Latest Broadway Buzz

Marissa Perry to Replace Shannon Durig as Tracy Turnblad in Hairspray

NEWS April 11, 2008 | 2:44PM

Broadway's Hairspray is getting a new Tracy Turnblad. Understudy Marissa Perry is replacing current star Shannon Durig in the leading role. Perry will begin performances at the Neil Simon Theatre on April 15.

"It still hasn't really hit me!" Perry told Broadway.com during her first "official shoe fitting" for her role. "It is one of my dream ...

Aaron Tveit Subbing for Ashley Parker Angel in Hairspray

NEWS April 2, 2008 | 5:17PM

Aaron Tveit has stepped into the role of Link Larkin in the Broadway company of Hairspray, a production spokesperson confirmed. Angel, the pop star who joined the show in January 2007, is out for an unspecified medical leave. He will return to the show later in the month.

Tveit, a Broadway.com Fresh Face for his co-starring role in recent ...

Karen Mason to Join Hairspray as Velma Von Tussle

NEWS March 31, 2008 | 8:55AM

Stage and cabaret star Karen Mason will join the Broadway company of Hairspray on April 8 as villainous station manager Velma Von Tussle, replacing Mary Birdsong. The hit musical continues its run at the Neil Simon Theatre.

Mason is also set to premiere her new cabaret show, "Right Here Right Now," in conjunction with the release of her new CD ...

Jenifer Lewis to Join Hairspray as Motormouth Maybelle

NEWS March 25, 2008 | 9:20AM

Stage and screen actress Jenifer Lewis will join the Broadway company of Hairspray on April 22 as Motormouth Maybelle. Lewis will replace Darlene Love, who has starred in the long-running musical at the Neil Simon Theatre since July 2005.

Lewis, who last appeared onstage in New York in the Public Theater's 2006 Central Park production of Mother Courage and ...

Hairspray and Sweeney Todd Movies Score Golden Globe Nominations

NEWS December 13, 2007 | 12:32PM

The big screen adaptations of the Broadway hits Hairspray and Sweeney Todd were both nominated in the category of Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy for the 65h Annual Golden Globe Awards. Across the Universe, the visionary musical from Lion King director Julie Taymor, also received a nomination in the category, which also includes non-musicals Charlie Wilson's War and ... Read More...

Cheers Star George Wendt to Play Edna in Hairspray

NEWS October 4, 2007 | 8:59AM

George Wendt, best known for his long run as bar regular Norm Peterson on TV's Cheers, will join the Broadway company of Hairspray as Edna Turnblad on October 23. Wendt will play the musical's matriarch until January 20, 2008 at the Neil Simon Theatre.

Wendt began his career in Chicago's Second City improv comedy troupe. He appeared ...

Ashley Spencer

FRESH FACE September 20, 2007 | 3:12PM

Age: 22

Currently: Making her Broadway debut as Hairspray's toxic blonde Amber von Tussle, after achieving national notoriety as first runner-up on the reality series Grease: You're The One That I Want.

Hometown: Canton, Ohio

At the Ballet: Spencer spent her early childhood studying dance and joined a local ballet company at age 10. She felt she'd ...

Jim J. Bullock Returns to Broadway's Hairspray as Wilbur Turnblad

NEWS September 14, 2007 | 4:39PM

Sitcom star and game show personality Jim J. Bullock will replace Jerry Mathers in Hairspray. He will start performances in the role of Wilbur Turnblad on Tuesday, September 18 at the Neil Simon Theatre.

Bullock formerly appeared in the Broadway company of Hairspray in various roles including Harriman F. Spritzer, Mr. Pinky and the high school principal. He also understudied ...

Michele Pawk Signs On at Broadway's Hairspray

NEWS August 20, 2007 | 5:33PM

Tony Award winner Michele Pawk will join the Broadway cast of Hairspray as Velma Von Tussle on August 21. She succeeds Isabel Keating in the role of the conniving TV producer and mom of Tracy Turnblad's rival, Amber at the Neil Simon Theatre.

Pawk received a Tony Award for best featured actress for Carol Burnett's play Hollywood Arms ...

You Can't Stop the Beat! Hairspray, From Hollywood to Broadway and Back Again

NEWS July 26, 2007 | 2:35PM

From Hollywood to Broadway and back again, Hairspray has taken the world by storm. Building off the childhood memories of provocateur filmmaker John Waters, a host of visionary collaborators have invented and reinvented the work, and the result is three very unique incarnations.

Earning significant dollars and fans every step of the way, the sweetly rousing story has launched a ... Read More...