Casting a fresh face in the lead role has become something of a tradition for the NBC musicals, similar to the casting of Shanice Williams, another up-and-comer from New Jersey, as Dorothy Gale in last year’s The Wiz Live! In the adorable interview, the 20-year-old explained how she beat out 1,000 other hopefuls to don Tracy’s big hair! As for the television personalities of the show, Jennifer Hudson is set to play Motormouth Maybelle and Derek Hough will be the TV host, Corny Collins.
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Baillio is a sophomore at Marymount Manhattan College in NY. Baillio was named 2014 Great American Songbook Youth Ambassador and in 2015 performed with Michael Feinstein to capacity audiences at venues such as the Kennedy Center, the Grand 1894 Opera House, Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center and Birdland Jazz Club.
Hairspray takes place in Baltimore in the 1960s and follows Tracy as she pursues her quest to dance on TV, all the while breaking the mold. Kenny Leon is stage director, Craig Zadan and Neil Meron serve as executive producers, Jerry Mitchell will serve as choreographer with music and lyrics by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman.
Watch the heartwarming moment Baillio found out she was NBC’s new Tracy in a video via TODAY.
Hairspray, a film by John Waters starring Ricki Lake and Divine, premiered in 1988 and made its Broadway debut in 2002.
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NBC’s holiday tradition of live Broadway musicals continues this December with a production of “Hairspray”.
