Kenny Leon’s award-winning eye for theater will return to television with the telecast of NBC’s fourth live musical event, “ Hairspray Live!”
Adapted from the 2002 Tony Award-winning Broadway production, which was based on the 1988 film, the network musical will feature an all-star ensemble cast including newcomer Maddie Baillio (as Tracy Turnblad), Ariana Grande (as Penny Pingleton), Jennifer Hudson (Motormouth Maybelle), Martin Short (Wilbur Turnblad), Harvey Fierstein (as Edna Turnblad) and special guest stars Sean Hayes (Mr. Pinky), Andrea Martin (Prudy Pingleton) and Rosie O’Donnell (as the gym teacher).
Following his success with “The Wiz Live!” the special marks Leon’s second directorial effort in the network’s franchise of live musical events. In speaking with The Huffington Post, the Tony Award winner said he’s extremely grateful to lead such a diverse musical, and said the special comes at a pivotal time in America.
“This is a musical piece that is about integration, and it’s about accepting each other for who we are,” he said. “Rather than focusing on your size, or your race, or your sexual orientation, we should just accept each human being for the beauty that they bring to the planet.”
He added, “So with ‘Hairspray,’ it’s fun, it’s funny, it’s exciting, and it has a great statement to make to the world. And I think we really need it now given this political climate, and given what’s happening to young African Americans all over the country, ‘Hairspray’ is a musical that says we as Americans we can do better.”
With Leon at helm, the NBC telecast will also implement elements from the original theater production by tapping choreographer Jerry Mitchell and composer Marc Shaiman, as well as Craig Zadan and Neil Meron who produced the 2007 motion picture remake of “Hairspray.” Leon added that the original plot will be told through the lens of modern events that “we’ve seen in the last few years in our country.”
In addition to revamping the award-winning production, Leon shared how he hopes to top his record-breaking ratings from “The Wiz Live!” The special drew 11.1 million viewers for its premiere date in December 2015, making it the network’s second most-watched live musical event behind “The Sound of Music Live!” in 2013 which brought in 18.6 million viewers, according to CNN.
“I want Americans to get out of living in fear and hate and go back to the peace and the love."”
- Kenny Leon
For Leon, his goal is to attract many more Americans to watch “Hairspray Live!”
“If you can get that many Americans ― cross generational and cross racial lines, and cross sexual identity lines ― to all sit down together and do something in real time together, that seems like an accomplishment in such a country where we have iPhones and iPads and so many other distractions.”
Leon also added how he hopes that his latest endeavor will make a vital statement to Americans.
“I think we are better than what we’ve been showing recently ― politically, socially, relationships with communities and policemen. I think we’re better than that,” he said. “I want Americans to get out of living in fear and hate and go back to the peace and the love. And I think ‘Hairspray’ would be a great motivational tool to bring it together to let us back in our beauty of being human, instead of that negative part of being human.”
In addition to “Hairspray Live!” Leon is also working on casting for the Broadway revival of “The Wiz.” The production is tentatively set to debut in October 2017.
“Hairspray Live!” airs on NBC on Dec. 7 at 8 p.m. EST.
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