Cheers Star George Wendt to Play Edna in Hairspray

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 on Broadway in 1998 in Yasmina Reza's Art and was recently part of the national touring cast of Twelve Angry Men as jury foreman Juror One alongside Richard Thomas.

The Broadway cast of Hairspray currently includes Paul Vogt as Edna Turnblad, Shannon Durig as Tracy Turnblad, Ashley Parker Angel as Link Larkin, Lance Bass as Corny Collins, Niki Scalera as Penny Pingleton, Jim J. Bullock as Wilbur Turnblad, Tevin Campbell as Seaweed J. Stubbs, Darlene Love as Motormouth Maybelle, Ashley Spencer as Amber Von Tussle, Michele Pawk as Velma Von Tussle and Susan Mosher as Prudy Pingleton.