Grease took a massive $340m worldwide on release in 1978

You're the One That We Want will see members of the public competing for the lead parts of Danny and Sandy.

The panel of judges giving their verdicts includes Jim Jacobs, the creator of Grease - although a public vote will eventually decide the winner.

The BBC is currently running a search for an actress to star as Maria in a stage production of A Sound of Music.

Jacobs' co-judges will be director-choreographer Kathleen Marshall, who is at the helm of the show, and British theatre producer David Ian, a current judge on the BBC's How Do you Solve a Problem Like Maria?

The revival of the Grease musical will hit Broadway theatres in June 2007.

Dynamic duo

Set in a 1950s high school, Grease originally opened on Broadway in 1972.

It became iconic after being made into the 1978 film starring John Travolta as gang leader Danny and Olivia Newton-John as Sandy, the naive schoolgirl with whom he falls in love.

Judge David Ian is described as UK theatre's most powerful man

The musical spawned a number of hits for the pair, including You're The One That I Want and Summer Nights, both number one hits.

"Americans have grown up with these catchy tunes and appealing characters, and we think they'll love the chance to select the next dynamic duo to play Sandy and Danny," said Craig Plestis, a spokesman for the NBC network which will broadcast the show.

How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria? confirmed its 10 finalists last Saturday.

The show, which has attracted more than five million viewers, has seen British hopefuls auditioning for the part of Maria von Trapp in Andrew Lloyd Webber's revival of The Sound of Music in London's West End.

You're The One That We Want will be produced by the BBC's commercial arm, BBC Worldwide, for NBC.