I love Penny and it's a great honor to play her. 'Pop music is fun, but this is way more fun,' she said. Hudson, who won an Oscar for her role in Dreamgirls, said: 'I've always been into anything that had to do with music.'īut no one was more pumped than Grande, a self-proclaimed 'theater geek.' 'Music just brings us all together in a way that words just don't.' 'Who wouldn't want to have a love affair with Martin Short?' quipped Fierstein, who is reprising his Edna role from his Broadway days. 'I said yes immediately,' Hough said of joining the ensemble. 'I guess now it's the right time,' she said. Nikki Blonsky performs 'I Can Hear the Bells' from the film, Hairspray (2007) directed by Adam Shankman, also featuring Zac Efron, Elijah Kelley and Amanda B. It was her first audition outside of school and class.Ĭhenoweth lamented she's wanted to play in Hairspray since 1998. the morning of the audition, to be exact). Other cast members include Ariana Grande (Penny), Kristin Chenoweth (Velma Von Tussle), Martin Short (Wilbur Turnblad), Harvey Fierstein (Edna Turnblad he is also one of the show's writers), Jennifer Hudson (Motormouth Maybelle) and Derek Hough (Corny Collins).ĭuring TCA, cast members were visibly excited for the performance.īaillio said she is so happy she decided to audition last minute (at 3 a.m. Newcomer Maddie Baillio, from Texas, has been tapped to play the lead role of Tracy Turnblad. Musical theatre geek Ariana Grande joins NBC's 'Hairspray Live' You can live stream the show by signing in with your local cable television or satellite provider on NBC Live.

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