TV News

Kristin Chenoweth Joins NBC's Hairspray Live!

Chenoweth will take on a villainous role in the upcoming broadcast of the Tony-winning musical.

Kristin Chenoweth will play Velma Von Tussle in the upcoming NBC broadcast of Hairspray Live!
Kristin Chenoweth will play Velma Von Tussle in the upcoming NBC broadcast of Hairspray Live!
(© David Gordon)

Tony winner Kristin Chenoweth is the latest star to join the upcoming NBC broadcast of Hairspray Live!, set to air December 7. Chenoweth will take on the role of the villainous Velma Von Tussle.

Chenoweth (On the Twentieth Century) joins a company headed by original Broadway Hairspray leading man Harvey Fierstein, who reprises his Tony-winning performance as Edna Turnblad, and newcomer Maddie Baillio, who takes on the role of Tracy Turnblad. The cast also includes Jennifer Hudson (Motormouth Maybelle), Martin Short (Wilbur Turnblad), and Derek Hough (Corny Collins).

Hairspray features a Tony-winning score by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman and a Tony-winning book by Mark O'Donnell and Thomas Meehan. Based on the film by John Waters, it tells the story of Tracy Turnblad, an overweight Baltimore teen with dreams of landing a spot on a TV dance show and bringing racial integration with her.

Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, who produced the 2007 movie-musical version of Hairspray, will produce the live television edition. The Wiz Live! director Kenny Leon will take the helm, with Alex Rudzinski (Grease Live) directing for television. Jerry Mitchell will repeat his duties from the Broadway mounting as choreographer. Original Hairspray composer-lyricists Shaiman and Wittman are also on the team for the live work.