The Final 12
The Final 12
Sandys
ALLIE SCHULZ
Nickname: "Baby Sandy"
Age: 19
Occupation: Ballroom Dance Studio Clerk
Hometown: Nashville, TN
Audition City: New York
TRAINING:
Vocal: 1 1/2 years.
Dance: 8 years of ballet.
Acting: Atlantic Acting School and studied with David Monty at Interlochen Arts Academy.
FUN FACTS: She is a Capricorn. She is the youngest Sandy in the competition!
Allie is anything but your typical 19 year old girl and describes herself as open, fun and impulsive. And impulsive she is! Allie took a very big, courageous step when she moved all the way to New York City from Nashville by herself at the age of 18 to try to make her way on Broadway.
Allie began at an academic high school, but the summer before her senior year she ended up at a performing arts summer camp called Interlochen Arts Camp. The staff at the camp was so impressed with her that they invited her to come to Interlochen Arts Academy, a selective performing arts boarding school in Michigan that only has a total of 500 students each year.
Allie said going to Interlochen taught her responsibility and prepared her for living in Manhattan, but she says she misses the structure she had there. She claims her biggest challenge has been having all of her friends in college while she lives on her own for the first time without any real support system.
When she first moved to New York City, Allie lived in a women's residence in Greenwich Village. She also has been working at her uncle's dance studio while taking various acting, singing and dance classes. Allie loves Chai tea, thunderstorms and actors Matt Damon and George Clooney.
Allie says her involvement in Grease has been surreal, especially after speaking show creator, Jim Jacobs, at Grease Academy, but it hasn't been as nerve-wracking as she thought it would be. When asked how she thought the show would change her life, Allie said, "A lot…because millions of people will know who I am. This is the perfect thing for me…I need a creative outlet."
FAVORITES:
What genre of movies do you enjoy? Drama
Favorite TV show: "The Comeback", "Sex & The City", "Curb Your Enthusiasm"
Favorite Actor: Matt Damon and George Clooney
Favorite Actress: Raven Simone
Favorite Singer: Bette Midler
Favorite Foods: Sushi, raspberries, green tea ice cream, baked brie, Krispy Kreme doughnuts and pesto sauce.
Favorite Musical(s): Crazy for You and Hair.
Favorite Color: Pink
ASHLEY SPENCER
Nickname: "Ballerina Sandy"
Age: 21
Occupation: Cocktail Waitress
Hometown: Massillon, OH
Audition City: Los Angeles
TRAINING:
Vocal: 10 years
Dance: 14 years of ballet, lyrical, tap, pointe, jazz & modern
Acting: 8 years
FUN FACTS: She is a Pisces. Performed as Barbie on the national tour of "Barbie in Fairy-topia".
Ashley is a small-town girl who loves chocolate (she even hides it in her room in case she's having a craving in the middle of the night!), old movies with Fred Astaire and says she's closest to her mom, Molly. Molly claims that Ashley came out singing and dancing.
Ashley says, "I wanted to be a prima ballerina from when I was a very little girl. I danced in smaller studios starting when I was 4 years old and I began competing when I was 7 years old." Ashley joined a ballet company when she was 10, but still competed as a solo dancer on the side. She says, "I remember having to change in the car a lot because I was also cheerleading and going to school. I was really serious about pursuing my dreams." Then a toe injury that progressively got worse and worse destroyed those dreams when Ashley was 14. "The doctor told me I had to stop dancing on pointe, which is what you need to do if you want to be a ballerina." In the end, Ashley did not let this injury stop her, she is still able to dance other styles and she says it helped her focus on singing and performing.
Ashley auditioned for the role of Barbie in the national tour of "Barbie in Fairy-topia" and was given the opportunity to be Barbie's understudy and perform in the show once a week. Though she was unable to attend college because her parents could not afford it, she has not let it keep her back. She says, "I'd much rather have the hands on experience than to learn it in a classroom."
Ashley came to our Los Angeles auditions with her last little bit of money and didn't even tell her family she was coming here. She feels that she puts a lot of heart into everything she does and calls herself "goofy" and "happy." Ashley says that she always dreamed of playing the role of "Sandy" on Broadway and says she was "born ready" for this opportunity.
FAVORITES:
What genre of movies do you enjoy? I love all movies, especially older movies with Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly and Gone with the Wind.
Favorite TV show: Gilmore Girls and One Tree Hill/
Favorite Actor: Danny Kaye
Favorite Actress: Rachel McAdams
Favorite Musical(s): White Christmas, Hairspray, Showboat
Favorite Foods: I'm a very picky eater: love meat and steaks, chicken, veal. I love Italian food. I never really ate fast food.
Favorite Color: Blue
JULIANA HANSEN
Nickname: "Rock Chick Sandy"
Age: 23
Occupation: Office Temp
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Audition City: New York
TRAINING:
Vocal: 7 years
Dance: 2 years of tap and jazz
Acting: 4 months
FUN FACTS: She is an Aquarius. She is in the Bruce Springsteen tribute band called "BRUCE IN THE USA".
Juliana grew up in a one bedroom apartment with her single mother. Her parents divorced when she was young and her mom moved them to Los Angeles to try to find Juliana commercial work. They moved around a lot and at one point even stayed in one room apartments that were rented out in homes. Eventually her mom bought a home where she still lives to this day. As a child, Juliana wanted to be a marine biologist because she thought it meant she got to swim with dolphins. Juliana loves the outdoors, Paul McCartney music, and enjoys going on little mini-adventures or mini-vacations with her boyfriend, Joe, who she says she is closest to. "He shares my love of music and is always looking to try something new with me." When she gets really excited, Juliana likes to put on some Bon Jovi and jump around her living room.
In the 3rd grade Juliana noticed that she couldn't see very well. She didn't want to wear glasses, though, so she didn't tell anyone until she was in the 7th grade! "My eyes were -725 in both eyes - I was basically legally blind." A couple of years ago after having to wear glasses and contacts for a number of years, she finally had laser eye surgery to correct her vision.
Juliana has been various musicals, but the most unique gig she's ever had has been performing as the "East Coast Patti" with Bruce Springsteen tribute band, Bruce in the USA. Juliana says, "I got my chance to 'be a rock star' and was asked to fill in for a friend who was having a baby and needed time off. I spent about a week learning 20 songs on guitar, tambourine and getting my harmonies down and a few days later I was off to Vegas for my one rehearsal with the band (the day before my first gig at the House of Blues in Chicago)! The gig was a success, and I have been touring as the "East Coast Patti" for the last 2+ years!"
A determined woman, Juliana has found the whole Grease experience to be "exhausting", "wonderful", "tense" and "life-changing." Juliana says she can see herself on a Broadway stage whether it's through this show or something that follows and she's as prepared as she can be.
FAVORITES:
What genre of movies do you enjoy? Dramas like Closer or Almost Famous.
Favorite TV show(s): Sex & The City, Gilmore Girls, Lost, Desperate Housewives and 24.
Favorite Actor(s): Robert Redford
Favorite Actress(es): Natalie Portman and Bernadette Peters
Favorite Singer(s): Paul McCartney and Gavin DeGraw
Favorite Foods: Sushi, seafood (any kind), peppermint ice cream, Chilean sea bass and dark chocolate-covered strawberries.
Favorite Musical(s): Into the Woods and Les Miserables
Favorite Color: Pink
KATE ROCKWELL
Nickname: "Serious Sandy"
Age: 22
Occupation: Waitress
Hometown: Cincinnati, OH
Audition City: New York
TRAINING:
Vocal: 10 years
Dance: 4 years of ballet, jazz, tap and modern
Acting: 6 years - BA in Musical Theatre from Baldwin Wallace College Conservatory
FUN FACTS: She is a Leo. She has a tattoo of a butterfly on her back!
Kate is an actress who has actually enjoyed working in the food service industry as a Hostess and Waitress while she waits for her big break on Broadway. She was even once a Pizza Delivery Girl! She is the eldest of 3 siblings all of which are involved in different areas of performing arts; brother, Bear is age 16, and sister, Libet is age 19. Kate told her mother when she was just 3 years old that she wanted to be a singer.
Growing up Kate was mousy and introverted, but found her place in the theater which is where she blossomed into the confident woman she is today. She says she doesn't know what sparked her interest in performing initially, but feels that she just naturally gravitated towards performing because her family was always very musically inclined and because as the eldest child she loved the attention.
While Kate had a large group of friends from the theater, she was not popular in school outside of that. She likes good music, anything vampire related, spending money on people for no reason (like buying a friend dinner or sending someone a card in the mail) and says she is obsessed with Dave Matthews even once throwing herself at the Escalade he was in.
Kate says she draws her strength from a very strange image-the Blue Morpho Butterfly (native to Brazil), which she has a tattoo of on her back. She says she that she got it to remind herself that "beauty is so much more than on the outside and sometimes it takes real work to see what that real beauty is, but if you put in the effort and the time, the payoff is always so high."
Of her Grease experience so far Kate says she was nervous about being around the cameras, but has learned so much in such a short time that she surprised herself. She's been imagining being on a Broadway stage for the past 6 years and feels blessed that she's so close to achieving her dream.
FAVORITES:
What genre of movies do you enjoy? I like just about anything but epic dramas (think "Pride and Prejudice") and action. I especially love fantasy and Disney and cartoon movies. Also, I love scary movies.
Favorite Musical(s): Phantom of the Opera, Beauty & the Beast, Moulin Rouge, Sweeney Todd
Favorite TV show(s): Law & Order (all of them, but SVU is my favorite) and Nip/Tuck
Favorite Actor(s): Robin Williams, Johnny Depp, Daniel Day Lewis, Sean Penn. I really admire actors who chose their roles carefully.
Favorite Actress(es): Judy Garland, Audrey Hepburn, Meryl Streep
Favorite Singer(s): Frank Sinatra, Eva Cassidy
Favorite Group(s): Something Corporate, Dave Matthews Band.
Favorite Foods: Strawberries, pizza, lobster
Favorite Color: Blue
KATHLEEN MONTELEONE
Nickname: "Spiritual Sandy"
Age: 23
Occupation: Arts & Crafts Teacher
Hometown: Tigard, OR
Audition City: New York
TRAINING:
Vocal: 4 years
Dance: 13 years of tap, jazz and ballet
Acting: 4 years - BA in Theatre Performance from Marymount Manhattan College.
FUN FACTS: She is a Pisces and is our only married Greaser.
Kathleen was born in Germany, but her family moved to Oregon while she was still a baby. Though she had no memories of her time there, she always felt a longing for it and ended up going as an exchange student when she was in high school. Her big sister, Sarah, is a big driving force in Kathleen's life and it's because of Sarah that Kathleen started performing in the first place. Sarah was a dancer and like any normal little sister who worships her big sis, Kathleen copied her. Kathleen loves romantic comedies, Christian Bale and hates when people step on the back of her feet.
Though Kathleen's dream her whole life has been to be a Broadway star, she met the man she wanted to marry right after college. Frank and Kathleen were introduced at Christian City Church - Manhattan (C3M) by mutual friends (and pastors of the church). Kathleen now is a worship leader (she says it's like the band leader) at C3M. She says for the first time her priorities shifted and while the dream for Broadway was just as big, marrying Frank had become bigger and more important. Although she puts her marriage first, Kathleen refuses to give up on her dream to star on Broadway and Frank is very supportive.
Kathleen says that family and friends were so doubtful of her at one point that she made a goal between herself and god that within a year of getting married she would either be on Broadway or "have a major gig happening." The day after her one year anniversary she was on a plane to Los Angeles for Grease Academy!
So far Grease has been a difficult experience for Kathleen, but said that everyone has become a big family. She knows this will mean a big change in her life and she's hoping she can juggle this along with her personal life. Kathleen says, "I know I'm not as prepared as I think I am. Really I'm thinking about the here and now…so I can keep focused."
FAVORITES:
What genre of movies do you enjoy? Romantic comedies, movie musicals ("Newsies"), mysteries and history ("Saving Private Ryan")
Favorite TV show(s): Will & Grace, Everybody Loves Raymond and Entourage
Favorite Actor(s): Jude Law and Christian Bale
Favorite Actress(es): Reese Witherspoon, Rachel McAdams and Bette Midler
Favorite Singer(s): Mariah Carey, "I like the voices of female country singers."
Favorite Band(s): Aerosmith
Favorite Foods: "If I could eat any meal ever it would be baked tortellini and carrot salad like what I ate in Germany with my host mom. I also love seafood (any type). My mom makes a lot of great German dishes."
Favorite Musical(s): Newsies, 42nd Street, Wicked, The Last Five Years, Rent and Miss Saigon.
Favorite Color: Red
LAURA OSNES
Nickame: "Small-town Sandy"
Age: 20
Occupation: Actress played "Sandy" in Minnesota
Hometown: Eagan, MN (a suburb of Minneapolis)
Audition City: Los Angeles
TRAINING:
Vocal: 7 years
Dance: 14 years oftap, jazz, lyrical and ballet
FUN FACTS: She is a Scorpio. Played Sandy in "Grease" in Minnesota.
Laura has grown up and lived in Minnesota her whole life. Auditioning for this show was a big step for her even though her family has always encouraged her to go to New York City. She was already playing Sandy in Minneapolis, but saw this as an opportunity to reach her dream of performing on a Broadway stage. She is giving up a lot to do our show: she had to give up the role of Sandy and as she's newly engaged she'll be leaving her fiancée behind as well.
Laura still lives at home and says she is very family-oriented. All she has ever done is perform and she says it's her passion; she even makes scrapbooks for all of her shows. She says she has always wanted to be a Broadway star for as long as she can remember. Her first show was in the 2nd grade when she was a munchkin in "The Wizard of Oz."
Laura is very innocent and sweet; when asked if she had ever pulled a prank on someone before she said she always feels bad for the person being pranked and could never do that to anyone. She loves photography, star-gazing and playing the piano and says she can't stand open-mouthed eaters or slow walkers/drivers.
Laura's Grease experience so far has been full of surprises. She did not expect to make it this far, but is extremely grateful for the opportunity. When thinking of the possibility of winning this competition, Laura got teary-eyed and said, "This show has presented an opportunity for me to get so closer to that dream than I could ever imagine. Just to be able to say 'Yes, I was Sandy in Grease when I was only 21.' How exciting!"
FAVORITES:
What genre of movies do you enjoy? Lately I'm all about movie musicals - Moulin Rouge, Chicago and The Producers. I love romantic comedies (like chick flicks). Occasionally, I like action films as well.
Favorite TV show(s): I love game shows - especially "The Price is Right" and I also like "24."
Favorite Actor(s): Johnny Depp, Richard Gere, Orlando Bloom.
Favorite Actress(es): Kate Winslet, Julia Roberts, Reese Witherspoon.
Favorite Singer(s): Linda Eder, Kelly Clarkson, Keri Noble, Damien Rice, Ben Folds, Norah Jones, John Mayer, Ben Harper, Jane Monheit, and old-school Billy Gillman!!
Favorite Group(s): Switchfoot and Coldplay.
Favorite Food(s): Pickles - loves them, chocolate peanut butter anything, ice cream.
Favorite Musical(s): Wicked, Thoroughly Modern Millie and The Last Five Years.
Favorite Color: Blue
Dannys
AUSTIN MILLER
Nickname: "Hot Danny"
Age: 30
Occupation: Former "Days of Our Lives" Actor
Hometown: Alvin, TX
Audition City: New York
TRAINING:
Vocal: 12 years
Dance: 17 years
Acting: 12 years
FUN FACTS: He is a Gemini. He used to work as a carpenter. Self-confessed fitness freak.
Austin, may be a self-described "tough nut to crack," but once cracked you will find a self-deprecating charmer who is extremely focused on making a success of himself. Growing up in a small-town an hour outside of Houston, TX, Austin was an overweight kid, who wore thick bottle-rimmed glasses, attended AP lessons and was picked on in between classes. Hiding the fact that he loved musical theatre, he secretly took dance classes, but nothing could keep his love of Michael Jackson hidden...especially after his two aunts made him bejewelled white socks and a white glove, which he wore to school.
Family is extremely important to Austin; he grew-up in a tight-knit extended clan. The eldest of five, he comes by his "bossy" nature naturally, since he has four younger sisters. His first jobs were working in the various family businesses: flipping burgers at his aunt's 1950's style drive-in burger joint and working as a carpenter for his uncle's construction business. His family also owns a feed store and at one point raised cattle. When the live shows starts, we should definitely expect a visit from the Millers, et al...in their grand ol' RV (his aunt is afraid to fly...so the family travels together by Winnebago.)
This former Catholic altar boy's life changed dramatically when he grew a foot and started wearing contacts. Austin may live in the big city now, but there are still traces of his small town life…he loves taking trips to Home Depot for no particular reason and reading Car Magazine.
Currently single, he dreams of becoming a huge stage and screen actor...the judges were concerned that he was a bit too nasally, which he's been working on. His secret passions / guilty pleasures are The Carpenters, Barry Manilow, Neil Diamond (can a do dead-on impression of him) and Paula Deen's cooking show on the Food Network. He loves scary movies and loves to scare people even more (he enjoys finding out what scares people and feeds on that).
To prepare for the Live Shows, Austin has created a list of things he must complete to get him TV ready and confident.
Thus far, Austin has been both thrilled and exhausted by the Grease experience. He said his heart was breaking for people whose shoulders were tapped during the second to last elimination and said that the final elimination was the longest thing he had ever had to sit through. His hope for this show is more exposure and opportunities.
FAVORITES:
What genre of movies do you enjoy? Horror - He considers himself a connoisseur of the genre.
Favorite TV show: "The Simpsons"
Favorite Actor: Johnny Depp and Jude Law
Favorite Actress: Nicole Kidman and Toni Collette
Favorite Singer: Jennifer Hudson
Favorite Performer: Prince
Favorite Group: Styx
Favorite Foods: Baked goods...does not discriminate
Favorite Color: Blue
CHAD DORECK
Nickname: "Ambitious Danny"
Age: 27
Occupation: Soccer Coach
Hometown: Long Beach, CA
Audition City: Los Angeles, CA
TRAINING:
Vocal: 10 years.
Dance: 15 years of jazz.
Acting: 20 years. Went to Orange County High School of Performing Arts.
FUN FACTS: He is a Scorpio. The voice of "Crackle" in Rice Krispies ads!
Chad's first job (at the age of 6) was opposite dream girl Kelly LeBrock and Danny Elfman's Oingo-Boingo for the music video of the title track of the movie Weird Science (1985). He was also in the audience when Michael Jackson's hair caught on fire during the filming of a Pepsi commercial. Chad realized at an early age that he wanted to become famous; after singing the lead in a church solo; he skipped a verse but the congregation continued to follow his lead...he enjoyed the sense of power.
A proud Southern California native, Chad began his career early with the help of producer aunt, Patricia Friedman. Son of Kentucky born contractor Stephan Doreck and Chicago born homemaker Catherine Doreck, Chad's has a brother and sister. He graduated from the prestigious Orange County High School of the Arts, where he majored in Musical Theatre and briefly attended USC. He studies acting at The Gloria Gifford Conservatory for the Arts and singing with Evelyn Halus. Aside from pursuing a career in acting, Chad is also working on a career as a singer, having written, produced and sung on his first funk music CD in 2005. Chad has modelled for Sketchers, Italian Vogue and Nordstrom. He also has a successful career as a voice over artist for Crackle: Kellogg's Rice Krispies, the voice of Mazda and E! Entertainment's countdown voice.
Chad exudes a quiet confidence; he gets along with every member of the final six Danny potentials, but definitely has an opinion of each. He also has had some success in his various ventures, so he definitely has an appreciation of and expectation of having the finer things in life…the latest gadget, expensive hair products and good chocolate. He has little patience for the ridiculous. The other potential Danny's all name him as one of their toughest competitors.
Of his experience with the show Grease, thus far, he has said, "It has been inspiring, engaging, competitive, educational and fun…"
FAVORITES:
What genre of movies do you enjoy? Adventure (Indiana Jones), film noir, low-brow comedies
Favorite TV show: Deadwood
Favorite Actor: Cary Grant
Favorite Actress: Ava Gardner
Favorite Singer: Chaka Khan and Prince
Favorite Group: Jackson 5
Favorite Foods: Ribs, sushi, pomegranates, chocolate
Favorite Musical: West Side Story
Favorite Color: Orange
DEREK KEELING
Nickname: "Wholesome Danny"
Age: 26
Occupation: Design Consultant
Hometown: Charleston, WV
Audition City: New York
TRAINING:
Vocal: 6 years
Acting: 5 years, BA in theatre from Univ. of Kentucky
FUN FACTS: He is a Sagittarius. He used to be a drag racer!
When Derek first moved to New York three years ago to pursue acting he could not afford furniture, so he slept on the floor for the first three months…he's now the proud owner of a proper bed and a $10 chair. He shares a tight four-bedroom one bath apartment with three other aspiring performers. Currently he works for a company that decorates several store fronts and hotels, he was fired from his last job as a waiter; they could tell he wasn't that into the work and became so angry over his firing that he walked into an overhang in the subway and knocked himself out.
Growing up he lead a fairly normal life: getting picked on by the other kids until he grew considerably, playing video games and filling in his attempt at a moustache with black mascara. Coming from a small town in West Virginia, Derek relies heavily on his families support. During Grease Academy his father barely slept, so nervous was he that Derek might get sent home early. Dancing since the age of five, Derek's father tried to sway his interest in the arts, pointing out that he was the only boy in a class of thirty girls…Derek's reply, "That's the reason I love the class." His dad is now his most vocal supporter, bragging to any and everyone about his son's skills and successes. Even though Derek calls himself a working actor, he hasn't had a paying gig in New York…but he has played Danny in a few productions of Grease including a travelling tour from 2004-2005.
Derek's biggest challenge thus far has been "dropping everything and moving to NYC with very little money and no where to live" so that he could pursue a career in theatre. His biggest focus is keeping his voice in good shape; it's more of an obsession (he refrains from drinking anything with caffeine for fear it may dry out his voice.) Formally a runner, a sport he loves, Derek was told if he continued to run he would wind up in a wheel chair by the age of 25…he's extremely protective of those things which he loves. Currently single, he recently broke up with girlfriend of three years in August. He's now completely committed to "making it."
Derek's Grease experience has been stressful and amazing...he says he didn't get a lot of sleep during the week of Grease Academy, but he has become more and more invested in the show and doing well.
FAVORITES:
What genre of movies do you enjoy? Loves movies that make you think, (i.e. The Usual Suspects)
Favorite TV show: "Friends" and "Lost"
Favorite Actor: Kevin Spacey
Favorite Actress: Toni Collette
Favorite Singer: Frank Sinatra
Favorite Group: U2
Favorite Foods: Salmon and chicken pad thai
Favorite Musical: Jekyll & Hyde
Favorite Color: UK Blue
JASON CELAYA
Nickname: "Boy-band Danny"
Occupation: Teacher
Hometown: Foster City, CA
Age: 31
Audition City: Los Angeles
TRAINING:
Vocal: 5 years
Dance: 9 years of jazz and ballroom
Acting: 5 years - BFA in Musical Theater from BYU
FUN FACTS: Middle of 7 children and he is a Scorpio. He is also the tallest Danny in the competition.
Jason was only 12 years old when his father passed away leaving his mother to raise seven children on her own. Being the middle child with a hard-working mother, Jason wanted to separate himself from the pact and so he began to act and sing for more attention. He also discovered they brought joy back into his life.
Musicals played a big part in the Celaya kids' together time and Grease was their favorite above all others...they would sing the various songs as a group taking turns in the lead roles…Jason tended to play Danny the most often, saying, "The others knew it was my part."
Jason's quiet confidence can be a bit intimidating for some, but he is a big kid at heart. He loves Disney movies, Mary Poppins, Saved by the Bell (really) and Justin Timberlake and Christina Aguilera.
Currently working freelance as a dance instructor, Jason travels the country teaching, in the past he has worked summer stock at Robert Redford's Sundance Theatre in Park Lake City, Utah. He would love to bring the Fred Astaire & Gene Kelly glory days back. The only person he has told about this competition has been his older sister, Jessica (Miss Teen California 1991), who is living vicariously through his success.
Jason says that his Grease experience has been amazing. Now that he's made his original goal of making it to the final twelve, he's going to re-focus his goals on winning the entire competition. During the Academy, he was on pins and needles the entire time, completely stressed out wondering what the judges were going to decide. Having made it this far in the competition, he feels as though he has been waiting and training for so long...nurturing his talent and now he's prepared to step forward and shine. When asked what he thinks of when he thinks of a Broadway stage, he says, "home."
FAVORITES:
What genre of movies do you enjoy? Action, Disney movies (like The Lion King)
Favorite Actor: Johnny Depp
Favorite Performer: Justin Timberlake
Favorite Singer: Christina Aguilera or Mariah Carey
Favorite Group: New Edition
Favorite Musical: Les Miserables
Favorite TV show: Sportscenter, So You Think You Can Dance, Saved by the Bell
Favorite Food: Pizza and Mexican (all types)
Favorite Color: Blue
KEVIN GREENE
Nickname: "Bellhop Danny"
Age: 22
Occupation: Hotel Bellhop
Hometown: Rochester, NY
Audition City: New York
TRAINING:
Vocal: 4 years
Dance: 5 years of jazz and modern
Acting: 8 years
FUN FACTS: He is a Gemini.
Kevin is your average guy; he loves his family, a good meal, fantasy baseball, the New York Yankees and musical theatre - not necessarily in that order. As a kid he wanted to play first base for the Yankees until he was hit in the head by a ball and became fearful of getting hit again. Placing that dream aside, he has channeled all of his energies into perfecting his craft. Graduating from Ithaca College with a degree in Musical Theatre, he worked his way through school as a grocery store cashier on partial scholarship from his employer.
Currently he works at a trendy hotel in downtown Manhattan as a bellhop, this show has been one of his first professional auditions. Close with his family and his childhood friends, he loves a good practical joke (he gave his mother a fixed $10,000 lottery ticket) and has an overwhelming fear of small spaces and leaving his belly-button exposed while he sleeps (does not like people to touch that area on his body.) He's especially close to both of his parents and gets a little sentimental when discussing them.
Admittedly a sensitive person, Kevin does not invite a lot of people into his inner circle. Not standoffish, simply reserved and focused he plans to stay on point during the competition and avoid the drama.
Of his Grease experience so far he has said, "It completely surpassed any and all expectations…the talent and competition blew me away. I feel as though I learned a tremendous amount and grew as a performer, which was unexpected."
FAVORITES:
What genre of movies do you enjoy? All types of movies
Favorite TV show: "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" and "Curb Your Enthusiasm"
Favorite Actor: Ed Norton
Favorite Actress: Kate Winslet
Favorite Singer: Sam Harris
Favorite Group: Third Eye Blind
Favorite Foods: Everything but olives. Particularly loves French vanilla ice cream.
Favorite Musical: Parade
Favorite Color: Black
MAX CRUMM
Nickname: "Slacker Danny"
Age: 21
Occupation: Gym Receptionist
Hometown: Phoenix, AZ
Audition City: Los Angeles
TRAINING:
Vocal: 5 years
Dance: 5 years of lyrical, jazz, hip-hop and ballet
Acting: 1 year, American Academy of Dramatic Arts
FUN FACTS: He is a Libra. He's been in two different productions of Grease but has never been Danny.
Max is a free spirit, who definitely marches to the beat of his own drum. He's been described as "geek-chic," but would describe himself as a sexy, down-to-earth charmer. Originally from Phoenix, he comes from a very supportive and creative family. His father at one time owned a theatre company and his mother is a jewellery maker. His parents are both former performers, who fully support Max in his quest for a successful career in entertainment.
Having moved to Los Angeles three years ago, he decided musical theatre was a perfect fit. He has absolutely no other back-up plan and feels everything that has happened up until this point has prepared him to perform on stage. Not quite fitting the mold of the typical musical theatre performer, Max's "goofiness" and lackadaisical approach puts him at odds with and sets him apart from our other potential Danny's. He realizes this and is both nervous and interested in what will happen at the house during the live portion of the show. Although he realizes he will be the odd man out, he is not afraid to push buttons and may very well try to pull some practical jokes on his housemates.
Removing himself from the equation, he believes either Chad Doreck or Kevin Greene can win, but is a bit reticent about giving the reasons why he thinks they're strong enough contenders. Waivers between absolute shock that he's made it this far and absolute certainty that he will win…he's extremely competitive, but hides it well behind floppy hair and mismatched clothes.
The judges wavered back and forth over placing Max in the final six; he has one of the strongest voices, but is the furthest from looking like a Danny. Max knows this is the time for him to focus and step up to the plate, whether he does or not remains to be seen.
FAVORITES:
What genre of movies do you enjoy? Scary movies, comedies, Lord of The Rings trilogy.
Favorite TV show: "Standoff" and "Ellen"
Favorite Actor: Tom Hanks and Will Ferrell
Favorite Actress: Sarah Michelle Gellar
Favorite Singer: Teddy Geiger
Favorite Group: The Beatles
Favorite Foods: Mashed potatoes and avocados
Favorite Musical: Into The Woods
Favorite Color: Green
The Final 12
ALLIE SCHULZ
Nickname: "Baby Sandy"
Age: 19
Occupation: Ballroom Dance Studio Clerk
Hometown: Nashville, TN
Audition City: New York
TRAINING:
Vocal: 1 1/2 years.
Dance: 8 years of ballet.
Acting: Atlantic Acting School and studied with David Monty at Interlochen Arts Academy.
FUN FACTS: She is a Capricorn. She is the youngest Sandy in the competition!
Allie is anything but your typical 19 year old girl and describes herself as open, fun and impulsive. And impulsive she is! Allie took a very big, courageous step when she moved all the way to New York City from Nashville by herself at the age of 18 to try to make her way on Broadway.
Allie began at an academic high school, but the summer before her senior year she ended up at a performing arts summer camp called Interlochen Arts Camp. The staff at the camp was so impressed with her that they invited her to come to Interlochen Arts Academy, a selective performing arts boarding school in Michigan that only has a total of 500 students each year.
Allie said going to Interlochen taught her responsibility and prepared her for living in Manhattan, but she says she misses the structure she had there. She claims her biggest challenge has been having all of her friends in college while she lives on her own for the first time without any real support system.
When she first moved to New York City, Allie lived in a women's residence in Greenwich Village. She also has been working at her uncle's dance studio while taking various acting, singing and dance classes. Allie loves Chai tea, thunderstorms and actors Matt Damon and George Clooney.
Allie says her involvement in Grease has been surreal, especially after speaking show creator, Jim Jacobs, at Grease Academy, but it hasn't been as nerve-wracking as she thought it would be. When asked how she thought the show would change her life, Allie said, "A lot…because millions of people will know who I am. This is the perfect thing for me…I need a creative outlet."
FAVORITES:
What genre of movies do you enjoy? Drama
Favorite TV show: "The Comeback", "Sex & The City", "Curb Your Enthusiasm"
Favorite Actor: Matt Damon and George Clooney
Favorite Actress: Raven Simone
Favorite Singer: Bette Midler
Favorite Foods: Sushi, raspberries, green tea ice cream, baked brie, Krispy Kreme doughnuts and pesto sauce.
Favorite Musical(s): Crazy for You and Hair.
Favorite Color: Pink
ASHLEY SPENCER
Nickname: "Ballerina Sandy"
Age: 21
Occupation: Cocktail Waitress
Hometown: Massillon, OH
Audition City: Los Angeles
TRAINING:
Vocal: 10 years
Dance: 14 years of ballet, lyrical, tap, pointe, jazz & modern
Acting: 8 years
FUN FACTS: She is a Pisces. Performed as Barbie on the national tour of "Barbie in Fairy-topia".
Ashley is a small-town girl who loves chocolate (she even hides it in her room in case she's having a craving in the middle of the night!), old movies with Fred Astaire and says she's closest to her mom, Molly. Molly claims that Ashley came out singing and dancing.
Ashley says, "I wanted to be a prima ballerina from when I was a very little girl. I danced in smaller studios starting when I was 4 years old and I began competing when I was 7 years old." Ashley joined a ballet company when she was 10, but still competed as a solo dancer on the side. She says, "I remember having to change in the car a lot because I was also cheerleading and going to school. I was really serious about pursuing my dreams." Then a toe injury that progressively got worse and worse destroyed those dreams when Ashley was 14. "The doctor told me I had to stop dancing on pointe, which is what you need to do if you want to be a ballerina." In the end, Ashley did not let this injury stop her, she is still able to dance other styles and she says it helped her focus on singing and performing.
Ashley auditioned for the role of Barbie in the national tour of "Barbie in Fairy-topia" and was given the opportunity to be Barbie's understudy and perform in the show once a week. Though she was unable to attend college because her parents could not afford it, she has not let it keep her back. She says, "I'd much rather have the hands on experience than to learn it in a classroom."
Ashley came to our Los Angeles auditions with her last little bit of money and didn't even tell her family she was coming here. She feels that she puts a lot of heart into everything she does and calls herself "goofy" and "happy." Ashley says that she always dreamed of playing the role of "Sandy" on Broadway and says she was "born ready" for this opportunity.
FAVORITES:
What genre of movies do you enjoy? I love all movies, especially older movies with Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly and Gone with the Wind.
Favorite TV show: Gilmore Girls and One Tree Hill/
Favorite Actor: Danny Kaye
Favorite Actress: Rachel McAdams
Favorite Musical(s): White Christmas, Hairspray, Showboat
Favorite Foods: I'm a very picky eater: love meat and steaks, chicken, veal. I love Italian food. I never really ate fast food.
Favorite Color: Blue
JULIANA HANSEN
Nickname: "Rock Chick Sandy"
Age: 23
Occupation: Office Temp
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Audition City: New York
TRAINING:
Vocal: 7 years
Dance: 2 years of tap and jazz
Acting: 4 months
FUN FACTS: She is an Aquarius. She is in the Bruce Springsteen tribute band called "BRUCE IN THE USA".
Juliana grew up in a one bedroom apartment with her single mother. Her parents divorced when she was young and her mom moved them to Los Angeles to try to find Juliana commercial work. They moved around a lot and at one point even stayed in one room apartments that were rented out in homes. Eventually her mom bought a home where she still lives to this day. As a child, Juliana wanted to be a marine biologist because she thought it meant she got to swim with dolphins. Juliana loves the outdoors, Paul McCartney music, and enjoys going on little mini-adventures or mini-vacations with her boyfriend, Joe, who she says she is closest to. "He shares my love of music and is always looking to try something new with me." When she gets really excited, Juliana likes to put on some Bon Jovi and jump around her living room.
In the 3rd grade Juliana noticed that she couldn't see very well. She didn't want to wear glasses, though, so she didn't tell anyone until she was in the 7th grade! "My eyes were -725 in both eyes - I was basically legally blind." A couple of years ago after having to wear glasses and contacts for a number of years, she finally had laser eye surgery to correct her vision.
Juliana has been various musicals, but the most unique gig she's ever had has been performing as the "East Coast Patti" with Bruce Springsteen tribute band, Bruce in the USA. Juliana says, "I got my chance to 'be a rock star' and was asked to fill in for a friend who was having a baby and needed time off. I spent about a week learning 20 songs on guitar, tambourine and getting my harmonies down and a few days later I was off to Vegas for my one rehearsal with the band (the day before my first gig at the House of Blues in Chicago)! The gig was a success, and I have been touring as the "East Coast Patti" for the last 2+ years!"
A determined woman, Juliana has found the whole Grease experience to be "exhausting", "wonderful", "tense" and "life-changing." Juliana says she can see herself on a Broadway stage whether it's through this show or something that follows and she's as prepared as she can be.
FAVORITES:
What genre of movies do you enjoy? Dramas like Closer or Almost Famous.
Favorite TV show(s): Sex & The City, Gilmore Girls, Lost, Desperate Housewives and 24.
Favorite Actor(s): Robert Redford
Favorite Actress(es): Natalie Portman and Bernadette Peters
Favorite Singer(s): Paul McCartney and Gavin DeGraw
Favorite Foods: Sushi, seafood (any kind), peppermint ice cream, Chilean sea bass and dark chocolate-covered strawberries.
Favorite Musical(s): Into the Woods and Les Miserables
Favorite Color: Pink
KATE ROCKWELL
Nickname: "Serious Sandy"
Age: 22
Occupation: Waitress
Hometown: Cincinnati, OH
Audition City: New York
TRAINING:
Vocal: 10 years
Dance: 4 years of ballet, jazz, tap and modern
Acting: 6 years - BA in Musical Theatre from Baldwin Wallace College Conservatory
FUN FACTS: She is a Leo. She has a tattoo of a butterfly on her back!
Kate is an actress who has actually enjoyed working in the food service industry as a Hostess and Waitress while she waits for her big break on Broadway. She was even once a Pizza Delivery Girl! She is the eldest of 3 siblings all of which are involved in different areas of performing arts; brother, Bear is age 16, and sister, Libet is age 19. Kate told her mother when she was just 3 years old that she wanted to be a singer.
Growing up Kate was mousy and introverted, but found her place in the theater which is where she blossomed into the confident woman she is today. She says she doesn't know what sparked her interest in performing initially, but feels that she just naturally gravitated towards performing because her family was always very musically inclined and because as the eldest child she loved the attention.
While Kate had a large group of friends from the theater, she was not popular in school outside of that. She likes good music, anything vampire related, spending money on people for no reason (like buying a friend dinner or sending someone a card in the mail) and says she is obsessed with Dave Matthews even once throwing herself at the Escalade he was in.
Kate says she draws her strength from a very strange image-the Blue Morpho Butterfly (native to Brazil), which she has a tattoo of on her back. She says she that she got it to remind herself that "beauty is so much more than on the outside and sometimes it takes real work to see what that real beauty is, but if you put in the effort and the time, the payoff is always so high."
Of her Grease experience so far Kate says she was nervous about being around the cameras, but has learned so much in such a short time that she surprised herself. She's been imagining being on a Broadway stage for the past 6 years and feels blessed that she's so close to achieving her dream.
FAVORITES:
What genre of movies do you enjoy? I like just about anything but epic dramas (think "Pride and Prejudice") and action. I especially love fantasy and Disney and cartoon movies. Also, I love scary movies.
Favorite Musical(s): Phantom of the Opera, Beauty & the Beast, Moulin Rouge, Sweeney Todd
Favorite TV show(s): Law & Order (all of them, but SVU is my favorite) and Nip/Tuck
Favorite Actor(s): Robin Williams, Johnny Depp, Daniel Day Lewis, Sean Penn. I really admire actors who chose their roles carefully.
Favorite Actress(es): Judy Garland, Audrey Hepburn, Meryl Streep
Favorite Singer(s): Frank Sinatra, Eva Cassidy
Favorite Group(s): Something Corporate, Dave Matthews Band.
Favorite Foods: Strawberries, pizza, lobster
Favorite Color: Blue
KATHLEEN MONTELEONE
Nickname: "Spiritual Sandy"
Age: 23
Occupation: Arts & Crafts Teacher
Hometown: Tigard, OR
Audition City: New York
TRAINING:
Vocal: 4 years
Dance: 13 years of tap, jazz and ballet
Acting: 4 years - BA in Theatre Performance from Marymount Manhattan College.
FUN FACTS: She is a Pisces and is our only married Greaser.
Kathleen was born in Germany, but her family moved to Oregon while she was still a baby. Though she had no memories of her time there, she always felt a longing for it and ended up going as an exchange student when she was in high school. Her big sister, Sarah, is a big driving force in Kathleen's life and it's because of Sarah that Kathleen started performing in the first place. Sarah was a dancer and like any normal little sister who worships her big sis, Kathleen copied her. Kathleen loves romantic comedies, Christian Bale and hates when people step on the back of her feet.
Though Kathleen's dream her whole life has been to be a Broadway star, she met the man she wanted to marry right after college. Frank and Kathleen were introduced at Christian City Church - Manhattan (C3M) by mutual friends (and pastors of the church). Kathleen now is a worship leader (she says it's like the band leader) at C3M. She says for the first time her priorities shifted and while the dream for Broadway was just as big, marrying Frank had become bigger and more important. Although she puts her marriage first, Kathleen refuses to give up on her dream to star on Broadway and Frank is very supportive.
Kathleen says that family and friends were so doubtful of her at one point that she made a goal between herself and god that within a year of getting married she would either be on Broadway or "have a major gig happening." The day after her one year anniversary she was on a plane to Los Angeles for Grease Academy!
So far Grease has been a difficult experience for Kathleen, but said that everyone has become a big family. She knows this will mean a big change in her life and she's hoping she can juggle this along with her personal life. Kathleen says, "I know I'm not as prepared as I think I am. Really I'm thinking about the here and now…so I can keep focused."
FAVORITES:
What genre of movies do you enjoy? Romantic comedies, movie musicals ("Newsies"), mysteries and history ("Saving Private Ryan")
Favorite TV show(s): Will & Grace, Everybody Loves Raymond and Entourage
Favorite Actor(s): Jude Law and Christian Bale
Favorite Actress(es): Reese Witherspoon, Rachel McAdams and Bette Midler
Favorite Singer(s): Mariah Carey, "I like the voices of female country singers."
Favorite Band(s): Aerosmith
Favorite Foods: "If I could eat any meal ever it would be baked tortellini and carrot salad like what I ate in Germany with my host mom. I also love seafood (any type). My mom makes a lot of great German dishes."
Favorite Musical(s): Newsies, 42nd Street, Wicked, The Last Five Years, Rent and Miss Saigon.
Favorite Color: Red
LAURA OSNES
Nickame: "Small-town Sandy"
Age: 20
Occupation: Actress played "Sandy" in Minnesota
Hometown: Eagan, MN (a suburb of Minneapolis)
Audition City: Los Angeles
TRAINING:
Vocal: 7 years
Dance: 14 years oftap, jazz, lyrical and ballet
FUN FACTS: She is a Scorpio. Played Sandy in "Grease" in Minnesota.
Laura has grown up and lived in Minnesota her whole life. Auditioning for this show was a big step for her even though her family has always encouraged her to go to New York City. She was already playing Sandy in Minneapolis, but saw this as an opportunity to reach her dream of performing on a Broadway stage. She is giving up a lot to do our show: she had to give up the role of Sandy and as she's newly engaged she'll be leaving her fiancée behind as well.
Laura still lives at home and says she is very family-oriented. All she has ever done is perform and she says it's her passion; she even makes scrapbooks for all of her shows. She says she has always wanted to be a Broadway star for as long as she can remember. Her first show was in the 2nd grade when she was a munchkin in "The Wizard of Oz."
Laura is very innocent and sweet; when asked if she had ever pulled a prank on someone before she said she always feels bad for the person being pranked and could never do that to anyone. She loves photography, star-gazing and playing the piano and says she can't stand open-mouthed eaters or slow walkers/drivers.
Laura's Grease experience so far has been full of surprises. She did not expect to make it this far, but is extremely grateful for the opportunity. When thinking of the possibility of winning this competition, Laura got teary-eyed and said, "This show has presented an opportunity for me to get so closer to that dream than I could ever imagine. Just to be able to say 'Yes, I was Sandy in Grease when I was only 21.' How exciting!"
FAVORITES:
What genre of movies do you enjoy? Lately I'm all about movie musicals - Moulin Rouge, Chicago and The Producers. I love romantic comedies (like chick flicks). Occasionally, I like action films as well.
Favorite TV show(s): I love game shows - especially "The Price is Right" and I also like "24."
Favorite Actor(s): Johnny Depp, Richard Gere, Orlando Bloom.
Favorite Actress(es): Kate Winslet, Julia Roberts, Reese Witherspoon.
Favorite Singer(s): Linda Eder, Kelly Clarkson, Keri Noble, Damien Rice, Ben Folds, Norah Jones, John Mayer, Ben Harper, Jane Monheit, and old-school Billy Gillman!!
Favorite Group(s): Switchfoot and Coldplay.
Favorite Food(s): Pickles - loves them, chocolate peanut butter anything, ice cream.
Favorite Musical(s): Wicked, Thoroughly Modern Millie and The Last Five Years.
Favorite Color: Blue
AUSTIN MILLER
Nickname: "Hot Danny"
Age: 30
Occupation: Former "Days of Our Lives" Actor
Hometown: Alvin, TX
Audition City: New York
TRAINING:
Vocal: 12 years
Dance: 17 years
Acting: 12 years
FUN FACTS: He is a Gemini. He used to work as a carpenter. Self-confessed fitness freak.
Austin, may be a self-described "tough nut to crack," but once cracked you will find a self-deprecating charmer who is extremely focused on making a success of himself. Growing up in a small-town an hour outside of Houston, TX, Austin was an overweight kid, who wore thick bottle-rimmed glasses, attended AP lessons and was picked on in between classes. Hiding the fact that he loved musical theatre, he secretly took dance classes, but nothing could keep his love of Michael Jackson hidden...especially after his two aunts made him bejewelled white socks and a white glove, which he wore to school.
Family is extremely important to Austin; he grew-up in a tight-knit extended clan. The eldest of five, he comes by his "bossy" nature naturally, since he has four younger sisters. His first jobs were working in the various family businesses: flipping burgers at his aunt's 1950's style drive-in burger joint and working as a carpenter for his uncle's construction business. His family also owns a feed store and at one point raised cattle. When the live shows starts, we should definitely expect a visit from the Millers, et al...in their grand ol' RV (his aunt is afraid to fly...so the family travels together by Winnebago.)
This former Catholic altar boy's life changed dramatically when he grew a foot and started wearing contacts. Austin may live in the big city now, but there are still traces of his small town life…he loves taking trips to Home Depot for no particular reason and reading Car Magazine.
Currently single, he dreams of becoming a huge stage and screen actor...the judges were concerned that he was a bit too nasally, which he's been working on. His secret passions / guilty pleasures are The Carpenters, Barry Manilow, Neil Diamond (can a do dead-on impression of him) and Paula Deen's cooking show on the Food Network. He loves scary movies and loves to scare people even more (he enjoys finding out what scares people and feeds on that).
To prepare for the Live Shows, Austin has created a list of things he must complete to get him TV ready and confident.
Thus far, Austin has been both thrilled and exhausted by the Grease experience. He said his heart was breaking for people whose shoulders were tapped during the second to last elimination and said that the final elimination was the longest thing he had ever had to sit through. His hope for this show is more exposure and opportunities.
FAVORITES:
What genre of movies do you enjoy? Horror - He considers himself a connoisseur of the genre.
Favorite TV show: "The Simpsons"
Favorite Actor: Johnny Depp and Jude Law
Favorite Actress: Nicole Kidman and Toni Collette
Favorite Singer: Jennifer Hudson
Favorite Performer: Prince
Favorite Group: Styx
Favorite Foods: Baked goods...does not discriminate
Favorite Color: Blue
CHAD DORECK
Nickname: "Ambitious Danny"
Age: 27
Occupation: Soccer Coach
Hometown: Long Beach, CA
Audition City: Los Angeles, CA
TRAINING:
Vocal: 10 years.
Dance: 15 years of jazz.
Acting: 20 years. Went to Orange County High School of Performing Arts.
FUN FACTS: He is a Scorpio. The voice of "Crackle" in Rice Krispies ads!
Chad's first job (at the age of 6) was opposite dream girl Kelly LeBrock and Danny Elfman's Oingo-Boingo for the music video of the title track of the movie Weird Science (1985). He was also in the audience when Michael Jackson's hair caught on fire during the filming of a Pepsi commercial. Chad realized at an early age that he wanted to become famous; after singing the lead in a church solo; he skipped a verse but the congregation continued to follow his lead...he enjoyed the sense of power.
A proud Southern California native, Chad began his career early with the help of producer aunt, Patricia Friedman. Son of Kentucky born contractor Stephan Doreck and Chicago born homemaker Catherine Doreck, Chad's has a brother and sister. He graduated from the prestigious Orange County High School of the Arts, where he majored in Musical Theatre and briefly attended USC. He studies acting at The Gloria Gifford Conservatory for the Arts and singing with Evelyn Halus. Aside from pursuing a career in acting, Chad is also working on a career as a singer, having written, produced and sung on his first funk music CD in 2005. Chad has modelled for Sketchers, Italian Vogue and Nordstrom. He also has a successful career as a voice over artist for Crackle: Kellogg's Rice Krispies, the voice of Mazda and E! Entertainment's countdown voice.
Chad exudes a quiet confidence; he gets along with every member of the final six Danny potentials, but definitely has an opinion of each. He also has had some success in his various ventures, so he definitely has an appreciation of and expectation of having the finer things in life…the latest gadget, expensive hair products and good chocolate. He has little patience for the ridiculous. The other potential Danny's all name him as one of their toughest competitors.
Of his experience with the show Grease, thus far, he has said, "It has been inspiring, engaging, competitive, educational and fun…"
FAVORITES:
What genre of movies do you enjoy? Adventure (Indiana Jones), film noir, low-brow comedies
Favorite TV show: Deadwood
Favorite Actor: Cary Grant
Favorite Actress: Ava Gardner
Favorite Singer: Chaka Khan and Prince
Favorite Group: Jackson 5
Favorite Foods: Ribs, sushi, pomegranates, chocolate
Favorite Musical: West Side Story
Favorite Color: Orange
DEREK KEELING
Nickname: "Wholesome Danny"
Age: 26
Occupation: Design Consultant
Hometown: Charleston, WV
Audition City: New York
TRAINING:
Vocal: 6 years
Acting: 5 years, BA in theatre from Univ. of Kentucky
FUN FACTS: He is a Sagittarius. He used to be a drag racer!
When Derek first moved to New York three years ago to pursue acting he could not afford furniture, so he slept on the floor for the first three months…he's now the proud owner of a proper bed and a $10 chair. He shares a tight four-bedroom one bath apartment with three other aspiring performers. Currently he works for a company that decorates several store fronts and hotels, he was fired from his last job as a waiter; they could tell he wasn't that into the work and became so angry over his firing that he walked into an overhang in the subway and knocked himself out.
Growing up he lead a fairly normal life: getting picked on by the other kids until he grew considerably, playing video games and filling in his attempt at a moustache with black mascara. Coming from a small town in West Virginia, Derek relies heavily on his families support. During Grease Academy his father barely slept, so nervous was he that Derek might get sent home early. Dancing since the age of five, Derek's father tried to sway his interest in the arts, pointing out that he was the only boy in a class of thirty girls…Derek's reply, "That's the reason I love the class." His dad is now his most vocal supporter, bragging to any and everyone about his son's skills and successes. Even though Derek calls himself a working actor, he hasn't had a paying gig in New York…but he has played Danny in a few productions of Grease including a travelling tour from 2004-2005.
Derek's biggest challenge thus far has been "dropping everything and moving to NYC with very little money and no where to live" so that he could pursue a career in theatre. His biggest focus is keeping his voice in good shape; it's more of an obsession (he refrains from drinking anything with caffeine for fear it may dry out his voice.) Formally a runner, a sport he loves, Derek was told if he continued to run he would wind up in a wheel chair by the age of 25…he's extremely protective of those things which he loves. Currently single, he recently broke up with girlfriend of three years in August. He's now completely committed to "making it."
Derek's Grease experience has been stressful and amazing...he says he didn't get a lot of sleep during the week of Grease Academy, but he has become more and more invested in the show and doing well.
FAVORITES:
What genre of movies do you enjoy? Loves movies that make you think, (i.e. The Usual Suspects)
Favorite TV show: "Friends" and "Lost"
Favorite Actor: Kevin Spacey
Favorite Actress: Toni Collette
Favorite Singer: Frank Sinatra
Favorite Group: U2
Favorite Foods: Salmon and chicken pad thai
Favorite Musical: Jekyll & Hyde
Favorite Color: UK Blue
JASON CELAYA
Nickname: "Boy-band Danny"
Occupation: Teacher
Hometown: Foster City, CA
Age: 31
Audition City: Los Angeles
TRAINING:
Vocal: 5 years
Dance: 9 years of jazz and ballroom
Acting: 5 years - BFA in Musical Theater from BYU
FUN FACTS: Middle of 7 children and he is a Scorpio. He is also the tallest Danny in the competition.
Jason was only 12 years old when his father passed away leaving his mother to raise seven children on her own. Being the middle child with a hard-working mother, Jason wanted to separate himself from the pact and so he began to act and sing for more attention. He also discovered they brought joy back into his life.
Musicals played a big part in the Celaya kids' together time and Grease was their favorite above all others...they would sing the various songs as a group taking turns in the lead roles…Jason tended to play Danny the most often, saying, "The others knew it was my part."
Jason's quiet confidence can be a bit intimidating for some, but he is a big kid at heart. He loves Disney movies, Mary Poppins, Saved by the Bell (really) and Justin Timberlake and Christina Aguilera.
Currently working freelance as a dance instructor, Jason travels the country teaching, in the past he has worked summer stock at Robert Redford's Sundance Theatre in Park Lake City, Utah. He would love to bring the Fred Astaire & Gene Kelly glory days back. The only person he has told about this competition has been his older sister, Jessica (Miss Teen California 1991), who is living vicariously through his success.
Jason says that his Grease experience has been amazing. Now that he's made his original goal of making it to the final twelve, he's going to re-focus his goals on winning the entire competition. During the Academy, he was on pins and needles the entire time, completely stressed out wondering what the judges were going to decide. Having made it this far in the competition, he feels as though he has been waiting and training for so long...nurturing his talent and now he's prepared to step forward and shine. When asked what he thinks of when he thinks of a Broadway stage, he says, "home."
FAVORITES:
What genre of movies do you enjoy? Action, Disney movies (like The Lion King)
Favorite Actor: Johnny Depp
Favorite Performer: Justin Timberlake
Favorite Singer: Christina Aguilera or Mariah Carey
Favorite Group: New Edition
Favorite Musical: Les Miserables
Favorite TV show: Sportscenter, So You Think You Can Dance, Saved by the Bell
Favorite Food: Pizza and Mexican (all types)
Favorite Color: Blue
KEVIN GREENE
Nickname: "Bellhop Danny"
Age: 22
Occupation: Hotel Bellhop
Hometown: Rochester, NY
Audition City: New York
TRAINING:
Vocal: 4 years
Dance: 5 years of jazz and modern
Acting: 8 years
FUN FACTS: He is a Gemini.
Kevin is your average guy; he loves his family, a good meal, fantasy baseball, the New York Yankees and musical theatre - not necessarily in that order. As a kid he wanted to play first base for the Yankees until he was hit in the head by a ball and became fearful of getting hit again. Placing that dream aside, he has channeled all of his energies into perfecting his craft. Graduating from Ithaca College with a degree in Musical Theatre, he worked his way through school as a grocery store cashier on partial scholarship from his employer.
Currently he works at a trendy hotel in downtown Manhattan as a bellhop, this show has been one of his first professional auditions. Close with his family and his childhood friends, he loves a good practical joke (he gave his mother a fixed $10,000 lottery ticket) and has an overwhelming fear of small spaces and leaving his belly-button exposed while he sleeps (does not like people to touch that area on his body.) He's especially close to both of his parents and gets a little sentimental when discussing them.
Admittedly a sensitive person, Kevin does not invite a lot of people into his inner circle. Not standoffish, simply reserved and focused he plans to stay on point during the competition and avoid the drama.
Of his Grease experience so far he has said, "It completely surpassed any and all expectations…the talent and competition blew me away. I feel as though I learned a tremendous amount and grew as a performer, which was unexpected."
FAVORITES:
What genre of movies do you enjoy? All types of movies
Favorite TV show: "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" and "Curb Your Enthusiasm"
Favorite Actor: Ed Norton
Favorite Actress: Kate Winslet
Favorite Singer: Sam Harris
Favorite Group: Third Eye Blind
Favorite Foods: Everything but olives. Particularly loves French vanilla ice cream.
Favorite Musical: Parade
Favorite Color: Black
MAX CRUMM
Nickname: "Slacker Danny"
Age: 21
Occupation: Gym Receptionist
Hometown: Phoenix, AZ
Audition City: Los Angeles
TRAINING:
Vocal: 5 years
Dance: 5 years of lyrical, jazz, hip-hop and ballet
Acting: 1 year, American Academy of Dramatic Arts
FUN FACTS: He is a Libra. He's been in two different productions of Grease but has never been Danny.
Max is a free spirit, who definitely marches to the beat of his own drum. He's been described as "geek-chic," but would describe himself as a sexy, down-to-earth charmer. Originally from Phoenix, he comes from a very supportive and creative family. His father at one time owned a theatre company and his mother is a jewellery maker. His parents are both former performers, who fully support Max in his quest for a successful career in entertainment.
Having moved to Los Angeles three years ago, he decided musical theatre was a perfect fit. He has absolutely no other back-up plan and feels everything that has happened up until this point has prepared him to perform on stage. Not quite fitting the mold of the typical musical theatre performer, Max's "goofiness" and lackadaisical approach puts him at odds with and sets him apart from our other potential Danny's. He realizes this and is both nervous and interested in what will happen at the house during the live portion of the show. Although he realizes he will be the odd man out, he is not afraid to push buttons and may very well try to pull some practical jokes on his housemates.
Removing himself from the equation, he believes either Chad Doreck or Kevin Greene can win, but is a bit reticent about giving the reasons why he thinks they're strong enough contenders. Waivers between absolute shock that he's made it this far and absolute certainty that he will win…he's extremely competitive, but hides it well behind floppy hair and mismatched clothes.
The judges wavered back and forth over placing Max in the final six; he has one of the strongest voices, but is the furthest from looking like a Danny. Max knows this is the time for him to focus and step up to the plate, whether he does or not remains to be seen.
FAVORITES:
What genre of movies do you enjoy? Scary movies, comedies, Lord of The Rings trilogy.
Favorite TV show: "Standoff" and "Ellen"
Favorite Actor: Tom Hanks and Will Ferrell
Favorite Actress: Sarah Michelle Gellar
Favorite Singer: Teddy Geiger
Favorite Group: The Beatles
Favorite Foods: Mashed potatoes and avocados
Favorite Musical: Into The Woods
Favorite Color: Green
ASHLEY ANDERSON
Nickname: "Emotional Sandy"
Age: 21
Occupation: Waitress/Wife
Hometown: Nashville, TN
Audition City: New York
TRAINING:
Vocal: 2 years
Dance: 10 years of jazz, ballet and tap
Acting: 2 years
FUN FACTS: Ashley loves to knit and paint and grew up on a farm.
Ashley is a small-town girl from Tennessee who moved to New York City at 18 to attend college and to pursue her dream of being an actress. Along the way, Ashley met the love of her life and married her college boyfriend this past October. Ashley is closest to her husband and when she's not busy working as a waitress at Red Lobster in Times Square or chasing down auditions, she spends most time with him. Ashley is trying hard to adapt to life in the big city and she admits that the Grease audition was her biggest so far. Since Ashley was a little girl watching Doris Day musicals, she's dreamed of becoming a Broadway star. Some of her favorite musicals include Les Miserables, Calamity Jane, and Grease. Ashley also loves pizza, pasta, chocolate and ice cream. Ashley was eliminated from the competition at Grease Academy but the judges saw something special in her and invited her back to be a finalist in the live show.
FAVORITES:
What types of movies do you enjoy? All kinds: comedy, drama, action, chick flicks
Favorite Musical(s): Les Miserables, Calamity Jane, Drowsy Chaperone, Oklahoma, Grease. I could keep going.
Favorite TV show(s): 24
Favorite Actor(s) & Actress(es): I can't pick a favorite. There are too many talented actors and actresses that I respect.
Favorite Foods: Pizza, pasta and ice cream
Favorite Holiday and why? Thanksgiving because I love food and I like sitting down and thinking about things to be thankful for.
Guilty Pleasures: I love chocolate but it's not the best thing.
MATT NOLAN
Nickname: "Second Chance Danny"
Age: 22
Occupation: Pro Sports Publicist/Jock
Hometown: Rockville Centre, NY
Audition City: New York
TRAINING:
None
FUN FACTS: Matt's guilty pleasure is browsing MySpace and Facebook.
Matt grew up playing sports - primarily soccer, track and field, and lacrosse. When Matt graduated from college he dreamed of working for a professional sports team and becoming the next pro soccer player, Tony Menola. While sports are an important part of Matt's life, so is his secret love of theatre. Grease was Matt's very first audition and something that he kept secret from his friends. Matt has always loved Grease and grew up in a house filled with 1950's nostalgia. Matt's parents are both dance teachers and have encouraged him to dance and sing over the years. Matt is especially close to his dad as they share many things in common including their sense of humor and a love of sports and music. Matt is lucky to have supportive parents who instilled confidence and the belief that he can achieve anything he sets his mind to. Despite not having any formal training, Matt looks at his Grease experience the same way he looks at practicing for any sport - he knows it will take hard work both physically and mentally and he is prepared for the strong competition and his second chance. Some of Matt's favorite musicals include Rent, Grease, and Hairspray.
FAVORITES:
Favorite Musical(s): Rent, Grease and Hairspray
Favorite TV show(s): Seinfeld, Friends, Laguna Beach, The Office, SNL, Late Night w/ Conan O'Brien
Favorite Actor(s): Matthew McConaughey, Will Smith, Robert DeNiro, Johnny Depp
Favorite Actress(es): Reese Witherspoon, Cate Blanchett, Kate Beckinsale
Favorite Singer(s): Dave Matthews, Justin Timberlake, Usher, Beyonce, Mariah Carey
Favorite Group(s): 112, *NSync, Destiny's Child, My Chemical Romance, O.A.R., DMB
Favorite Foods: Everything, fried chicken, soup and pizza
Favorite Holiday and why? Christmas – because the whole family gets together.
Guilty Pleasures: Facebook and MySpace – stalking people's profiles