Georgia Entertainment Scene
Georgia Entertainment Scene

'Hairspray Live!' - behind the scenes with Kenny Leon, Kristin Chenoweth and Jennifer Hudson

Kenny Leon on set with Kristin Chenoweth. Photo: RYON HORNE/RHORNE@AJC.COM

Credit: Melissa Ruggieri

Credit: Melissa Ruggieri

Kenny Leon on set with Kristin Chenoweth. Photo: RYON HORNE/RHORNE@AJC.COM
By Melissa Ruggieri
Dec 7, 2016

A few weeks ago, video producer Ryon Horne and I traveled to Los Angeles to spend the day on the NBC set of “Hairspray Live!”

We were there to observe Atlanta's Kenny Leon – the Tony Award-winning director who is steering this live remake, which airs Wednesday at 8 p.m. on NBC – and in the course of the day were able to chat with much of the cast, including Ariana Grande, Jennifer Hudson, Harvey Fierstein, Kristin Chenoweth and Derek Hough.

We – as well as the cast – also received a surprise in the form of Denzel Washington, a longtime Leon pal who stopped by to provide Team Hairspray with a pep talk.

Before you tune in to "Hairspray Live!," check out our behind-the-scenes photos, videos and stories and prepare yourselves because, well, you know how it goes – you just can't stop the beat.

Follow the AJC Music Scene on Facebook and Twitter.

About the Author

Melissa Ruggieri has covered music and entertainment for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution since 2010 and created the Atlanta Music Scene blog. She's kept vampire hours for more than two decades and remembers when MTV was awesome.

Follow Melissa Ruggieri on facebookFollow Melissa Ruggieri on twitter
More Stories

Keep Reading

Uptown Comedy Corner's manager Lee Moore (left) and owner Angelo Sykes posed for a picture at the reopening of the club in Hapeville back in 2022. The venue will be closing on Sunday for good. (Rodney Ho/AJC)

Credit: RODNEY HO/rho

Uptown Comedy Corner closing, citing competition from Helium, City Winery

Uptown Comedy Corner, which caters largely to African American audiences, has had several metro Atlanta homes during its 30-plus year existence.

29m ago

Shaq’s likability fuels his longevity as ubiquitous TV pitchman

Basketball Hall of Famer and longtime "Inside the NBA" co-host Shaquille O'Neal has been doing commercials for more than 30 years and 300-plus ads.

In concert, The Offspring is still pretty fly for a punk rock band

At Alpharetta's Ameris Bank Amphitheatre, The Offspring delivered a high-energy show with inflated skulls, beach balls and a moving tribute to lost loved ones.

The Latest

Will Packer at the premiere of "Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist" at Jazz at Lincoln Center in 2024. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)

Credit: Charles Sykes/Invision/AP

‘Ride Along’ producer Will Packer promotes ‘healthy arrogance’ in new book

Check out three new reality shows with Atlanta ties

For character actor French Stewart, Atlanta has become home

Featured

“Our members cannot be bought off,” General President Sean O’Brien said in a social media statement, calling UPS' offers “illegal and haphazard.” (Hyosub Shin/AJC 2023)

Credit: Hyosub Shin/AJC

UPS offers unprecedented buyouts for drivers

The Teamsters union, which represents about 340,000 UPS employees, is urging its full-time members to reject the offers.

Longtime south Atlanta flea market set for massive mixed-use makeover

The developer is planning one of the largest projects in Atlanta’s Southside, a more than $500 million project near Greenbriar Mall.

MARTA chief Collie Greenwood retiring early

MARTA CEO and General Manager Collie Greenwood is leaving “because of immigration and personal matters” and has elected early retirement.