The casting for the new #HairsprayLive is rolling out and the role we were most curious about was that of “Motormouth Maybelle. Well, we’ve gotten the word and the current Broadway star of The Color Purple, Jennifer Hudson will follow in the footsteps of Queen Latifah as the rhyming & jivin’ Motormouth set to air December 7th at 8pm.rnrnWe’re loving that Hudson is living the full dream in great musicals. From her Oscar-winning performance in “Dreamgirls”, to starring on Broadway as “Shug Avery”, and now this? We’re extremely happy to see what she does in the role. She is suited for television and what’s better than a televised musical for someone of her caliber? Nothing.rnrn
rnrnShe is joined by Harvey Fierstein who will reprise his Tony Award-winning role as “EdnaTurnblade”, he is also writing the teleplay, as he did for #TheWizLive.rn
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.”
rnJoining the creative team will be acclaimed television director Alex Rudzinski, who slayed the television direction of “Grease Live!” He will accompany and partner with stage director Kenny Leon. This is all getting very intersting.rnrn”Hairspray Live!” reunites Hudson with executive producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, who worked with her previously on NBC’s “Smash.”
[…] and Tell That” (Hairspray, […]
I’m just happy that Jennifer finally stopped wearing those ridiculous long straight white girl weaves. She looks so much better with her own hair.
So I just want to say, as HAPPY as I am for JHud getting this honor, I mean Motor Mouth is ICONIC, I’m still shocked that Hairspray is getting done. I mean I was hoping these “Live” shows were going to be more for shows that people have kinda forgotten. I mean when they did the “Sound of Music”, that was an OLD show (and Audra was the best part about it, let’s be honest) and then we had “The Wiz”, black magic that although was always in the back mind of many black theatre lovers or lovers of the movie, hadn’t been in the forefront for a while so again that makes sense. “Peter Pan” the “Live” version didn’t make much sense to me as far as the choices go BUT the show was done in it’s original film context and it was old. Grease was also a classic and iconic, never really forgotten but old enough that a “Live” version didn’t bug me. Even Fox coming out with Rocky Horror the cult classic, although there are many shadowcasts, the fact that they’re going to put it on TV to show the stage version (although more than likely edited because of the overtly sexual content-still don’t know how Fox is getting away with this one) . Hairspray just feels like…”so soon?” What’s next Les Miserables Live? Mama Mia Live? The Phantom of the opera Live? I think the “LIVE” shows should be more for theatre that’s got some dust on it (old) or didn’t get a lot of play…like The Scottsborro boys…I would love to see a LIVE like that on TV, because the run was so short and the show was so amazing and it would educate people! I’m happy though, I just feel like “wow, so soon?” I must admit though JHud in it has fascinated about it because the other actors/actresses will have to vocally keep up with her so the casting SHOULD be on point!
So