'Hairspray's' Nikki Blonsky to Recur on NBC's SMASH

According to The Hollywood Reporter, 'Hairspray's' Nikki Blonsky has just landed a recurring role on the upcoming season of NBC's SMASH. The actress joins a growing list of high-profile guest stars on the musical drama's second season  including Jesse L. Martin, Jeremy Jordan, Sean Hayes and Jennifer Hudson.  

The guest starring appearance will mark a reunion of Blonsky with Hairspray producers Neil Meron and Craig Zadan. No details have been released as to the role the actress will take on for the series, but THR has confirmed that she will not be playing herself. 

Goldon Globe nominee Blonsky is best known for her role as Tracy Turnblad in the 2007 film Hairspray and as Maggie Baker in the 2008 television movie Queen Sized. She also appeared in the ABC Family original series Huge.

“Smash” is a musical drama that celebrates the beauty and heartbreak of the Broadway theater as it follows a cross-section of dreamers and schemers who all have one common desire – to be a Broadway star. The series stars Emmy Award winner Debra Messing (“Will & Grace”), Oscar winner Anjelica Huston (“Prizzi's Honor”), Jack Davenport (“Pirates of the Caribbean” films), Tony Award winner Christian Borle (“Peter and the Starcatcher”), Katharine McPhee (“American Idol”), Megan Hilty (“9 to 5: The Musical”), Tony Award nominee Jeremy Jordan (“Newsies”), Andy Mientus ("Spring Awakening"), Leslie Odom Jr. ("Leap of Faith") and Krysta Rodriguez ("Spring Awakening").

From Universal Television in association with DreamWorks Television, “Smash” stemmed from an idea of executive producer and multiple Emmy and Oscar winner Steven Spielberg (“ER,” “Schindler's List”). The series’ executive producers also include Joshua Safran (“Gossip Girl”), Craig Zadan and Neil Meron (Oscar-winning “Chicago,” “Hairspray”), Darryl Frank and Justin Falvey (“United States of Tara,” “The Borgias”), Tony and Grammy Award winners Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman (“Hairspray,” “Catch Me If You Can”), Jim Chory (“Heroes,” “American Dreams”) and Theresa Rebeck (“Mauritius,” “NYPD Blue”).

Smash returns midseason on NBC.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride / Retna Ltd.

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