Harvey Fierstein Reacts to HAIRSPRAY:LIVE Casting: 'She's Back in the Girdle Again!'

It was also announced yesterday that Jennifer Hudson, currently making her Broadway debut in THE COLOR PURPLE, will take on the role of Motormouth Mable in the NBC production. Check out Hudson's reaction below:

As an actor, Fierstein is a member of an elite group who have won Tonys as Best Actor in a Musical ("Hairspray") and Best Actor in a Play (for his own "Torch Song Trilogy"). As a writer, Fierstein won Tonys for "La Cage Aux Folles" and "Torch Song Trilogy," and received three more Tony nominations for writing "Kinky Boots," "Newsies" and "Casa Valentina." His adaptation of "Funny Girl" is currently running, along with "Kinky Boots," in London.

Based on the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical, "Hairspray Live!" takes place in 1962 Baltimore. 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 Turnblad, and she eventually encourages Tracy on her campaign to integrate the all-white "Corny Collins Show."