The Today show on Tuesday announced that the up-and-coming singer/actress has been cast as Tracy Turnblad in NBC’s Hairspray Live!, following an open casting call in April.
Grease: Live‘s Alex Rudzinski is set to direct, while Craig Zadan and Neil Meron (The Wiz Live!) are on board as executive producers.
Baillio will make her Hairspray Live! debut when the Peacock’s primetime musical airs on Wednesday, December 7.
Baillio joins an all-star ensemble including Harvey Fierstein (reprising his Tony-winning role as Edna Turnblad), Jennifer Hudson (as Motormouth Maybelle), Martin Short (as Wilbur Turnblad) and Derek Hough (as Corny Collins).