Grease The Musical - Grease Alumni

Grease Alumni

JOHN TRAVOLTA grew up in Grease, starting out in a U.S. national tour at 17 (when he had to be chaperoned by his sister), and finishing up as Danny Zuko in the Paramount film, which grossed $200m. By the time the film came out he was already a star because of Saturday Night Fever.

OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN was well established as a pop singer before she played Sandy in the movie, but she'd never had a No.1 single. Grease changed all that. In the UK Olivia and John Travolta singing 'You're the One that I Want' were top of the pops for nine weeks in 1978, followed by a seven-week stint with 'Summer Nights' later the same year. 'Hopelessly Devoted to You' only got as far as No.2! Australian-born Olivia now lives on a ranch near Los Angeles.

RICHARD GERE was unknown in 1973 when he came to London to play Danny Zuko. He had been understudying Danny on Broadway. In London the run lasted nine months, and his role was taken over by PAUL NICHOLAS. Gere went on to appear in films like Days of Heaven, Yanks, American Gigolo, The Cotton Club and Pretty Woman.

ELAINE PAIGE won the role of Sandy opposite Paul Nicholas. They had both been appearing in Jesus Christ Superstar. Elaine went on to play leading roles in Evita and Cats.

SU POLLARD and TRACEY ULLMAN both appeared in the 1979 London revival at the Astoria, playing Cha Cha and Frenchie.

From the original Broadway production, TREAT WILLIAMS (Danny) went on to become a film star, and ALAN PAUL (Teen Angel) co-founded the close harmony group, Manhattan Transfer.