'Hairspray Live' Welcomes Ariana Grande as Penny Pingleton
Ariana Granda has been cast in NBC's upcoming Hairspray Live, NBC announced on Thursday. The Grammy-winning artist will take on the role of Peny Pingleton.
"Penny has been a dream role since Hairspray opened on Broadway," tweeted Ariana Grande. The role was most recently played by Amanda Bynes in the 2007 film.
"Hope to make you proud," Grande also tweeted to Kerry Butler, who played Penny in the 2002 Broadway production.
"We're absolutely thrilled to round out our all-star Hairspray Live!cast with Ariana Grande, one of the biggest recording artists in the world," NBC Entertainment chairman Robert Greenblatt said in a statement. "She's also a Broadway baby at heart, having debuted on Broadway when she was 15, and will be fantastic in the delightful role of Penny Pingleton. We look forward to her millions of fans seeing yet another side to this multifaceted performer and we welcome her to this incredible ensemble of artists."
Grande joins several other stars including Jennifer Hudson as Motormouth Maybelle, Harvey Fierstein as Edna Turnblad, Derek Hough as Corny Collins, Martin Short as Wilbur Turnblad, Kristin Chenoweth as Velma Von Tussle, and newcomer Maddie Baillio as Tracy Turnblad.
The roles of Link Larkin, Seaweed, and Amber Von Tussle have yet to be cast.
