Special Photo Blog Exclusive #23: Marissa Jaret Winokur 'Dancing With The Stars' - Thank You!

Tony Award-winning star of Hairspray, Marissa Jaret Winokur, will be one of the contestants this season on "Dancing with the Stars."  When news broke of her involvement, she couldn't wait to share that experience with BroadwayWorld.com and its readers.  Marissa will be checking in from now until she wins (YAY!) or is eliminated (BOO!) with exclusive photos and a glimpse into what's going on as she takes on the other celebrities in the ultimate "dance off!"

Marissa says: "OMG! YOU SAVED ME AGAIN! Thank you. Thank you! The samba ended up being SOOOOOO much fun! I loved every second of it! I was so scared I was going to get voted off - I love that I "live" for one more week! Now we are learning the group number and our dance. This is so much fun! Thanks for being apart of it!

To vote for Marissa, Call: 1800-868-3409

"Dancing with the Stars" pairs twelve celebrities – six men and six women – with acclaimed dancers, and pits them against each other in attempts to outshine one another. Last season, viewers got a chance to size up the male vs. the female stars, as each gender hit the dance floor on separate nights during the first week of competition. Each week, one couple's fate is determined the following night.

The line-up of celebrities for Season 6 of "Dancing with the Stars" includes Tony Award-winner Marissa Jaret Winokur (Hairspray) and Priscilla Presley. The cast will also include former Olympic ice-skater Kristi Yamaguchi and Telenovela star Christian De La Fuente; plus actress Marlee Matlin and entertainer Penn Jillette; and radio jock Adam Carolla (dancing with Julianne Hough). Plus tennis champ Monica Seles, R&B singer Mario, actor Steve Guttenberg (3 Men and a Baby, Police Academy), Miami Dolphin Jason Taylor, actress Shannon Elizabeth (American Pie).Season 6 of "Dancing with the Stars" will premiere on ABC on Monday, March 17 in a special 2-hour episode. For more information visit ABC.com.

Marissa Jaret Winokur is best known for creating the role of "Tracy Turnblad" in the hit Broadway musical Hairspray, a performance for which she won a Tony Award, Drama Desk Award and an Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Actress. Winokur has since been seen in the Farrelly Brothers film Fever Pitch and the television series Stacked. She just finished filming the series lead in a new pilot called Fugly, for 20th Century Fox and CBS and is currently working as one of the leads in the Lifetime movie Betrayals.

Tristen ( in the middle) is my "handler" he totally rocks!
I love having him keep track of me...
with his hot friends.... wouldn't you?

Marissa Jaret Winokur: "My normal 'Win with Winokur Team"
minus Judah (he was late). But Ryan, Cathy Trien,  Lucy Lawless and
Adrian Zmed were there on time as usual! PS Judah had to work and I told
him he needs to save days off for when we have our sweet little baby.
 NOT for a dance show he can watch on TV ;)

Cathy Trien doing my dance! Mouth open and all!