Tony Winner Marissa Jaret Winokur Headed for Dancing with the Stars

Marissa Jaret Winokur, the Tony Award-winning star of Hairspray, has signed on for the spring season of ABC's mega-hit Dancing with the Stars. The show will begin its sixth season on March 17. Winokur will be paired with Tony Dovolani, who danced with Jane Seymour in the most recent edition of the show. Jimmy Kimmel will interview Winokur on Jimmy Kimmel Live, airing February 21, and she will also appear on a forthcoming episode of Oprah Winfrey's talk show.

"I haven't been this excited about a job since Hairspray!" Winoker tells Broadway.com. "I'm the biggest fan of the show. I have watched every season. Last year, Matthew Morrison [Link Larkin to Winokur's Tracy Turnblad on Broadway] was crashing at my house and I made him watch it with me. After Sabrina [Bryan] did her dance, I turned to him and said, 'I want to do this.' He just laughed, 'cause he has danced with me. But I meant it. I begged ABC to let me do it."

"Part of me thinks I'm in it to win it—win with Winokur!" the bubbly actress continues. "The other part says to all my family, 'Come the first night in case I don't make it to the second show!' I hope to make Broadway proud, and someday come back and show off my ballroom dancing skills on Broadway."

Winokur has concentrated on film and TV work since leaving the hit Broadway musical, including playing the role of Katrina in the TV series Stacked as well as a leading role in the new CBS pilot Fugly. She was seen in the Farrelly brothers' film Fever Pitch and starred in the Lifetime movie Betrayals.

In addition to Winokur, the cast of 12 includes comedian and TV/radio personality Adam Carolla, Chilean-born film and TV star Cristian de la Fuente, actress Shannon Elizabeth, film star Steve Guttenberg, R&B/pop singer Mario, Oscar-winning actress Marlee Matlin, magician Penn Jillette, actress Priscilla Presley, tennis champ Monica Seles, football star Jason Taylor and Olympic gold medal-winning skater Kristi Yamaguchi.