NBC’S “Hairspray Live!” continues to draw impressive names.

    Martin Short and Derek Hough have signed on for the upcoming musical production, NBC announced Wednesday.

    Based on the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical, “Hairspray Live!” takes place in 1962 Baltimore. Teenager Tracy’s dream is to dance on “The Corny Collins Show,” a local TV program, so when she wins a role on the show, she becomes a celebrity overnight and meets a colorful array of characters, including the resident dreamboat, Link; the ambitious mean girl, Amber; an African-American boy she meets in detention, Seaweed; and his mother, Motormouth Maybelle, the owner of a local record store. Tracy’s mother is the indomitable Edna, and she eventually encourages Tracy on her campaign to integrate the all-white “Corny Collins Show.”

    “Saturday Night Live” alum Short will play Edna’s husband, Wilbur, and “Dancing With the Stars’” Hough will step into the role of TV show host Corny Collins. The pair join the previously announced Jennifer Hudson as Motormouth Maybelle and Harvey Fierstein as Edna. Fierstein also is writing the teleplay for the production, which hails from executive producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron.

    (SD-Agencies)