Edna Turnblad Videos

On this morning's TODAY it was announced that newcomer Maddie Baillio has been cast as teenager Tracy Turnblad in NBC's HAIRSPRAY LIVE. Harvey Fierstein, who will reprise his Tony Award-winning role as Edna Turnblad, introduced his fictional daughter and shared that he is currently working on the script which he says may be a little different than the film and stage version of the show. BroadwayWorld met with Baillio this morning at 30 Rock, where the star-to-be opened up about how she landed the role, her reaction upon receiving the news and more!

Happy Birthday, Harvey Fierstein! In addition to Torch Song Trilogy, La Cage aux Folles and A Catered Affair, Fierstein's Broadway acting credits include playing the mother, Edna Turnblad in Hairspray (2002), for which he won a Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Musical. He later replaced Alfred Molina as Tevye in the 2004 revival of Fiddler on the Roof. Fierstein returned to the theatre when he toured as Tevye, replacing Chaim Topol in Fiddler on the Roof starting in December 2009. On February 15, 2011, he replaced Douglas Hodge as Albin/Zaza in the Broadway revival of La Cage aux Folles playing opposite Christopher Sieber. He is nominated for a 2012 Tony Award for the book of Newsies.

There are still many parts yet to be cast (or at least announced), including the star of the show, Tracy Turnblad. Hundreds of girls turned up for an open call over the weekend to show Telsey + Company what they could do. Below, hear from some of the ladies and from casting director Bernie Telsey himself!

The HAIRSPRAY UK tour is currently playing at Cambridge Corn Exchange, through February 20, and will soon move on to Edinburgh Playhouse. Below, watch as the cast performed a rousing 'I Know Where I've Been.'

The international smash hit musical comedy Hairspray the Musical returns in a brand new production, touring the UK from September 2015. Baltimore, 1962. Tracy Turnblad is a big girl with big hair and an even bigger dream: to dance her way onto national TV, and into the heart of teen idol Link Larkin. Tracy's audition makes her a local star and soon she is using her new-found fame to fight for integration. But can she win equality - and Link's heart - without denting her 'do? Starring Tony Maudsley (ITV1's Benidorm) as Edna Turnblad, Claire Sweeney (Educating Rita, Chicago) as Velma Von Tussle, Peter Duncan (Blue Peter, Tumble), and Brenda Edwards (Chicago, We Will Rock You, X Factor) as Motormouth Maybelle. Freya Sutton will reprise the role of Tracy Turnblad alongside Jon Tsouras as Corny Collins, Dex Lee as Seaweed, Ashley Gilmour as Link Larkin and Layton Williams (Bad Education, Billy Elliot) as Duane.

The Muny is currently presenting Hairspray, winner of the 2003 Tony® Award for Best Musical, featuring music by Marc Shaiman & Scott Wittman with a book by Mark O'Donnell & Thomas Meehan. The Muny's production of Hairspray is directed and choreographed by Dan Knechtges and music directed by Charlie Alterman. Starring as Edna Turnblad is stage and screen vet Bryan Batt, who recently sat down the executive producer and artistic director Mike Isaacson and opened up about his career and taking on the role - check out the interview below!

The Muny is currently presenting Hairspray, winner of the 2003 Tony® Award for Best Musical, featuring music by Marc Shaiman & Scott Wittman with a book by Mark O'Donnell & Thomas Meehan. The Muny's production of Hairspray is directed and choreographed by Dan Knechtges and music directed by Charlie Alterman. Check out a first look at the cast of the starry summer production below!

Happy Birthday, Harvey Fierstein! In addition to Torch Song Trilogy, La Cage aux Folles and A Catered Affair, Fierstein's Broadway acting credits include playing the mother, Edna Turnblad in Hairspray (2002), for which he won a Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Musical. He later replaced Alfred Molina as Tevye in the 2004 revival of Fiddler on the Roof. Fierstein returned to the theatre when he toured as Tevye, replacing Chaim Topol in Fiddler on the Roof starting in December 2009. On February 15, 2011, he replaced Douglas Hodge as Albin/Zaza in the Broadway revival of La Cage aux Folles playing opposite Christopher Sieber. He is nominated for a 2012 Tony Award for the book of Newsies.

Stage star Michael Ball has just released a holiday greeting to fans featuring his very own superstar pets, Ollie and Freddie. Check it out below!

Below, Ball gives BroadwayWorld a special shoutout at the Spamalot press night!

Hale Centre Theatre presents the Tony-winning musical HAIRSPRAY, now playing through Aug 24th 2013 on Thursdays at 7:00PM, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30pm, and Saturday afternoons at 3PM. Prices are $15 for children(ages 6-12), $20 for students, and $25 for adults. Click below for a behind-the-scenes peak at HAIRSPRAY!

Star of stage and television Brian Conley will host WEST END HEROES at the Dominion Theatre on Sunday 23 June at 7.30PM. The gala concert, in aid of the charity HELP FOR HEROES, will celebrate the UK's finest military musicians and the greatest West End shows and show-stopping numbers, supported by a 50 piece orchestra from the CENTRAL BAND OF THE ROYAL AIR FORCE. Click below to watch behind-the-scenes footage of the show's photocall!

In New York City in 2004, a fun and raunchy little Broadway musical called Avenue Q escalated to stardom across the entertainment industry, nabbing the Tony Award for Best Musical. Leading the way was Best Actor nominee, John Tartaglia, who then went on to grace NY stages in Beauty and the Beast and Shrek: The Musical. Now, fans and audiences of the multi-talented comedian can anticipate his breakthrough performance into the world of feature films as John plays 'Dale,' the quirky manager of an offbeat retirement home in the upcoming Silent But Deadly. The comedy/horror will be screening as an Official Selection of the 8th annual Hoboken International Film Festival at the Paramount Theatre in Middletown, NY this evening, June 5, 2013. Check out the trailer below!

The 2013 Olivier Awards 2013 took place on April 28, hosted by Sheridan Smith and Hugh Bonneville, at the Royal Opera House. For a full list of this year's winners, click here, and below, watch Michael Ball perform 'Love Changes Everything' with the Arts Ed choir at the awards show!

In New York City in 2004, a fun and raunchy little Broadway musical called Avenue Q escalated to stardom across the entertainment industry, nabbing the Tony Award for Best Musical. Leading the way was Best Actor nominee, John Tartaglia, who then went on to grace NY stages in Beauty and the Beast and Shrek: The Musical. Now, fans and audiences of the multi-talented comedian can anticipate his breakthrough performance into the world of feature films as John plays 'Dale,' the quirky manager of an offbeat retirement home in the upcoming Silent But Deadly. The comedy/horror will be screening as an Official Selection of the 8th annual Hoboken International Film Festival at the Paramount Theatre in Middletown, NY on the evening of June 5, 2013. Check out the trailer below!

Olivier Award winner, multi-platinum recording artist and popular TV host and radio presenter Michael Ball sang 'Love Changes Everything' from ASPECTS OF LOVE backstage at BBC Radio 2 recently - view the performance below!

Broadway veteran Michael Ball will release a new studio album, also titled 'Both Sides Now' in addition to launching a UK tour in spring 2013. Both the tour and the album will comprise of 2 halves, encompassing Michael's biggest hits from both his recorded and stage careers including 'Suddenly' from the new film version of LES MISERABLES and 'The Perfect Song' by Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Birmingham Hippodrome has announced details of one of its busiest years ever, with no fewer than three West End blockbusters, a ballet premiere, new opera productions and the return of several popular favourites. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the season in the video below.

3-D Theatricals presents the final show of its 2012 season, the Tony Award-winning musical HAIRSPRAY, choreography by Dana Solimando, musical direction by Allen Everman, and directed by 3-D Theatricals Executive Producer and Artistic Director T.J. Dawson. HAIRSPRAY began performances on Friday, October 12, and performs through Sunday, October 28 at the historic Plummer Auditorium, 201 E. Chapman Ave. in Fullerton. HAIRSPRAY will then travel across town to perform at the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center, 1935 Manhattan Beach Blvd. for three performances only November 2-4. Get a look behind the scenes with HAIRSPRAY's cast and creative team in the video below!

In New York City in 2004, a fun and raunchy little Broadway musical called Avenue Q escalated to stardom across the entertainment industry, nabbing the Tony Award for Best Musical. Leading the way was Best Actor nominee, John Tartaglia, who then went on to grace NY stages in Beauty and the Beast and Shrek: The Musical. Now, fans and audiences of the multi-talented comedian can anticipate his breakthrough performance into the world of feature films as John plays "Dale," the quirky, offbeat, a-sexual manager of a spooky retirement home in the upcoming comedy/horror Hotel Arthritis. Watch the official trailer below!