Tony Winner Marissa Jaret Winokur to Return to Broadway's Hairspray

Broadway.com has learned that Marissa Jaret Winokur is returning to the role that won her a Tony Award. She will begin performances as lovable hair-hopper Tracy Turnblad in Hairspray on Broadway in early June for a limited run through mid-July. As we previously reported, current star Carly Jibson is leaving after the Sunday, May 29 matinee because of a curable vocal condition.

Winokur had one Broadway credit to her name Grease when she landed the role of Tracy Turnblad in the hit Broadway production of Hairspray. She earned great acclaim for her work in the show, winning the 2003 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical and a Theatre World Award. Since ending her run in the tuner in August of 2003, Winokur moved to Los Angeles and has been doing very well for herself. She starred in the highly-rated TV-movie Beautiful Girl, landed a featured role in the film Fever Pitch, had a recurring role in the series Jack & Bobby and appears as a major supporting player in the Pamela Anderson Fox comedy Stacked which was recently renewed for next season. In addition, Winokur headlined the national tour of Hairspray when it played at the Pantages Theatre in Los Angeles in summer of 2004.

Hairspray will continue to star Bruce Vilanch as Edna Turnblad, Todd Susman as Wilbur Turnblad, Richard H. Blake as Link Larkin, Chester Gregory II as Seaweed J. Stubbs, Jordan Ballard as Amber Von Tussle, Tracey Miller as Penny Pingleton, Mary Bond Davis as Motormouth Maybelle and Barbara Walsh as Velma Von Tussle.

As we previously reported, current understudy Shannon Durig is expected to assume the role full-time in the coming months.

A production spokesperson was unavailable for comment.