Sean Hayes, Rosie O’Donnell join cast of ‘Hairspray Live!’

Emmy winners and Broadway cheerleaders Rosie O’Donnell and Sean Hayes have signed on for NBC’s broadcast, set for December 7 as the gym teacher and Mr. Pinky, respectively.

Producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron announced during NBC’s presentation at the Television Critics Association press tour that Rosie O’Donnell and Sean Hayes have joined the cast of the network’s latest live televised musical.

The Hairspray newcomers join Kristin Chenoweth, Maddie Baillo, Harvey Fierstein, Jennifer Hudson, Martin Short, Derek Hough and Ariana Grande.

The cast is still not complete, however.

News of Hayes and O’Donnell’s casting follows NBC’s Monday announcement that Dove Cameron and Garrett Clayton have landed the roles of Amber Von Tussle and Link Larkin, respectively.

Hairspray Live will air on NBC on December 7 at 8 p.m. EST. The production will be staged on the Universal backlot – similar in fashion to what Fox did for its Grease Live.

“We are organically going outside when the text calls for us to go outside”, said director Kenny Leon.

Ariana, who is playing Penny, said she has no plans to write or perform an original song for the production.

-Don’t expect any additional numbers to be incorporated to take advantage of Grande’s vocal chops.

‘I don’t want to change anything about the role or how she develops. “Basically, she loved the fact she held off those powerful pipes until the very end. I don’t want any sort of special icing”.