Run & Tell That! Hairspray Tapped as NBC's Next Live Telecast

We can hear the bells…on NBC! The Peacock network may bring the 2002 Tony-winning musical Hairspray to the small screen as its 2016 live broadcast. According to multiple reports, the announcement was made by network honcho Bob Greenblatt at the Television Critics Association press tour.

The musical event would be the most contemporary choice from executive producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, following their presentations of The Wiz, Peter Pan and The Sound of Music. The pair also produced the 2007 movie adaptation, which starred Nikki Blonsky and John Travolta.

Based on the 1988 John Waters' film of the same name, Hairspray follows plus-sized teenager Tracy Turnblad in 1960s Baltimore as she attempts to become a cast member of The Corny Collins Show, a popular local dance TV series. Tracy soon finds herself leading a civil rights campaign to integrate the show.

Featuring music by Marc Shaiman, lyrics by Scott Wittman and Shaiman and a book by Mark O'Donnell and Thomas Meehan, the original Broadway production opened in August 2002 and ran for 2,642 performances. The Marissa Jaret Winokur and Harvey Fierstein-led show took home eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical.