The musical is back for its third rendition in Hairspray Live! featuring a brand-new cast of today’s most talented dancers, singers and actors. The television special airs Dec. 7 on NBC at 8/7c, but before you tune in, take a trip down memory lane with us. Let’s take a look at who has played each character throughout the years.
Amber Von Tussle
Originally played by Colleen Ann Fitzpatrick, aka the singer Vitamin C (who sings your favorite graduation song from 1999), followed by Pitch Perfect star Brittany Snow in 2007, Von Tussle will be played by Disney Channel star Dove Cameron in the Live! version.
Corny Collins
The movie’s television show host was originally played by director Shawn Thompson, followed by Westworld star James Marsden, and will be played by Dancing with the Stars cutie Derek Hough.
Edna Turnblad
Keeping the tradition going, the Hairspray TV adaptation’s writer Harvey Fierstein will play Edna Turnblad, who was previously played by John Travolta and originally Divine.
Link Larkin
The film’s hunk was originally played by Elvis look-alike Michael St. Gerard, followed by Hollywood hunk Zac Efron, and will now be played by rising star Garrett Clayton.
Little Inez
Cyrkle Milbourne was the original actress to play Little Inez in the 1988 version, followed by actress Taylor Parks in 2007. Broadway triple threat Shahadi Wright Joseph will take over the role for the television adaptation.
Motormouth Maybelle
Ruth Brown was the first actress to take on the role of Motormouth Maybelle in 1988, followed by Queen Latifah in 2007, and now Grammy and Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson will take over for the Live! version.
Mr. Pinky
First played by Cry-Baby star Alan J. Wendl, comedic sensation Jerry Stiller took over in 2007, and Will & Grace’s Sean Hayes will play the store owner for the TV version.
Penny Pingleton
Tracy Turnblad’s pigtailed best friend was first played by Leslie Ann Powers in 1988, followed by your fave one-time Nickelodeon star Amanda Bynes in 2007, and now pop star Ariana Grande will be picking up the role for the 2016 version.
Prudy Pingleton
Joann Havrilla was the first actress to play Prudy Pingleton in 1988, followed by Emmy winner Allison Janney in 2007, and now Hollywood veteran Andrea Martin will take on the role for the TV special.
Seaweed J. Stubbs
Seaweed was first played by Another World star Clayton Prince, followed by Elijah Kelley, and now Ephraim Sykes of Broadway’s Hamilton will be playing Penny Pingleton’s love interest in the 2016 television special.
Tracy Turnblad
Cry-Baby’s Ricki Lake was the first actress to play the bubbly Tracy Turnblad in 1988, followed by Nikki Blonsky in 2007 and Maddie Baillio in 2016 — which happened to be both actresses’ breakout roles.
Velma Von Tussle
Velma Von Tussle was first played by Blondie lead singer Debbie Harry. Michelle Pfeiffer rocked the role in 2007, and now Velma will be played by Wicked‘s Kristin Chenoweth.
Wilbur Turnblad
Originally played by Jerry Stiller, Christopher Walken took over the role of Wilbur Turnblad for the 2007 remake, and celebrated actor Martin Short will play the father figure in Live!
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