry Pearl.