ITV

Tag: Sound of Music

  • Fox and Paramount TV to air ‘Grease Live’ musical event in 2015

    Fox and Paramount TV to air ‘Grease Live’ musical event in 2015

    MUMBAI: Get ready to do the hand jive as Fox enrolls at Rydell High with Grease Live, a live three-hour production of the massively popular crossover musical Grease. The announcement was made by Fox Broadcasting Company chairman of entertainment Kevin Reilly and Paramount Television. Scheduled to air LIVE in 2015 and featuring a young ensemble cast, Grease Live will reintroduce the great music and timeless story to an entirely new generation.

     

    Based on the 1971 Broadway musical of the same name with book, lyrics and music by the legendary team of Warren Casey and Jim Jacobs, the 1978 hit film Grease, starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John, grossed nearly $400 million worldwide, making it the highest-grossing movie musical ever. 

     

    “From Broadway to film, and across generations, Grease is one of the most beloved musical stories ever told – and we can’t wait to bring it to air in a spectacular live event,” said FOX senior VP of event series Shana C. Waterman in a statement said, “Its iconic characters and addictive songs make it the perfect fit for Fox, and we’re going to give it the kind of star power and production quality to make every Sandy, Danny, Rizzo and Kenickie out there want to get up and sing along.”

     

    “It’s incredibly exciting to have one of our first major network productions be based on this universally celebrated Paramount title, and we’re thrilled to be partnering with Kevin, Joe and Shana on this epic television event,” said Paramount TV president Amy Powell in the statement. “Fox’s passion for engaging audiences with bold storytelling and live musical formats make it a perfect home for this special broadcast.”

     

    Fox’s move to adapt Grease for live TV comes after National Broadcasting Company (NBC) collected massive ratings for its Sound of Music Live broadcast in December. That musical live event collected about 22 million total viewers in the US. NBC will follow Sound of Music with a live performance of Peter Pan set for 4 December in the US, reteaming with Sound of Music Live and Oscar producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron.

     

    In India, Raell Padamsee’s Ace Productions have been basking in glory after their recent successful production of Grease which has been a commercial success and a critical darling since its opening night.

     

    Grease Live is bound to electrify television audiences everywhere with live performances of the unforgettable Casey/Jacobs songs “Summer Nights,” “Greased Lightnin’” and “We Go Together”; as well as the iconic songs written by John Farrar, “Hopelessly Devoted to You” and ”You’re the One That I Want.” The broadcast will re-imagine some of the story’s most memorable moments and characters from the T-Birds and Pink Ladies, including Danny Zuko, Rizzo and Sandy. 

  • ‘Sound of Music’ commemorates 40 years; DVD launched

    ‘Sound of Music’ commemorates 40 years; DVD launched

     MUMBAI: Sound of Music, is commemorating the completion of 40 years. The Event is been celebrated in India with the launch of an exclusive 40th anniversary edition DVD.

    The DVD released by Excel Home Videos (Indian licensee for Twentieth Century Fox) will feature a contest in association with Austrian National Tourist Office and Austrian Airlines for a four day trip to Salzburg, Austria the location where the classic was filmed, asserts an official release.

    The contest is open till the 31 December.The DVD will also feature a 40th anniversary reunion of the cast and crew, remembrance by Julie Andrews and host of other collector’s material.

    Austrian National Tourist Office director Christine Mukharji said, “The movie has a wide following in India, like many parts of the world. We are extremely pleased to host fans from India as a part of the 40th year celebrations of the classic.”

    Excel Home Videos managing director M.N Kapasi added, “The movie with its memorable music has struck a chord with generations of movie buffs across continents and age groups to be synonymous with the term classic. The wide following it enjoys in India, with its script in line with Indian sensibilities, is well established by the consistent demand for its DVD over the years. This 40th anniversary edition will commemorate the special bonding the movie shares with millions of its fans.”

    Austrian Airlines country manager Bernhard Baeck said, “The event is a fitting tribute to the movie that has inspired and connected with generations of movie lovers across the world.”

    According to International websites like (Boxofficemojo, Amazon), the film ranks third in both all-time number of tickets sold behind Gone with the Wind and Star Wars this along with its success around the world in sales of tickets, video cassettes, laserdiscs, DVDs and its frequent airings on television, it is called the most widely seen movie produced by a Hollywood studio, adds the release.