Mark Kaufman News

17 year-old Nikki Blonsky of Great Neck, NY was announced for the role of heavyset heroine Tracy Turnblad in the upcoming film version of Hairspray on tonight's 'Entertainment Tonight'

After a year-long search across America, Canada, England and Australia, Entertainment Tonight will exclusively reveal, in a special report, the girl who will star as Tracy Turnblad in the movie musical of Hairspray.

Amanda Bynes has been cast as Penny Pingleton in the upcoming film version of Hairspray

The runaway success of Disney Channel's 'High School Musical,' the sound track from which has hit the No. 1 spot on the Billboard pop-music charts twice this year, has renewed interest in the teen musical genre -- and among the musical productions benefiting is 'In Your Dreams,' a musical written and produced by Miramax-linked screenwriter Zeke Farrow and scored by Marc Shaiman-protégé Lucian Piane.

According to 'Entertainment Tonight,' Billy Crystal will star opposite John Travolta as Wilbur Turnblad in the film version of Hairspray

John Travolta and Queen Latifah have signed on to star in New Line Cinema's upcoming feature film adaptation of the hit Broadway musical 'Hairspray.'

The previously-announced nationwide casting search for the film version of Hairspray will come to Atlanta, New York and Chicago