Get ready for a one-of-a-kind television experience as Hairspray Live! dances its way to DIVA– Same Day as the U.S. on Thursday, 8 December at 9:25pm. Featuring a stellar cast of Hollywood A-listers (Ariana Grande and Jennifer Hudson), Tony Award winners (Kirstin Chenoweth, Martin Short and Harvey Fierstein) and up-and-coming Disney alumni/millennial favorites (Garrett Clayton and Dove Cameron), the latest stage-to-screen production will see Broadway’s finest creatives team up to breathe new life into the beloved Tony Award-winning musical.
Filmed at the sprawling backlots of Universal Studios Hollywood, Hairspray Live!marks the first time the musical is being adapted for a television audience, culminating with a special duet by stars Ariana Grande and Jennifer Hudson. The two powerhouse vocalists will take on “Come So Far (Got So Far To Go)”, originally sung by Queen Latifah in the 2007 Hairspray film.
Hairspray Live! stars exciting newcomer Maddie Baillio as the iconic Tracy Turnblad, alongside Dove Cameron (Amber Von Tussle), Kristin Chenoweth (Velma Von Tussle), Garrett Clayton (Link Larkin), Harvey Fierstein (Edna Turnblad), Ariana Grande (Penny Pingleton), Derek Hough (Corny Collins), Jennifer Hudson (Motormouth Maybelle), Martin Short (Wilbur Turnblad), Ephraim Sykes (Seaweed) and Shahadi Wright Joseph (Inez). Additionally, the musical will feature special appearances by Billy Eichner, Sean Hayes, Andrea Martin and Rosie O'Donnell.
Not only was an open casting call held for the lead role of Tracy Turnblad – which was eventually won by accomplished singer and dancer from League City, Texas, Maddie Bailio – residents of Baltimore in the U.S. were also given the opportunity to audition for a dance role filmed in Los Angelesduring the live telecast.
In Hairspray Live!, teenager Tracy Turnblad’s dream is to dance on “The Corny Collins Show,” a local TV program. When against all odds Tracy wins a role on the show, she becomes a celebrity overnight and meets a colourful array of characters, including the resident dreamboat, Link (Garrett Clayton); the ambitious mean girl, Amber (Dove Cameron); an African-American boy she meets in detention, Seaweed (Ephraim Sykes); and his mother, Motormouth Maybelle (Jennifer Hudson), the owner of a local record store. Tracy’s mother is the indomitable Edna (Harvey Fierstein), and she eventually encourages Tracy on her campaign to integrate the all-white “Corny Collins Show.”
Acclaimed live television director Alex Rudzinski (“Dancing with the Stars”) will join Tony-winning director Kenny Leon (“The Wiz Live!”). Craig Zadan and Neil Meron (Oscar-winning ”Chicago,” ”The Wiz Live!” and the upcoming “A Few Good Men Live!”) serve as executive producers of “Hairspray Live!” Harvey Fierstein will also provide a new teleplay and Tony winner Jerry Mitchell (“Kinky Boots,” “On Your Feet”) will serve as choreographer for the live production with music and lyrics by Tony winners Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman (“Smash,” the upcoming feature ”Mary Poppins Returns” and the Broadway-bound “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”).
Get ready your dancing shoes for Hairspray Live!premiering on 8 December, Thursday at 9:25pm on DIVA– Same Day as the U.S.
