Nikki Blonsky to join Lisa Lampanelli in Stuffed

Golden Globe nominee Nikki Blonsky will join two-time Grammy-nominated comedian Lisa Lampanelli in the cast of the return off-Broadway engagement of Lampanelli's self-penned comedy Stuffed, which will begin previews at the Westside Theatre on October 5, 2017, before an official opening on October 19. The production is currently booking through to February 18, 2018.

Nikki Blonsky is perhaps best known for her performance as Tracy Turnblad in the movie musical adaptation of "Hairspray," for which she earned a Golden Globe nomination in 2008. Other screen credits include "Queen Sized," "Valemont," "Waiting for Forever," "Huge," "Geography Club," "The English Teacher," and the Broadway-centric TV series "Smash."

Ms. Blonsky released the following statement:

"Being a part of Stuffed is fulfilling a lifelong dream of mine to do theater in my home city of New York. I'm so excited and the little theater-loving girl inside me is beside herself. I would like to thank the brilliant Lisa Lampanelli for writing such a brilliantly funny and real play that strikes me to the core. I cannot wait to work with her and bring this story to everyone who comes to see it."

Synopsis: "The four characters in Stuffed are a lifelong dieter, a bulimic, a confident overweight gal, and a permanent size-zero. The play explores the crazy-making world of our relationships with food and it doesn't shy away from tough questions like: Is eating an ice cream sandwich in the shower as emotionally fulfilling as it sounds? When it comes to jeans, what's better -- muffin top or camel toe? And, if Oprah, the most powerful person in the world, can't conquer her food issues, what can the rest of us do but laugh as we try?"

The comedy is directed by Jackson Gay and also features additional material by Ashley Austin Morris.

Additional casting and creative team information will be released at a later date.

Stuffed previously played a limited off-Broadway engagement at the McGinn/Cazale Theatre from September 23 to November 6, 2016.

Stuffed is produced off-Broadway by Rachel Karpf.