‘Hairspray’ is NBC’s next live musical

John Waters production will follow ‘The Wiz’

Published

11 years ago

January 14, 2016

Mariah Cooper

(Screenshot courtesy of YouTube)

NBC announced on Wednesday “Hairspray” will be the network’s next live musical.

NBC Entertainment Chairman Robert Greenblatt revealed during a T.V. Critics’ meeting that a live version of John Waters’s “Hairspray” is expected to air in December.

Greenblatt says that no deals for the production have been finalized as of right now.

“We have dream casting, but it’s too early,”Greenblatt told Us Weekly. “We haven’t even gotten that far, but I don’t think we’re going to replicate the movie.”

Greenblatt also told Us Weekly that NBC would love to have John Travolta, who starred in the “Hairspray” movie, star in their version.

“Oh sure, we’d take John Travolta. He did it. I don’t think that’s a possibility, but we’d be thrilled to have John Travolta,” Greenblatt says.

“Hairspray” follows in the footsteps of its live musical predecessors “The Wiz,” “Peter Pan” and “The Sound of Music.” FOX also has plans for its own live production of “Grease” airing in January.

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PHOTOS: SUNFESTIVAL

Annual dance party held amid weekend festivities in Rehoboth Beach

Published

3 hours ago

September 9, 2026

Daniel Truitt

A scene from the SUNFESTIVAL Night of Dance at the Rehoboth Beach Convention Center on Sept. 6. (Washington Blade photo by Daniel Truitt)

The annual CAMP Rehoboth fundraiser, SUNFESTIVAL, was held over Labor Day weekend in Rehoboth Beach, Del. The festival included a massive dance party at the Rehoboth Beach Convention Center on Sunday.

(Washington Blade photos by Daniel Truitt)

Arts & Entertainment

Nominate your favorites for the Blade’s 25th annual Best Of LGBTQ DC Awards

Submit your picks now; top 5 vote getters move to the finals

Published

8 hours ago

September 9, 2026

Staff reports

Nominate your favorites in our Best of LGBTQ DC categories through Sept. 24. The top 5 nominees from each category will become finalists with voting starting Sept. 28. Our 2026 Best of LGBTQ DC winners will be announced at the Best of LGBTQ DC Awards Party on Thursday, Oct. 22 and our special issue will come out on Friday, Oct. 23. One vote per email address per day. Good luck!

CLICK HERE TO NOMINATE OR USE THE FORM BELOW!

Out & About

Blade Foundation to host fundraiser in Rehoboth on Sept. 12

Mayor-elect Stewart, state Rep. Snyder-Hall to give remarks

Published

3 days ago

September 7, 2026

Tinashe Chingarande

Rehoboth Mayor-elect Susan Stewart will speak at the Blade Foundation fundraiser on Sept. 12.

The Washington Blade Foundation will host a fundraiser on Saturday, Sept. 12 in Rehoboth Beach featuring remarks from Rehoboth’s Mayor-elect Susan Stewart and Delaware state Rep. Claire Snyder-Hall.

The Foundation funds fellowships for aspiring queer journalists and enterprise journalism projects.

The event will be held at a private home in Rehoboth. Tickets are $100 and include open bar from Diego’s, catered appetizers from the Blue Moon, entertainment, guest speakers, and an auction. Tickets are available here.