The network announced the news at the Television Critics Association press tour. "Hairspray" follows in the wake of previous live musical events "The Wiz," "Peter Pan," and "The Sound of Music."
Producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron will oversee the show, which will air December 2016. NBC Entertainment chairman Bob Greenblatt told reporters that the musical's focus on race relations and diversity was a major factor in its selection.
"Hairspray" is set in 1962 Baltimore, where a plump teenager named Tracy Turnblad tries out to be a dancer on a local TV show and protests racial segregation.
Zadan and Meron considered other musicals, including "Music Man" and "A Few Good Men," but the former depended too much on perfect casting, while the latter faced rights issues.
And might we see John Travolta reprise his role as Tracy's mom, Edna, from the 2007 movie adaptation? Greenblatt indicated it's a possibility!
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