NBC’s ‘Hairspray Live’ arrives

NBC’s Hairspray Live premieres on Wednesday, December 7 at 8/7c. The live musical adaptation of the 2002 Broadway hit musical Hairspray will feature an all-star cast, including Derek Hough of Dancing with the Stars as Corny Collins.

Breakout star Maddie Baillio will shine as the lead Tracy Turnblad, with Tony Award-winning actors Harvey Fierstein and Martin Short acting as her mother Edna Turnblad and her father Wilbur Turnblad.

Beloved Broadway star Kristin Chenoweth, known for originating the role of Glinda in the popular musical Wicked, will play the musical’s villain, Velma Von Tussle. Her daughter, Amber Von Tussle, will be performed by Disney’s Dove Cameron.

Vocal powerhouses Jennifer Hudson and Ariana Grande join the cast as Motormouth Maybelle and Penny Pingleton. Garrett Clayton will perform the musical’s handsome lead teen character Link Larkin. In addition, the role of Seaweed J. Stubbs will be taken on by Ephraim Sykes while the sweet Little Inez will be danced by Shahadi Wright Joseph.

The live production has been choreographed by Jerry Mitchell, known for his work on Broadway’s Kinky Boots and On Your Feet. The music and lyrics are by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman of Smash and Broadway’s upcoming Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Back in September, a couple hundred dancers auditioned to be a part of the production. Hear from one of the dancers who made the cut in this on-film Q&A with WBALTV.com.

In a recent interview, Derek Hough told HollywoodLife.com that his all-star sister Julianne Hough has encouraged him. “I actually asked Julianne before Grease, ‘Aren’t you guys nervous?’ And she said, ‘No, we’re ready for this! We want to show people this. We’re ready.’ So I hope we feel that way too. We’re all still a little nervous but hopefully we’ll be ready.”

Speaking on the importance of the musical’s thematic elements, Director Kenny Leon told the Los Angeles Times, “It’s the kind of musical that our country needs right now. This is a part of our history that can’t be ignored and it’s relevant today in this country when race relations are the way they are. And, even beyond that, no matter how you voted, we need to find ways to unify ourselves. We have been so focused on what has divided us.”

For more information or to see behind-the-scenes photos of the live production, visit www.nbc.com/hairspray-live. A DVD of the show and an original NBC television soundtrack are already available to be ordered at www.nbcuniversalstore.com.