Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies is set four years before the original Grease. In 1954, before rock 'n' roll ruled, before the T-Birds were the coolest in the school, four drunk outcasts dare to have fun on their own terms, sparking a moral panic that will change Rydell High forever .
The prequel series stars Marisa Davila (I Am Not Okay With This) as Jane, Cheyenne Isabel Wells (series debut) as Olivia, Ari Notartomaso (series debut) as Cynthia, Tricia Fukuhara (Loot) as Nancy, Shanel Bailey (The Good Fight) as Hazel, Madison Thompson (Ozark) as Susan, Johnathan Nieves (Penny Dreadful: City of Angels) as Richie, Jason Schmidt (FBI: Most Wanted) as Buddy, Maxwell Whittington-Cooper (When They See Us) as Wally and Jackie Hoffman (Only Murders in the Building) as Asst. Principal McGee.
"Our characters have to deal with a different time and how those experiences overlap with others with marginalized identities," series creator Annabel Oakes said Monday during the series' TCA panel. "I think we have an opportunity to represent a different struggle that overlaps with things we face today, such as racism."
Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies is written and produced by creator Annabel Oakes, who also serves as showrunner. Marty Bowen will executive produce for Temple Hill, Adam Fishbach will also executive produce, and Alethea Jones will direct and executive produce the pilot plus two more episodes. Erik Feig and Samie Kim Falvey will executive produce through Picturestart and it will be produced by Grace Gilroy.
The musical comedy series will premiere on Thursday, April 6.
The series will feature new original music written and produced by Grammy-nominated songwriter Justin Tranter. Jamal Sims, whose work has appeared in When the Beat Drops, 13 The Musical and RuPaul's Drag Race, will choreograph the musical numbers for the series. Alethea Jones will direct and produce the first episode.