Jennifer Hudson and Harvey Fierstein to Star in NBC’s ‘Hairspray Live’
Up next in the new trend of live television productions of classic musical theater is NBC’s ‘Hairspray Live’. The network announced today that Jennifer Hudson and Harvey Fierstein will star in the live production. Hudson will play Motormouth Maybelle, while Fierstein will reprise his Tony award winning role of Edna Turnblad.
NBC entertainment chairman Robert Greenblatt said, “We are beyond thrilled with this incredibly talented duo of stars for ‘Hairspray Live! Harvey Fierstein created the role of Edna Turnblad on Broadway in an indelible Tony-winning performance that demanded to be memorialized on film, and we’re happy he wanted to step into her shoes one last, unforgettable time. We’re also so grateful that the incomparable Jennifer Hudson will play Motormouth Maybelle and we know her rendition of ‘I Know Where I’ve Been’ will literally stop the show.”
“Hairspray Live!” will follow the same premise as the original the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical. It will take place in 1962 Baltimore and follow one teenager’s dream to dance on “The Corny Collins Show.” As she begins to make her dream a reality, she also launches a campaign to allow integration on the show.
The below clip is from the 2007 movie remake of the musical starring Nikki Blonsky, John Travolta, Michelle Pheiffer, Christopher Walken, Amanda Bynes, James Marsden, Queen Latifa, Britney Snow and Zac Efron.
A karaoke obsessed, craft beer enthusiast and lover of all things pop culture, Denise enjoys all facets of entertainment from Broadway to box office blockbusters. In her spare time, she enjoys photography, concerts (lots and lots of concerts), volunteering, reading and playing with her rescue kitten, Samantha (who rescued who, right?).
