Posted by | Ray Cornelius
Congratulations to multi-award winner singer, actress, and Broadway star Jennifer Hudson. She along with the legendary Tony Award-winning actor Harvey Fierstein will headline NBC’s holiday production of “Hairspray Live”. The musical is a follow up to the network’s phenomenal success of “The Wiz Live!”
“We are beyond thrilled with this incredibly talented duo of stars for ‘Hairspray Live!,’” said Robert Greenblatt, Chairman, NBC Entertainment. “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.”
Based on the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical, “Hairspray Live!” takes place in 1962 Baltimore. 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 colorful array of characters, including the resident dreamboat, Link; the ambitious mean girl, Amber; an African-American boy she meets in detention, Seaweed; and his mother, Motormouth Maybelle, the owner of a local record store. Tracy’s mother is the indomitable Edna Turnblad, and she eventually encourages Tracy on her campaign to integrate the all-white “Corny Collins Show.”
Kenny Leon is back on as this year’s director along with Alex Rudzinski.
Check out Queen Latifah as Motormouth Maybelle below in the 2007 movie version singing the show stopping number, “I Know Where I’ve Been.”
NBC’s “Hairspray Live” airs Dec. 7th!
Photo Credit: Facebook/Jennifer Hudson