Photo credit: Scott Kirkland/FOX
On Wednesday night, 525 people gathered in the main theatre at the Paramount Pictures Studio lot to celebrate a fresh take on an iconic musical, Grease Live. The audience was comprised of Emmy and SAG Awards voters for nomination consideration.
FOX is looking for multiple nominations for this particular live event and they took a “go big or go home” approach to wooing Emmys voters. Besides the panel with a close-up look at numbers like “Greased Lightning” and “Freddy, My Love,” the night ended with a full-blown carnival on the Paramount lot.
Photo credit: Frank Micelotta/FOX
My takeaway from this evening was the choreography category. I’ve been saying this will definitely be a year where we might see Phoenix and Pharside get their first Emmy nod for their excellent work on So You Think You Can Dance: Street vs. Stage last season. However, Season 21 and 22 of Dancing With the Stars are kind of blur for me when it comes to choreography this year.
In my opinion, this is where Zach Woodlee, choreographer and co-producer on Glee, steps in and sweeps the category. His inspired work on a musical that’s been seen on stage, on film and in every high school auditorium was breathtaking. It was even more evident when we watched the work on the big screen versus a laptop or TV.
Did you ever think you would look at "Greased Lightning" with fresh eyes again? Did you ever think you would gasp at that incredibly complicated lift Julianne Hough and Aaron Tveit delivered during the dance contest?
Add the complicated live element to his choreography and the unexpected rain intrusion — those umbrellas! — and you truly have a masterpiece before you.
I encourage you to watch the hour-long panel and learn what went into Woodlee’s choreography, because I think he’s going to win.
Emmy nominations will be announced on July 14.
Who do you think will be in the mix for Emmy nominations this year?