Countdown to HAIRSPRAY LIVE!: The Cast Chats About Why The Musical is So Important Today

NBC's latest live musical, HAIRSPRAY LIVE! is just days away and the cast is getting ready to bring this iconic musical to life!

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."

Introducing Maddie Baillio as Tracy Turnblad, Hairspray Live! also stars Kristin Chenoweth, Harvey Fierstein, Jennifer Hudson, Ariana Grande, Martin Short, Derek Hough, Dove Cameron, Garrett Clayton, Ephraim Sykes, Shahadi Wright Joseph and special guest stars Andrea Martin, Billy Eichner and Rosie O'Donnell.

As they gear up for the live event on December 7th at 8/7c, the cast chats about what Hairspray means to them, how it feels to be part of this live telecast, and why Hairspray is so important today.

Derek Hough says it's an amazing thing to be part of. Speaking to his casting, Hough mentioned how excited his sister, Julianne Hough, was to perform in FOX's GREASE LIVE last year. He says, "Her advice was her example. Seeing the joy she had and seeing her come home and jusT Loving it... me seeing that was the step. So when they asked me, I was like, 'Hell yes!'"

A massive musical theater fan, Billy Eichner says he's excited to finally be one step closer to the musical theater community. He says, "I'm a musical theater kid and people don't know that. I went to Northwestern, I was a musical theater student, but I've never really done it. I like being part of it. It's a great show. The cast is amazing. It's a huge event."

Dove Cameron has been a long-time fan of Hairspray. She's ecstatic to be part of such a major production. She says, "Hairspray is the best show. You can't be sad when you are doing Hairspray." She recounts when she fell in love with the show: "I saw the movie three times in theaters. I didn't realize how much I loved this show. You don't get sick of it either. I wouldn't want to do any other show."

Meanwhile, this is a coming home for some members of the cast. Ariana Grande, who got her start in Jason Robert Brown's musical 13, is excited to be doing a form of theater again. She says, "I don't think a lot of people actually know that's where I started, which is a weird thing for me. It's weird for me that people know me as this shiny, puff thing. I'm like the biggest theater nerd of all time."

The cast of Hairspray Live! is made up of some of the biggest names in the entertainment industry and some new favorites. The cast has all different backgrounds that they bring to the table. Martin Short talks about how tightly knit the cast has already become. He remarks on the common goal that led them all to this moment: "I think we just become people that are entertainers and who love and cannot believe the joy we get to experience every day doing something we never thought we would end up doing." He adds, "What everyone shares in this cast is a real sense of professionalism and a real wanting to do the best that they can do."

While Hairspray holds a special place for the diverse cast of the live musical, it means so much more to them right now. With the political climate of 2016 looming large over Hairspray Live!, the cast is looking at it in a very different way. Jennifer Hudson talks about singing the iconic number "I Know Where I've Been" and putting it in today's context. She says, "It gives it so much more meaning. And it makes it that much more real. I was saying, today unfortunately you don't have to go back into the 60's era to find out what that was. You just have to turn on the news. I think it's necessary. I think the timing is right to be able to deliver a message like this. I think that's why a story like Hairspray is still around."

Maddie Baillio, who was discovered to play the role Tracy, is very aware of how the themes of Hairspray Live! are still relevant today. She says, "It's the best part of this show. There's a lot of fun and heart-warming moments, but our director Kenny Leon really wants to nail in those more serious moments." She says, "I'm really hoping that maybe someone who is flipping through the channels on December 7th will stop on Hairspray. And if they don't believe in equality for all, then they don't have a lot of love in their hearts. It's bold to say, but I hope we can change the world and change their minds."

Garrett Clayton says that the themes of Hairspray are more important than ever before. "Politically, socially... what is going on with our country. To be doing the show, when we are doing it and how we're doing it is so wicked relevant at the moment." He adds, "The theme has always been universal and the message has always been so strong, but the timing of it is so important. We've had multiple conversations with Kenny and Jerry, as a group. It's so important and Kenny is really making the message really clear and keeping it grounded. We all really care about the message we're sending."

Ephraim Sykes says he's beyond grateful he gets to tell this story at this exact moment. "It's all about the fact that I get to tell this story today at a time when our country needs to hear about it the most. The world needs it the most." He also points out, "The show speaks to true individuality and through that individuality and celebrating your uniqueness you can understand and love someone for all they are. You realize that you are the same and you are different. It's extremely important."

Harvey Fierstein, who is no stranger to Hairspray, says he thinks it's never been more important than right now to tell this story. "I think our jobs as artists is to empower [younger generations]." Fierstein continues saying, "Our job is to show you were the problems are. We don't always have the answers, but we have to keep bringing up the questions. When is kindness not important?"

Kristin Chenoweth says the theme of kindness is something she hopes comes across. "For me, when you are kind, it's contagious. I think this show, we've heard it before... is happening at the right time." Chenoweth says, "It's pure joy and that will be our message: pure joy... at a time where it cannot be, so we will make it be."

Photo Credit: NBC