So because your memory of the original cast is still fresh then that means that the best person for the job (a performance many of us didn't get to see) shouldn't get the job? That's great logic.
How about Will Ferrell for Wilburt? The casting possibilities for this one are truly exciting. Now that so many people have brought her up, I don't wanna see anyone else but Jane Krakowski as Velma. She would fit right into Waters' world. I agree with Kad that this should be cast with comedic actors all around. How about Sarah Hyland for Amber?
One cool aspect of casting Ben Stiller as Edna is that his father Jerry was the only actor to appear in both Hairspray films (as Wilbur in the original and Mr. Pinky in the musical film). It's a nice tie-in. Plus I think he would be hilarious.
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/25/14
I'm hoping that with this production NBC will take some tips from Grease Live and its inclusion of a live audience.
My casting choices:
Tracy- Unknown
Link- Nick Jonas or basically any current popular teenage male in his early 20's or late teens
Edna- Harvey Fierstein, James Corden, or Ben Stiller
Velma- Jane Krakowski or Kristin Chenoweth
Seaweed- Jordan Fisher
Female Authority Figure- Jackie Hoffman
Corny Collins- Matthew Morrison, Zac Efron, or NPH
Motormouth Maybelle- Patti LaBelle
I wonder if Jerry Mitchell's choreography will be used or adapted and how much of the staging- costumes, sets ect. will be like the Broadway production.
What about Alec Baldwin as Edna and Steve Martin as Wilbur?
Broadway Star Joined: 2/21/04
I dread the thought of Latifah being cast in yet another musical. If they want a true gospel belt for Maybelle, they'd go with Kelly Price, Yolanda Adams or Tichina Arnold.
Updated On: 1/21/16 at 11:34 PM
I dread it too because Queen's performance of IKWIB Live has always been subpar, Get somebody who can really belt it out and take it to church!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1AzWdo3fZw
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/18/03
Eleven more months of this thread and I already have a heard from it... There is some FOOLISHNESS on this thread. Luckily no one here is in charge of the production!
Leading Actor Joined: 1/23/12
Unless they can recruit Travolta to dress up in drag again, I've got zero interest in watching this production.
Dream World
Tracy - Unknown
Edna - James Corden (why has no one suggested him, he proved he can sing and he's hilarious)
Wilbur - Will Farrell?
Penny - Ariana Grande
Amber - Some Disney star
Link - Nick Jonas, Ryan McCartan
Velma - Jane Krakowski, Idina Menzel, or even Lady Gaga?
Corny - Neil Patrick Harris
Motormouth - Jennifer Hudson
Prudy - Jackie Hoffmann
(Honestly, hate on me but some of these are stretches but all this is are money grabs to try to get views and a lot of these will bring in viewers due to their star powers. But, regardless couldn't be anymore excited for this live production!)
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/22/03
I will watch no thing James Corden is involved in. LUCKILY he's too busy on his CBS s-itshow to go work at NBC.
Broadway Star Joined: 11/9/10
I would love to see:
John Goodman-Edna
Catherine Zeta-Jones-Velma
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/18/11
Stop with Annaleigh Ashford. A 30-year old woman playing a teenager? I'm hoping for somehing a bit more authentic.
Tracy Turnblad - Melissa McCarthy
Edna Turnblad - Harvey Fierstein
Wilbur Turnblad - Michael Douglas
Amber Von Tussell - Diane Lane
Velma Von Tussell - Faye Dunaway
Link Larkin - Matthew McConaughey
Corny Collins - Ryan Seacrest
Motormouth Maybelle - Cicely Tyson
Seaweed - Denzel Washington
Penny Pingleton - Jane Krakowski
CarlosAlberto said: "Tracy Turnblad - Melissa McCarthy
Edna Turnblad - Harvey Fierstein
Wilbur Turnblad - Michael Douglas
Amber Von Tussell - Diane Lane
Velma Von Tussell - Faye Dunaway
Link Larkin - Matthew McConaughey
Corny Collins - Ryan Seacrest
Motormouth Maybelle - Cicely Tyson
Seaweed - Denzel Washington
Penny Pingleton - Jane Krakowski
"
Yeah, maybe if this was being done 15 years ago. All of those except for Corny and Edna are totally unrealistic. Melissa McCarthy certainly doesn't look like a teenager.
Broadway Star Joined: 11/10/15
Broadway Star Joined: 7/29/12
After Grease Live! NBC better step it up for Hairspray. It really was cool seeing a full, 360 sets in Grease as opposed to The Wiz live's proscenium setup. Felt more like a live production. Also loved the end going into "We Go Together" with the trams. It just FELT fun. Hairspray has so much energy and I would love to see them really step it up this year and be innovative like Grease.
Emily Osmet has been approached about Amber I've been told.
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/2/14
The proscenium set-up for "The Wiz" made sense since the production is transferring to Broadway, and I haven't seen "Grease" yet but I could see "Hairspray" using a style more to "Grease" considering the musical is partly set on a television show.
I'm really hoping they'll start making casting decisions soon! Hopeful they choose a few more Broadway performers than The Wiz had!
This is a safe ass move. Smells to me like the execs at NBC saw FOX was doing Grease and then thought: what's the musical that's closest to Grease and they picked Hairspray...and the for Craig Zadon and Neil Merin to be so damned lazy to do it after producing the film version a mere 7 years ago?!?!?!
Lazy lazy lazy .... Doing this after Grease Live smacks of predictability and it's not pushing the envelope...:
LAME!
CarlosAlberto said: "and the for Craig Zadon and Neil Merin to be so damned lazy to do it after producing the film version a mere 7 years ago?!?!?!
Lazy lazy lazy .... Doing this after Grease Live smacks of predictability and it's not pushing the envelope...:
They are LOUSY producers, what do you expect?
Updated On: 2/3/16 at 10:54 PM
CarlosAlberto said: "This is a safe ass move. Smells to me like the execs at NBC saw FOX was doing Grease and then thought: what's the musical that's closest to Grease and they picked Hairspray...and the for Craig Zadon and Neil Merin to be so damned lazy to do it after producing the film version a mere 7 years ago?!?!?! Lazy lazy lazy .... Doing this after Grease Live smacks of predictability and it's not pushing the envelope...: LAME! "
When this production airs, the movie will have been released in theaters 9 and a half years earlier.
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