Fox's 'Grease' taps 'Hamilton,' 'Dancing with the Stars' directors

Fox and Paramount Television have announced a directing team for the 2016 live broadcast of Grease, starring Vanessa Hudgens as Rizzo and Julianne Hough as Sandy.

Thomas Kail, who most recently helmed the buzzy Off Broadway smash musical Hamilton, and Dancing with the Stars veteran Alex Rudzinski will direct the network’s first primetime live musical production, which will air on Fox on January 31, 2016. Kail will handle stage direction while Rudzinski will oversee the elements of the live broadcast; Marc Platt will executive produce.

“Grease is one of the most culturally-significant musicals of our time,” said Kail in a statement to EW. “I am thrilled and honored to be working with Marc, Alex and, of course, the supremely talented Julianne Hough and Vanessa Hudgens, to create a live television event that is fun, smart and wholly-deserving of its rich legacy.” Rudzinski adds: “I am both honored and incredibly excited to be partnering with such an esteemed group of creative forces on Grease: Live. Designing the extensive camera coverage and determining the logistical roll-out will require a lot of collaboration, planning and rehearsals, and I look forward to working with a vast group of technicians to successfully execute this epic musical event.”

In addition to his work on Hamilton, Kail previously directed Lin-Manuel Miranda’s 2008 Tony-winning Best Musical, In the Heights, earning a Tony nomination for his direction. Rudzinski has worked on all 20 seasons of Dancing with the Stars and has logged over 500 hours of live TV directing.

The first bit of casting for the Fox and Paramount TV co-production was announced in January; the network slated High School Musical alum Hudgens as bad girl Rizzo (who has worse things she could do) and Dancing with the Stars pro Julianne Hough as good girl Sandy (who is lousy with virginity, depending on who you ask). Casting for lead greaser Danny Zuko and the rest of the Rydell High kids will be announced in the coming months.