Sometimes when Hollywood talent heads to the New York stage, it can be a cause for concern. These are very different worlds that require different skill sets. However, the news that Dancing With The Stars pro Derek Hough will star in Singin' In The Rain on Broadway should not not furrow any brows. Not only has the choreographer already starred on the West End as Ren McCormack in Footloose after making his debut in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, but any DWTS fan knows that he's perfect for the role. In fact, several of Derek Hough's DWTS dances should help inspire his performance.
After Julianne Hough stole everyone's hearts in FOX's Grease Live!, it is now her brother's turn. The tap-heavy role of Don Lockwood is a near perfect fit for him. While he didn't sing on Nashville, he is a triple threat. The musical will be mostly what you remember from the movie, it's the same story adapted for the stage by Betty Comden and Al Green, who wrote the original screenplay — plus additional music from a variety of composers. No other casting has been announced for the production, which according to Variety is set to open in the 2016-2017 season, so we'll have to wait and see who will join him as Kathy Selden and Cosmo Brown.
Until then, what better way to prepare for Hough's star turn on Broadway (after appearing as a replacement in 2010's ballroom spectacular Burn The Floor, it's technically not his debut) than to revisit some of his Dancing With The Stars dances that both prove he's worthy of this new venture and could inspire his take on Don Lockwood.
1. Season 10, "Anything Goes" With Nicole Scherzinger
Basically, any quickstep is going to give you that Broadway style, and he's one of the best.
2. Season 11, "Love And Marriage" With Jennifer Grey
Stylistically, this is the perfect period for Singin' In The Rain.
3. Season 17, "Bang Bang" With Amber Riley
This epic Charleston uses a track from The Great Gatsby soundtrack to put a modern spin on a classic style, which is always a good skill to take to Broadway.
4. Season 20, "Love Is An Open Door" With Nastia Liukin
Singin' In The Rain is a love story, after all. Put aside the actual plot of Frozen and this is a rather romantic piece.
5. Season 7, "Lullaby Of Birdland" With Brooke Burke
He'll be playing a glamorous Hollywood movie star, and this performance captures that mystique.
6. Season 21, "Dr. Bones" With Bindi Irwin
Singin' In The Rain is about the birth of a star — and Derek Hough is great at making stars. Look how much Bindi Irwin, a non-dancer, grew by the finale.
7. Season 10, "Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend" With Li'l Kim
More Hollywood glamour. As Hough's character would say, "dignity. Always dignity."
8. Season 13, "Luck Be A Lady" with Ricki Lake
This quickstep has a few more tap elements, which will come in handy for this role.
9. Season 18, "Too Darn Hot (RAC Mix)" With Amy Purdy
Who says a musical based on a movie that was made in the '50s and set in the '30s can't be sexy?
10. Season 14, "Montagues and Capulets" With Maria Menounos
Never forget the ballet portion of the movie. He's going to have to slow it down at some point, and re-visiting a paso doble is a great way to accomplish that.
11. Season 19, "Singin' In The Rain" With Bethanny Mota
Finally, we've got to go with the actual song from the actual show. It was only a perfect performance, score-wise, after all. I think we can all agree that when it comes to Singin' In The Rain on Broadway, Derek Hough has got it in the bag.
Image: Eric McCandless
