Jenifer Lewis Joins 'Hairspray' Cast 4/22

The producers of Hairspray have announced that Jenifer Lewis will join the Broadway company on Tuesday, April 22, in the role of Motormouth Maybelle at Broadway's Neil Simon Theatre, 250 West 52 Street.   (Darlene Love plays Motormouth through Sunday, April 20.)

Jenifer Lewis is currently starring in the hit film Meet the Browns, directed by Tyler Perry, and she recently starred as Lana Hawkins in the hit Lifetime series "Strong Medicine."  She has garnered two Image Award nominations for Best Supporting Actress for her performances in the Tina Turner biopic, What's Love Got to Do With It?, and in the romantic comedy, The Preacher's Wife, with Denzel Washington and Whitney Houston.  Overall, Ms. Lewis has appeared in over 60 feature films and over 70 television series displaying her talent as both a dramatic actress and comedic star.  Her other film credits include Antwone Fisher, directed by Denzel Washington; Corinna, Corrina with Whoopi Goldberg; Renaissance Man; Sister Act; Dead Presidents; Poetic Justice; and Castaway with Tom Hanks.  She has also lent her voice to characters in several animated features including DreamWorks' Shark Tale, and Disney's Cars. She will next voice Mama Odie in the upcoming Disney feature The Princess and the Frog.  Ms. Lewis's television credits include appearances on "Friends," "Touched by an Angel," "Murphy Brown," "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air," and "The Cosby Show."  Her Broadway credits include Eubie and Comin' Uptown.  She resides in Los Angeles with her adopted daughter.

In Hairspray it's 1962—the '50s are out and change is in the air. Baltimore's Tracy Turnblad, a big girl with big hair and an even bigger heart, has only one passion—to dance.  She wins a spot on the local TV dance program, "The Corny Collins Show" and, overnight, is transformed from outsider to irrepressible teen celebrity.  But can a plus-size trendsetter in dance and fashion vanquish the program's reigning princess, win the heart of heartthrob Link Larkin, and integrate a television show without denting her 'do?  Only in Hairspray!  Welcome to the '60s!

Hairspray is based on the New Line Cinema film written and directed by John Waters, who serves as a creative consultant on the musical comedy.  It features a book by Mark O'Donnell and Thomas Meehan, and a score by five-time Academy Award nominee Marc Shaiman (who co-wrote the music and lyrics for the acclaimed animated musical, South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut) and lyrics by Shaiman and Scott Wittman.  Hairspray is directed by Jack O'Brien and choreographed by Jerry Mitchell; scenic design is by David Rockwell; costume design is by William Ivey Long; lighting design is by Kenneth Posner; and sound design is by Steve C. Kennedy.

Hairspray, which celebrated its fifth anniversary on Broadway in August 2007, is the winner of eight 2003 Tony Awards, including best musical, best actor (Harvey Fierstein), best actress (Marissa Jaret Winokur), best featured actor (Dick Latessa), best score (Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman), best book (Mark O'Donnell and Thomas Meehan), best director (Jack O'Brien), and best costume design (William Ivey Long).  Hairspray also swept every one of the year's best musical awards, winning, in addition to the Tony, the New York Drama Critics Circle Award, the Drama Desk Award, the Outer Critics Circle Award, and the Drama League Award.

Hairspray is produced by Margo Lion; Adam Epstein; The Baruch×Viertel×Routh×Frankel Group; James D. Stern/Douglas L. Meyer; Rick Steiner/Frederic H. Mayerson; SEL & GFO; New Line Cinema, in association with Live Nation; A. Gordon/E. McAllister; D. Harris/M. Swinsky; J. & B. Osher.

Hairspray plays Tuesday and Thursday at 7pm; Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday at 8pm; Wednesday and Saturday at 2pm; Sunday at 3pm, at Broadway's Neil Simon Theatre, 250 West 52 Street.

For ticket information, phone Ticketmaster at 212-307-4100, or for group sales, phone 212-302-7000 or 800-677-1164.  Hairspray offers the ShowTrans system for foreign-speaking audience members in the following languages: French, Japanese, Portuguese, and Spanish.  Same-day, lottery tickets are sold at the box office for seats in the first row of the orchestra.  For more information about Hairspray, please consult the Hairspray website at www.hairsprayonbroadway.com.