May 11; Tommy Tune brings ‘Grease’ back to Broadway

Published 1:12 pm Tuesday, May 12, 2020

“Grease,” the popular musical based on the antics of seniors at fictional Rydell High School in 1959, returned to Broadway on this date in 1994.

 Tommy Tune, who attended Lon Morris College in Jacksonville, was the show’s executive producer. 

 The revival ran for 1,500 performances. 

In the Spotlight

— 2015: Mitchel Musso, who grew up in Rockwall, appears in the thriller “The Sand.”

— 2012: Irma P. Hall, a graduate of Texas College in Tyler, has a role in “Changing the Game.”

— 2010: Terrell native Jamie Foxx is a guest mentor on “American Idol!”

— 2010: Longtime U.S. Congressman Louie Gohmert, of Tyler, is a guest on “Hannity.”

— 2007: Lindale native Miranda Lambert is a guest on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.”

— 2005: Anna Nicole Smith, who grew up in Mexia, appears on “Fashion News Live.” 

— 2002: Donna Bullock, who attended Tyler Junior College, has a guest role on “Touched by an Angel.”

— 2001: Alan Tudyk, who attended Lon Morris College in Jacksonville, appears in “A Knight’s Tale” starring Heath Ledger.

— 1993: At the Academy of Country Music Awards, Atlanta native Tracy Lawrence is named Top New Male Vocalist. 

— 1995: Tommy Tune, an alumnus of Lon Morris College in Jacksonville, stars in the national touring production of “Bye, Bye Birdie.”

— 1986: Nacogdoches native Tony Frank stars in the TV movie “Dalton:Code of Vengeance II.”

— 1984: Groesbeck native Joe Don Baker appears in “The Natural” starring Robert Redford.

— 1982: Richard Bradford, who was born in Tyler, has a guest role on “Hart to Hart.”

— 1979: The TV movie “The Power Within” features Marshall native Susan Howard in a supporting role.

— 1974: “Just Enough To Make Me Stay” by Nacogdoches native Bob Luman, peaks at No. 23 on the Hot Country Songs chart.

— 1971: Classical pianist Van Cliburn, who grew up in Kilgore, is a guest on “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.”

— 1965: Whitewright native Guy Wilkerson has a guest role on “Petticoat Junction.”

— 1963: Wood County native Ray Price’s “Walk Me to the Door” peaks at No. 7 on the Billboard country singles chart. 

— 1956: Whitewright native Guy Wilkerson has a role on an episode of “Chevron Hall of Stars.”

— 1938: “I Married an Angel,” a musical staged by Texarkana native Joshua Logan, debuts on Broadway.

— 1934: Corsicana native Mary Brian stars in “Private Scandal.”