Carina Gillespie to take over from Lauren Samuels in Grease

Lauren Samuels is due to leave the musical Grease on at the Piccadilly Theatre on 22nd January and the role of Sandy will be taken over by Carina Gillespie (pictured) from 24th January 2011.  Carina will star opposite Matthew Goodgame as Danny until the show closes on 30th April.

Carina Gillespie made her professional stage debut as Maria Elena in The Buddy Holly Story (UK & Scandinavian tours). Other theatre credits include Linda in Bloodbath- The Musical (Edinburgh Festival) and Princess Tamara in Jack in the Beanstalk (Regents Theatre, Ipswich).

The new class of Rydell High from 24th January also includes David O'Reilly (‘Roger'), Michael Pickering (‘Doody'), Zoe Doano (‘Frenchy'), Matthew Russell-Jones (‘Eugene'), Nancy Hill ‘(Miss Lynch') and Kristina MacMillan (‘Cha Cha'), Other cast members who will continue in their roles include Jamie Capewell (‘Kenickie'), Siubhan Harrison (‘Rizzo'), Bennett Andrews (‘Sonny'), Robyn Mellor (‘Marty'), Susannah Allman (‘Patty') and Jason Capewell (Teen Angel/Vince Fontaine) and  Kerry Winter will stay with the show to take over the role of ‘Jan'.

Grease the musical is then due to start a UK tour starting at the Edinburgh Playhouse on 6th  May.