Harvey Fierstein,
who received a 2003 Tony award for his performance as
housewife Edna Turnblad in the musical Hairspray,
will reprise the role in the 2006 Las Vegas
production, reports the Los Angeles Times. The
news was confirmed by Michael Gill and Myron Martin, the
show's producers.
A megahit on
Broadway, the musical version of the John Waters film is set
to begin previews February 6 at the Luxor hotel-casino. The
show will run in a 90-minute version with no
intermission. According to producer Gill, the February
start date--a postponement from original
plans--reflects the fact that Fierstein is
playing Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof on
Broadway until January 8.