Hairspray: Ashley Spencer, runner-up in the reality television show 'Grease', assumes the role of Amber Von Tussle

Ashley Spencer, the runner-up in the reality television show �Grease: You�re the One that I Want,� takes to the stahe this evening (24 Jul 2007) as Amber Von Tussle in the Broadway musical Hairspray, she assumes the role from Haylie Duff.

Spencer was known on the reality television show �Grease: You�re the One that I Want,� as 'Ballerina Sandy', because from a young girl she wanted to be a Ballerina, however due to a toe injury her hopes to grow up to be a ballerina came to an end, and so she set her sights on the musical stage.

As previously announced, Lance Bass, former member of the now disbanded boy band 'N'Sync', will makes his Broadway debut in Hairspray playing the role of television show host Corny Collins from 14 Aug 2007.

Hairspray opened at the Neil Simon Theatre on the 15 Aug 2002, following previews from the 18 Jul. The show is currently booking to 16 Dec 2007.

In Hairspray Baltimore's Tracy Turnblad, a big girl with big hair and an even bigger heart, has only one passion -- to dance. She wins a spot on the local TV dance programme, 'The Corny Collins Show' and, overnight, is transformed from outsider to irrepressible teen celebrity. But can a trendsetter in dance and fashion vanquish the program's reigning princess, win the heart of heartthrob Link Larkin, and integrate a television show?

The screen adaptation of Hairspray, starring John Travolta, Queen Latifah, Michelle Pfeiffer, Christopher Walken, Zac Efron, Brittany Snow, Amanda Bynes, James Marsden, Elijah Kelley, Alison Janney, and Nikki Blonsky, and directed by Adam Shankman, opened nationwide on 20 Jul 2007.

Hairspray, which celebrates its fifth anniversary on Broadway in August 2007, is the winner of eight 2003 Tony Awards, including best musical, best actor, best actress, best featured actor, best score, best book, best director, and best costume design. Hairspray also swept every one of that year�s best musical awards, winning, in addition to the Tony, the New York Drama Critics Circle Award, the Drama Desk Award, the Outer Critics Circle Award, and the Drama League Award.

Hairspray currently features: Paul C. Vogt (Edna Turnblad), Shannon Durig (Tracy Turnblad), Jerry Mathers (Wilbur Turnblad), Alexa Vega (Penny Pingleton), Ashley Parker Angel (Link Larkin), Darlene Love (Motormouth Maybelle), Jonathan Dokuchitz (Corny Collins), Tevin Campbell (Seaweed J. Stubbs), Haylie Duff (Amber Von Tussle), Brynn O'Malley (Velma Von Tussel), Susan Mosher (Prudy Pingleton/Gym Teacher/Matron), Kevin Meaney (Harriman F. Spritzer, Mr. Pinky, and others) and Naturi Naughton (Inez).

Hairspray is directed by Jack O�Brien and choreographed by Jerry Mitchell; scenic design is by David Rockwell; costume design is by William Ivey Long; lighting design is by Kenneth Posner; and sound design is by Steve C. Kennedy.

The musical comedy is based on the New Line Cinema film written and directed by John Waters, who serves as a creative consultant on the musical comedy. It features a book by Mark O�Donnell and Thomas Meehan, and a score by five-time Academy Award nominee Marc Shaiman and lyrics by Shaiman and Scott Wittman.