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Hairspray Live! is a production that aired on December 7, 2016. It is a live performance of the Broadway musical Hairspray and it premiered on NBC. Ariana Grande played the character Penny Pingleton.

Marc Shaiman composed the music and was co-lyricist with Scott Witman serving as the main lyricist.

Plot[]

In Hairspray Live!, 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, and she eventually encourages Tracy on her campaign to integrate the all-white "Corny Collins Show".[1]

Background[]

Hairspray Live! Poster

First announcement with logo reveal

The live production was first announced in January 2016. The cast was gradually announced later on with Ariana Grande's announcement on July 7, 2016.[2][3] Grande was very excited for the role as she loves theater and the musical Hairspray.

A press conference with Hairspray Live! was held at the annual Television Critics Association summer press tour on August 2, 2016.[4]

A 30-second promo for Hairspray Live! was released on NBC's YouTube channel on August 19, 2016.[5]

Cast[]

  • Maddie Baillio as Tracy Turnblad
  • Ariana Grande as Penny Pingleton
  • Harvey Fierstein as Edna Turnblad
  • Martin Short as Wilbur Turnblad
  • Jennifer Hudson as Motormouth Maybelle
  • Kristin Chenoweth as Velma Von Tussle
  • Dove Cameron as Amber Von Tussle
  • Garrett Clayton as Link Larkin
  • Derek Hough as Corny Collins
  • Andrea Martin as Prudy Pingleton
  • Rosie O'Donnell as The Gym Teacher/Matron
  • Sean Hayes as Mr. Pinky
  • Ephraim Sykes as Seaweed J. Stubbs
  • Shahadi Wright Joseph as Little Inez
  • Paul Vogt as Mr. Harriman F. Spritzer
  • Billy Eichner as Rob Barker

Trivia[]

  • On August 1, 2016, Ariana posted on Snapchat showing her script for Hairspray Live! dated July 27, 2016.[6]
  • Ariana was crying after Hairspray Live had finished and she even went back on set to say goodbye to Hairspray Live.
  • On August 9, 2016, Ariana posted on Snapchat that she went on a Hairspray Live!-related work. Ariana posted a snippet of her singing an original song from Hairspray, "Run and Tell That". She also showed off her pigtail for the play on that day.[7]

Gallery[]

Videos[]

References[]

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