EMMY- AND TONY AWARD-WINNING ACTRESS ANDREA MARTIN JOINS ALL-STAR ‘HAIRSPRAY LIVE!’ CAST

Martin to Make Special Appearance as Overprotective Mom Prudy Pingleton Alongside Sean Hayes and Rosie O’Donnell in All-Star Telecast Set for Wednesday, Dec. 7

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. — Aug. 18, 2016 — Two-time Emmy and Tony Award winner Andrea Martin has been added to the all-star cast of NBC’s “Hairspray Live!,” set for 8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 7, as part of the stellar line-up that includes Harvey Fierstein, Jennifer Hudson, Ariana Grande, Kristin Chenoweth, Martin Short, Derek Hough, Dove Cameron, Garrett Clayton, exciting newcomer Maddie Baillio, and special guest stars Sean Hayes and Rosie O’Donnell.

Martin will play Prudy Pingleton, Penny Pingleton’s (Ariana Grande) overprotective and often close-minded mother who doesn’t approve of her daughter being best friends with a rebel like Tracy Turnblad.

Martin has received more Tony and Drama Desk Award nominations as a featured actress in a musical than any other actress. She most recently won both awards for the 2013 production of “Pippin.” Beginning with “My Favorite Year” in 1993, for which she won both awards as well, Martin has also been Tony nominated for “Young Frankenstein,” “Oklahoma!,” “Candide” and “Noises Off.”

For her work on the iconic Canadian-based comedy series “SCTV,” Martin won two Emmy Awards for writing and received an Emmy nomination for Best Actress in a Variety series. Her additional television credits include “My Big Fat Greek Life,” “Nurse Jackie” and “Difficult People.” She is the recipient of three American Comedy Award nominations for several cable specials, including her own “Andrea Martin Together Again” for Showtime.

Her many film credits include “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” and its sequel, “Hedwig and the Angry Inch,” “Wag the Dog” and “Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb.”

Martin is set to co-star in NBC’s midseason comedy “Great News,” in which she plays an overbearing mother who rejoins the workforce as an intern at a news network to be close with her daughter. The series comes from Emmy-winning writer Tracy Wigfield and Emmy-winning “30 Rock” executive producers Tina Fey and Robert Carlock.

The casting of Martin follows up the recent guest-star additions of Sean Hayes as Mr. Pinky, the owner of a dress shop called Mr. Pinky’s Hefty Hideaway who hires Tracy Turnblad to be his spokesgirl, as well as Rosie O’Donnell, who will play the health ed teacher who tries to control her rambunctious students, including Link, Amber and Tracy, as they try to play a game of dodge ball.

Hayes is a longtime NBC staple, both in front of and behind the camera. He is a two-time Emmy Award winner best known for his role of Jack McFarland on the groundbreaking comedy series “Will & Grace” and, as a partner in his Hazy Mills Productions shingle, is an executive producer of NBC’s “Grimm” and “Hollywood Game Night.” On the stage, Hayes is currently starring on Broadway in the critically acclaimed comedy “Act of God.”

O’Donnell has a long and impressive list of acting credits, including appearances in such series as “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” “Nip/Tuck,” “Drop Dead Diva” and, most recently, “The Fosters.” She also had co-starring roles in the hit box office films “A League of Their Own” and “Sleepless in Seattle,” and hosted her very successful daytime talk show, “The Rosie O’Donnell Show.”

In “Hairspray Live!,” 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, and she eventually encourages Tracy on her campaign to integrate the all-white “Corny Collins Show.”

Acclaimed live television director Alex Rudzinski (“Dancing with the Stars”) will join Tony-winning director Kenny Leon (“The Wiz Live!”). Craig Zadan and Neil Meron (Oscar-winning ”Chicago,” ”The Wiz Live!” and the upcoming “A Few Good Men Live!”) serve as executive producers of “Hairspray Live!” Harvey Fierstein will also provide a new teleplay and Tony winner Jerry Mitchell (“Kinky Boots,” “On Your Feet”) will serve as choreographer for the live production with music and lyrics by Tony winners Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman (“Smash,” the upcoming feature ”Mary Poppins Returns” and the Broadway-bound “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”).