--- description: NBC isn't the only network that wants to stage live musicals. Now FOX is scheduling a live performance of Grease and has cast Julianne Hough... title: Julianne Hough and Vanessa Hudgens to Star in 'Grease' Live Musical on FOX image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt2ff5778f034d8d5a/69877a8e524fc01479debf95/julianne-hough.jpg?branch=production&width=2400&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [Entertainment](/section/entertainment/) ## Entertainment Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # Julianne Hough and Vanessa Hudgens to Star in _Grease_ Live Musical on FOX by [Lynette Rice / People](/author/people/) ## Lynette Rice / People Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Jan 17, 2015 7:14 PM CUT  Vanessa Hudgens is set to play Rizzo in GREASE: LIVE (working title) airing Jan. 31, 2016 on FOX. Vanessa Hudgens is set to play Rizzo in GREASE: LIVE (working title) airing Jan. 31, 2016 on FOX.Tibrina Hobson—FOX/Getty Images by [Lynette Rice / People](/author/people/) ## Lynette Rice / People Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Jan 17, 2015 7:14 PM CUT NBC isn’t the only network that wants to stage live musicals. Now FOX is scheduling a live performance of _Grease_ and has cast Julianne Hough as the angelic Sandy. Vanessa Hudgens (_High School Musical_) has also signed on to play bad girl Rizzo in the network’s first-ever live TV production that will air Jan. 31. “_Grease_ is one of the movies that made me want to be an entertainer, and I have literally been waiting my whole life to play Sandy,” said Hough in a statement. “My siblings and I watched it and played it out over and over when we were kids. This is my dream role and performing it live on television will be one of the most thrilling opportunities I’ve had in my career so far.” Added Hudgens, “Being Rizzo is something I’ve never imagined, and I love that because it will be a new challenge. She is such an iconic character that continues to transcend generations. I cannot wait to bring her to life on live television. I’m going to be a Pink Lady!” The production will air from 7 to 10 p.m. on Jan. 31 and will be executive produced by Marc Platt (Legally Blonde). _Grease_ is based on the original musical by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey. FOX follows NBC in trying to capture the zeitgeist with live musicals in prime time. Though NBC has invited a small but dedicated group of “hate-watchers” with its staging of _The Sound of Music_ and _Peter Pan_, the productions generated a ton of buzz for the network and were big hits on social media. On Friday, [NBC announced](http://www.people.com/article/the-wiz-music-man-nbc-live-musical "undefined") that it licensed _The Wiz_, a musical retelling of _The Wizard of Oz_. NBC also has the rights to _The Music Man_ but it has yet to decide what to air as a followup to _Peter Pan_. [_This article originally appeared at PEOPLE.com_](http://www.people.com/article/julianne-hough-grease-vanessa-hudgens-fox-musical "undefined") ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/3672724/julianne-hough-vanessa-hudgens-grease-live/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/3672724/julianne-hough-vanessa-hudgens-grease-live/"},"headline":"Julianne Hough and Vanessa Hudgens to Star in Grease Live Musical on FOX","datePublished":"2015-01-17T19:14:25.000Z","dateModified":"2026-02-22T03:40:02.657Z","description":"NBC isn't the only network that wants to stage live musicals. 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