Pinette & Durig Tapped as Hairspray's New Stars

Broadway.com has learned the identity of Hairspray's next mother-daughter team. Tour star John Pinette will begin performances as Edna Turnbald on the Great White Way on September 6, and Shannon Durig is expected to take over the role of hair-hopper Tracy Turnblad.

Pinette has been starring in the Hairspray tour since September. He took over for current Broadway star Bruce Vilanch, who also left the road company to come to the Neil Simon. A funnyman known for joking about his size "My cholesterol count has a comma!", Pinette was named Stand-Up Comedian of the Year by the American Comedy Awards in 1999 and received a Gemini Award nomination for his television performance at the Montreal Comedy Festival in 2000. He has appeared in several films including Junior, Dear God, Duets and The Punisher and in numerous sitcoms and TV movies.

Durig currently serves as the Tracy understudy and has played the role numerous times. Her regional theatrical credits include They're Playing Our Song, Peter Pan and Grease. Durig is a graduate of the American Musical & Dramatic Academy.

Hairspray currently stars Bruce Vilanch as Edna Turnblad and Carly Jibson as Tracy Turnblad.