Jennifer Hudson, Ariana Grande and Martin Short are just a few of the stars of HAIRSPRAY LIVE! which will air on NBC tonight. Below, Derek Hough sends viewers a video message from the cast's final run-through!
NBC's HAIRSPRAY LIVE airs tonight, Wednesday, Dec. 7 at 8 p.m. ET/PT and will originate from Los Angeles. The all-star cast will feature newcomer
Maddie Baillio as Tracy Turnblad,
Harvey Fierstein as
Edna Turnblad,
Jennifer Hudson as Motormouth Maybelle,
Martin Short as Wilbur Turnblad,
Derek Hough as Corny Collins,
Ariana Grande as Penny Pingleton,
Andrea Martin as Prudy Singleton and
Kristin Chenoweth as Velma Von Tussle. Rosie O'Donnell and
Sean Hayes will also make special appearances in the broadcast.
Live television director
Alex Rudzinski will join director
Kenny Leon ("The Wiz Live!").
Craig Zadan and
Neil Meron (the upcoming "A Few Good Men Live!") serve as executive producers of "Hairspray Live!"
Harvey Fierstein will provide a new teleplay and
Jerry Mitchell ("Kinky Boots," "On Your Feet") will serve as choreographer for the live production with music and lyrics by
Marc Shaiman and
Scott Wittman ("Smash" and Broadway's upcoming "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory").
Derek McLane serves as production designer.
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."
