Harvey Fierstein and Jennifer Hudson
will headline the cast of NBC's Hairspray Live!, its upcoming
live Broadway musical event.
Fierstein, who is also writing the
teleplay, will reprise the role of Edna Turnblad, a role he created
and won a Tony Award for in the stage version of Hairspray.
The role was played by Divine in the
original 1988 John Waters film and by John Travolta in the 2007
remake.
Hudson will play the role of Motormouth
Maybelle.
“We are beyond thrilled with this
incredibly talented duo of stars for ‘Hairspray Live!,’” said
Robert Greenblatt, chairman of 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.”
Hairspray Live! will air
Wednesday, December 7 on NBC.