‘Hairspray Live!’ Dance Auditions Set For Baltimore

NBC is set to hold an audition for those wanting to join the cast of the studio's upcoming live broadcast musical "Hairspray Live!," an adaptation of the 2002 Broadway musical of the same name which was in turn an adaptation of the original 1988 "Hairspray" film, on Baltimore in about two weeks.

It was way back in 1988 that the original "Hairspray" hit cinemas, bringing with it John Water's romantic and comedic take on the issues of the 1960's era America as well as the acceptance of confidence in body imagery.

Now almost three decades later, NBC is planning to reawaken the "Hairspray" fever with another adaptation of the cult classic film; only this time by combining elements of both Broadway production as well as film production by making the network's "Hairspray Live!" project a real time live broadcast.

As no "Hairspray" production will ever be complete without teenaged dancers letting it all loose on the in-universe "The Corny Collins Show," the people running the "Hairspray Live!" project have announced that they will be holding auditions for those wanting to join the live production.

The audition will take place right in the production's home in Baltimore, the Baltimore Sun reported. "Baltimore, Md. Is not only where "Hairspray Live" is planned to take place in front of a live audience and then broadcast to all the viewers around the country, it is also the actual setting used within the story which would make setting the production there all the more fitting when they sing "Good Morning Baltimore."

The auditions will begin at 10:30 a.m. on Sept. 15, though prospective dancers can begin lining up as early as 8 a.m. in front of the Hppodrome.

To fully join the "Hairspray Live!" cast and production, dances will have to impress none other than actress Maddie Baillio. Baillio, who will play lead character Tracy Turnblad on the production, will judge the auditions alongside Brooke Engen, the person in charge of hiring the dancers, and choreographer Jerry Mitchell.

The possibly hundreds of applicants will then be whittled down to three lucky finalists, with the name of the even luckier sole winner being announced on WBAL in the morning of Sept. 20.

Other than Baillio, the cast of "Hairspray Live!" also includes a host of other prolific stars. Jennifer Hudson will play Motormouth Maybelle, Harvey Fierstein will play Tracys mother as Edna Turnblad, Derek Hough will play Corny Collins, Martin Short will play Tracy's father and Edna's husband Wilbur Turnblad, Kristin Chenoweth will play the antagonistic Velma Von Tussle, Ariana Grande will Play Tracy's friend Penny Pingleton, and those are just some of the big names included in the production.

"Hairspray Live!" is planned to broadcast on Dec. 7 on NBC.