The 'Dancing With the Stars' pro will play Corny Collins in the network's next live musical event.
Derek Hough is getting “Corny” in NBC’s new live musical event!
Before taking the Broadway stage in the Singin’ in the Rain revival next year, the Dancing With the Stars pro will play Baltimore TV host Corny Collins in the network’s live adaptation of Hairspray, it was announced on Wednesday.
“Hands down the best dancer on television and one of the best in the entertainment business, Derek Hough, will be perfect in the role of Corny Collins, the cocky song-and-dance-man who hosts the TV show every teenager in Baltimore wants to be on,” NBC Entertainment chairman Robert Greenblatt said in a press release.
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Saturday Night Live alum Martin Short will also star in the live musical event, as Wilbur Turnblad, husband to Harvey Fierstein’s Edna.
“We are very happy to have the inimitable Martin Short to play Edna’s loving husband, Wilbur,” Greenblatt added. “We welcome Marty to the network in May in his new variety show with Maya Rudolph and we think he will be the perfect long-term companion to Harvey’s Edna.”
Fierstein, who originated the role of Edna Turnblad in John Waters’ 1988 film and subsequent Broadway production and is also serving as the teleplay writer for the live adaptation, tweeted his excitement at the casting news on Wednesday.
“MARTY SHORT is gonna marry me!” the actor tweeted. “I am happy, I must say!”
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Jennifer Hudson has also joined the cast of Hairspray Live! -- which will be directed by The Wiz Live!’s Kenny Leon -- as Motormouth Maybelle, the R&B record producer and mother to Seaweed and Little Inez.
While we’re still waiting on casting news for the likes of Link Larkin, Seaweed, and Amber Von Tussle (and crossing our fingers for Nick Jonas, Bryshere Y. Gray, and Zendaya, respectively), NBC held an open casting call over the weekend for the lead role of Tracy Turnblad, seeing hundreds of young actresses hoping to belt “Good Morning Baltimore” over the musical’s opening credits.
Hairspray Live! airs Dec. 7 on NBC.
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