HAIRSPRAY LIVE! to Close with Special Original Duet from Ariana Grande & Jennifer Hudson!

By: Nov. 16, 2016
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Today, HAIRSPRAY LIVE's Craig Zadan and Neil Meron revealed that the cast of the NBC live broadcast will take their bows to a new song performed live by cast members Ariana Grande and Jennifer Hudson!

The creative team explained, "We asked Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman to write a song for the end credits of the movie version called "Come So Far" about a decade ago but there was not a place for it. We listened to the song recently and thought 'boy, if you listen to these lyrics, it's so much about where the country is right now, and it looks back and looks forward at the same time."

They continue, "so we went to Marc and Scott and said, 'please figure out a way to use it and Harvey said 'I can't find a place in the show but what if we made that the big finale of the show?' So we came up with two of our cast members, Ariana Grande and Jennifer Hudson, to sing it and when you hear it, you'll fall on the floor!"

We can't wait!!

NBC's HAIRSPRAY LIVE will air Wednesday, Dec. 7 at 8 p.m. ET/PT and will originate from Los Angeles. The all-star cast will feature newcomer Maddie Baillio as Tracy Turnblad, Harvey Fierstein as Edna Turnblad, Jennifer Hudson as Motormouth Maybelle, Martin Short as Wilbur Turnblad, Derek Hough as Corny Collins, Ariana Grande as Penny Pingleton, Andrea Martin as Prudy Singleton and Kristin Chenoweth as Velma Von Tussle. Rosie O'Donnell and Sean Hayes will also make special appearances in the broadcast.

Live television director Alex Rudzinski will join director Kenny Leon ("The Wiz Live!"). Craig Zadan and Neil Meron (the upcoming "A Few Good Men Live!") serve as executive producers of "Hairspray Live!" Harvey Fierstein will provide a new teleplay and Jerry Mitchell ("Kinky Boots," "On Your Feet") will serve as choreographer for the live production with music and lyrics by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman ("Smash" and Broadway's upcoming "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory"). Derek McLane serves as production designer.

Based on the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical, "Hairspray Live!" takes place in 1962 Baltimore. Teenager Tracy Turnblad's dream is to dance on "The Corny Collins Show," a local TV program. When, against all odds, Tracy wins a role on the show, she becomes a celebrity overnight and meets a colorful array of characters, including the resident dreamboat, Link; the ambitious mean girl, Amber; an African-American boy she meets in detention, Seaweed; and his mother, Motormouth Maybelle, the owner of a local record store. Tracy's mother is the indomitable Edna Turnblad, and she eventually encourages Tracy on her campaign to integrate the all-white "Corny Collins Show."

Photo by: Andrew Eccles/NBC

Follow Caryn Robbins at @CarynRobbins



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