‘Hairspray Live!’ adds Sean Hayes, Rosie O’Donnell — but no new songs for Ariana Grande
“Hairspray Live!” can’t stop the casting beat.
The already star-studded cast is adding more notable names to the roster of NBC’s upcoming live musical production: Sean Hayes as dress shop owner Mr. Pinky and Rosie O’Donnell as the gym teacher.
Executive producers Neil Meron and Craig Zadan, who have produced all of the NBC live musical productions thus far, revealed the news during the “Hairspray Live!” panel that closed out NBC’s day of presentations Tuesday at the Television Critics Assn. press tour in Beverly Hills.
Hayes and O’Donnell join an all-star ensemble: Harvey Fierstein reprising his Tony-winning role as Edna Turnblad; Jennifer Hudson as Motormouth Maybelle; Ariana Grande as Penny Pingleton; Kristin Chenoweth as Velma von Tussle; Martin Short as Wilbur Turnblad— to name a few. All, with the exception of Short, were on hand to talk about the upcoming production, which will be performed in Los Angeles and air live at 8 p.m. ET/PT Dec. 7.
Here’s what we learned:
--For the first time, NBC is staging a live musical production in Los Angeles, using the Universal lot as its backdrop. Like Fox’s recent production “Grease: Live!,” some portions of “Hairspray Live!” will include exterior scenes to recreate 1960s Baltimore. “’Hairspray’ is going to be using a much bigger area of the backlot than we ever used on ‘Grease,’” said live TV director Alex Rudzinski, who also worked on the Fox production that was staged on the Paramount lot.
--Director Kenny Leon noted this staging comes at a poignant time. “I’m just happy to do this particular story at this particular time in our country when race relations are where they are.” Fierstein added that the production has not been updated or altered for modern audiences. “You don’t update history,” he said. “We can change laws but the war is to change hearts, and nothing does that like song does.”
--NBC’s live production will include the two songs that were written for the movie, according to Leon.
--Kristin Chenoweth really has waited for this moment. The actress said the role of Velma is one she wanted to play since the show’s pre-Broadway days. “I actually wanted to play the role originally back in ‘98 but I was too young,” she said. “I guess now it’s the right time. I’m working on my splits and twirling.”
--Don’t expect any additional numbers to be incorporated to take advantage of Grande’s vocal chops. Her character Penny doesn’t have any major solos. And that’s perfectly OK. “I think one of the thrills is that Ariana wanted to play that role as written,” Meron said. “Basically, she loved the fact she held off those powerful pipes until the very end. There’s some sort of artistic merit in terms of Ariana doing the role in terms of the surprise for the audience.”
Grande added: “I don’t want to change anything about the role or how she develops. I love Penny and it’s just such a great honor to play. I don’t want any sort of special icing.”
Twitter: @villarrealy
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