> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.smdp.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Santa Monican finalist for NBC reality show - URL: https://www.smdp.com/santa-monican-finalist-for-nbc-reality-show/ - Published: 2007-03-07T16:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-24T00:12:12.000Z - Author: Melody Hanatani - Tags: Entertainment, Santa Monica, #archive-import *Santa Monican finalist for NBC reality show* CITYWIDE A career on Broadway is the dream of countless Santa Monicans, but a particular local is pinning his hopes to a stint on a reality television competition as his means of reaching such a lofty goal. One of four finalists to play the role of Danny Zuko on a new Broadway production of “Grease,” 28-year-old Chad Doreck has seen his dream appear more and more within reach each week as he continues to survive the cut on NBC’s reality show, “Grease: You’re the One that I Want!” The premise of the show, which airs on Sundays at 8 p.m., is to select the lead roles of Sandy Dumbrowski and Danny Zuko for the new Broadway adaptation of the classic production, set to premiere in June. Each winner will become a bonafide Broadway star for at least the next 12 months. The terms of the contract guarantees each winner at least one year of being a part of the theatrical cast. Doreck, of Santa Monica, was among the thousands of hopefuls that took part in a nationwide casting call last year. The list was narrowed to the top 50 candidates who took part in the “Grease Academy,”and the judges then selected the top 12 based on their performances. Those 12 finalists appeared on the live episodes, allowing viewers to select their favorite hopefuls to continue on to the The winners will be announced during the season finale set to air March 25. “My morale is really high and I’m really confident,” Doreck said.“I’m intending to go out there and give a good performance this week and get to the next round.” It’s the first time that Doreck, who has appeared in numerous television shows such as “NCIS,”“NYPD Blue”and “My Life as a Teenage Robot,” made his entrance into the world of reality TV.After discussing the prospect with his agent and acting coach, Doreck felt he had an excellent shot and enough talent to advance deep into the judging. The show is a dream come true for Doreck, a Long Beach native who was introduced into the entertainment world at the tender age of 6 when he appeared in the 1985 Oingo Boingo music video “Weird Science” opposite the one and only Kelly LeBrock. His aunt, Patricia Friedman is a music video producer and gave her nephew his first exposure on television. “I think that opened his eyes to acting and music and he stuck with it ever since,” said Friedman, who makes the Hollywood Hills home. He went onto attend the Orange County High School of the Arts in Santa Ana where he graduated in 1997\. Executive Director and school founder Ralph Opacic remembers when Doreck was a ninth grader who talked of pursuing an acting career. “He was very focused and had natural talent,” Opacic said. “Whether on stage or in person, he’s very likable. Those are the attributes and qualities that made him successful to this point.” Like all those who know Doreck well, Opacic and his family watch “Grease: You’re the One that I Want!” every week and his two daughters, who are 10 and 11-years-old respectively, have fallen in love with the aspiring Danny Zuko and are now a part of the Chad Doreck Fan Club. “We have two phone lines and they’re at it,” Opacic said. Doreck moved to his Pacific Coast Highway home in Santa Monica two years ago to be near the beach. He found the pace of life in Santa Monica and the atmosphere to be very agreeable. Watching her son grow up with ambitions to become a famous performer, there’s nothing more rewarding for Catherine Doreck than to see her son on television every week. The family drives to Los Angeles every Sunday to watch the live taping of the show and then drives back to their Long Beach home to watch the show again on their digital video recorder. “I burst into tears when I come home and watch him on TiVo and see his face,” Catherine Doreck said.“To watch your child pursue his dream and being able to help him is probably the most amazing thing.” Even if Doreck is not selected to be the next Danny Zuko, his acting coach, Gloria Gifford of the Gloria Gifford Conservatory for the Performing Arts in Los Angeles believes that he will be tapped by some Broadway production sooner or later. “This is the greatest audition call back he can have,” Gifford said. Whether he makes it or not, Doreck hopes to have a long and fulfilling career in the performing arts. “Whatever I can get my hands on is what I intend on doing,” he said. “I’m obsessed with funk music and acting is my soul. My ultimate goal is to do all of the above.” ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/55/9f/559f9abc-8372-4a2e-8c2d-27386da4e363/content/images/2026/10/030707-02_01.jpg) NBC A STAR IS BORN: Santa Monican Chad Doreck, 28, has seen his dream almost become a reality. (Photo: Photo courtesy) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/55/9f/559f9abc-8372-4a2e-8c2d-27386da4e363/content/images/2026/10/030707-02_02.jpg) (Photo: Photo courtesy) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/55/9f/559f9abc-8372-4a2e-8c2d-27386da4e363/content/images/2026/10/030707-02_03.jpg) *Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on March 7, 2007.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/030707.pdf?ref=smdp.com)