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CNN Live Today

Big Hair Day on Broadway

Aired November 25, 2002 - 11:39   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: It's a big hair day on Broadway. "Hairspray," the musical, is drawing large laughs with its light- hearted spritz. We'll talk with the star of the show, in just a moment. But first, CNN Entertainment Correspondent Paul Clinton takes a look.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PAUL CLINTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Something is beginning for 29-year-old Marisa Jaret Winokur. She's the woman who drives the Broadway hit "Hairspray," based on John Waters' 1988 movie of the same name.

Was Broadway always a dream?

MARISA JARRETTE WINOKUR, ACTRESS, "HAIRSPRAY": Yes. This has always been my dream, always. This is always what I wanted to do with my wife, so it's really cool that I'm doing it.

CLINTON: Winokur plays Tracy Turnblad, a teenage girl from Baltimore, circa 1962, who dreams of appearing on a TV teen dance show and, along the way, gets the boy and breaks down racial barriers. But if Winokur had taken to heart this note from a teacher, she might never have reached her goal.

WINOKUR: Well, my favorite line is where it says that Marissa sometimes needs to control and soften her voice.

HARVEY FIERSTEIN, ACTOR, "HAIRSPRAY": Do you want to give them a little raspberry?

WINOKUR: Yes. Exactly. I'm sure they're, like, I knew it.

CLINTON: Two-time Tony Award winner Harvey Fierstein plays Tracy's mother.

So what's it like working with Harvey?

WINOKUR: Oh, he's a nightmare. No, he's wonderful.

HARVEY FIERSTEIN, ACTOR, "HAIRSPRAY": We'd never have a mother daughter relationship, we always have.

WINOKUR: He's definitely involved in all aspects of my life now, which is quite funny.

CLINTON: Is that line sort of like it's blurred now? WINOKUR: He's very protective of me, which is very nice to have someone because I'm just so, just figuring it all out.

CLINTON: At its core, "Hairspray" is about an overweight girl with an amazinging sense of empowerment and an innate faith that anything is possible -- an attitude shared by Winokur.

You've always had, though, had a pretty good image about yourself and your body image, I mean, which has really affected by all that?

WINOKUR: Yes, I've actually been pretty lucky. Of course, like everybody else, I'm always, like, oh, it would be great to lose ten pounds, but I certainly don't obsess on it.

CLINTON: Well, I understand that with all the running around with the musical and the rehearsal and the treadmill, you were actually losing weight.

WINOKUR: Yes. And I still am, like, every, like -- so our joke is that the crew keeps bringing up candy for me and telling...

FIERSTEIN: Keep the show running.

WINOKUR: They're, like, we want this show to run.

CLINTON: With millions in advance ticket sales, that shouldn't be a problem.

Paul Clinton, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LIN: And look who's with us right now. Marissa Jaret Winokur joins us. Congratulations. This is -- what a great success story you're having.

WINOKUR: Yes, it's quite insane. It's really exciting.

LIN: You know, I love -- one reviewer describes you as dancing like Janet Jackson on speed.

WINOKUR: Yes. At the theater, they call me the German Teddy bear, because I'm -- I have some craziness going on.

LIN: You know what, your character -- I mean, you and your character, the reaction that you're getting from people -- we've got some videotape, as you're arriving at one of the premiers. And I hope we can show it because it shows people hugging you and responding to you.

WINOKUR: Yes.

LIN: Why is it that people are resonating so much with this character, do you think?

WINOKUR: I think it's the fact that she's the outsider and people just love the outsider winning, I guess, at the end. I don't know. I know I always comment on how I'll leave the stage door and everyone just wants to hug me, and it's, like, oh, my gosh, because everyone just wants to hug Tracy, it's not Marisa. They just -- everyone can, you know, understand what Tracy's going through, being the outsider and then really making it. It's kind of -- it's more than a Cinderella story, but it's got this, just, strong woman who everybody just wants to, you know, get along with, so I ...

LIN: Yes.

WINOKUR: ... guess that's why. I don't know.

LIN: And it's, like -- it's not necessarily strength, so much from adversity, but really strength in the faith to believe in yourself.

WINOKUR: Yes.

LIN: You know, even though...

WINOKUR: That's how you...

LIN: ... you don't fit into society's, you know, stereotypes of what it thinks you should be.

WINOKUR: Right. Right. And I think that probably everybody in their life somewhere feels like they didn't fit in society because of a minority or ethnic group or, you know, religion or something. So maybe -- and it's this girl who just, literally, believes in herself so much and really knows what she wants and has such big dreams and big goals that you just -- you know, you just love that about that girl.

LIN: Right. Well, there was another actress, a famous young lady actually who actually played the same part, and this is what she had to say about your performance.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RICKI LAKE, ACTRESS: It's a mixed bag for me to see, you know, I squint and I sort of see myself up there, so it's a little strange, but I thought they did a great job. She was terrific and I was really pleased. My expectations were very high and I have to say they exceeded them.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LIN: Ricki Lake played your character in the movie "Hairspray."

WINOKUR: Yes.

LIN: Did you know that she said that about you?

WINOKUR: No, that's the first time I heard it. She actually -- the first time we met was, actually, on opening night in the press line. It was so -- it was so not the way you wanted to meet somebody, but she's so gracious and so nice and sent me a huge bag of candy the next day, so she's very, very cool. She's very nice.

LIN: OK. We're going to name this Marisa Jaret Winokur day, because I've got to show people the latest Vanity Fair that came out and...

WINOKUR: Oh, yes.

LIN: ... did you see it?

WINOKUR: Yes.

LIN: They had the hall of fame section, OK, and there is a picture of you and the cast. But you know, you've got some pretty distinguished company in this hall of fame issue -- Lance Armstrong...

WINOKUR: Yes.

LIN: ... The Quecreek miners. I mean...

WINOKUR: Yes.

LIN: ...extraordinary.

WINOKUR: And Annie Liebowitz did the photo. It was -- it's so -- it's been so surreal. You know, you do a Broadway show and you just think I'm going to do a Broadway show, this will be great. This is about my dreams and my goals. And then, all of a sudden, it's like you're in the (inaudible) issue of Vanity Fair, being photographed by Annie Liebowitz and, you know, it's just -- it's been such an unreal ride.

LIN: All right. The cover of the magazine, Nicole Kidman.

WINOKUR: Yes.

LIN: Yes.

WINOKUR: I know.

LIN: Not bad. Marissa, I've got to ask you, you know, growing up, you know, when you were talking to Paul Clinton about how you feel about your body image.

WINOKUR: Right.

LIN: What is it about the way you grew up that just gave you such healthy balance, self-esteem about yourself?

WINOKUR: I don't -- I wish I knew, because that's been -- you know, that's, like, the one thing everyone wants to put their finger on and I don't know. I just -- I never -- nothing ever stopped me. I never thought about it. I was a cheerleader. I played soccer. I, you know, always had a boyfriend, always had a job.

I don't know. It never was something -- I mean, I guess if you have to put it on, it was my family. I have a great family. My parents are wonderful, both very strong individuals. And I'm the youngest of four kids and maybe that's where it all came from, and very supportive family, very loving family. And I knew at a very young age that I wanted to be an actress and that I wanted to sing and dance. And so, I always had a goal and I was always looking for something. I wish I could say, "Oh, this one person said this one thing to me that changed my life," but it's always just been who I am.

LIN: Well, maybe it's just because people never told you that yo couldn't. The just...

WINOKUR: Right.

LIN: They just simply believed that you could.

WINOKUR: Yes.

LIN: Thanks so much, Marisa, we can learn a lot...

WINOKUR: Thank you.

LIN: ... from you and your character. Marisa Jaret Winokur, good luck with the play.

WINOKUR: And good luck with your baby.

LIN: Oh, thank you. That's why I asked the question. Yes, we're having a little girl. Thanks so much.

WINOKUR: Oh, good luck.

LIN: Thanks so much.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com







Aired November 25, 2002 - 11:39   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: It's a big hair day on Broadway. "Hairspray," the musical, is drawing large laughs with its light- hearted spritz. We'll talk with the star of the show, in just a moment. But first, CNN Entertainment Correspondent Paul Clinton takes a look.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PAUL CLINTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Something is beginning for 29-year-old Marisa Jaret Winokur. She's the woman who drives the Broadway hit "Hairspray," based on John Waters' 1988 movie of the same name.

Was Broadway always a dream?

MARISA JARRETTE WINOKUR, ACTRESS, "HAIRSPRAY": Yes. This has always been my dream, always. This is always what I wanted to do with my wife, so it's really cool that I'm doing it.

CLINTON: Winokur plays Tracy Turnblad, a teenage girl from Baltimore, circa 1962, who dreams of appearing on a TV teen dance show and, along the way, gets the boy and breaks down racial barriers. But if Winokur had taken to heart this note from a teacher, she might never have reached her goal.

WINOKUR: Well, my favorite line is where it says that Marissa sometimes needs to control and soften her voice.

HARVEY FIERSTEIN, ACTOR, "HAIRSPRAY": Do you want to give them a little raspberry?

WINOKUR: Yes. Exactly. I'm sure they're, like, I knew it.

CLINTON: Two-time Tony Award winner Harvey Fierstein plays Tracy's mother.

So what's it like working with Harvey?

WINOKUR: Oh, he's a nightmare. No, he's wonderful.

HARVEY FIERSTEIN, ACTOR, "HAIRSPRAY": We'd never have a mother daughter relationship, we always have.

WINOKUR: He's definitely involved in all aspects of my life now, which is quite funny.

CLINTON: Is that line sort of like it's blurred now? WINOKUR: He's very protective of me, which is very nice to have someone because I'm just so, just figuring it all out.

CLINTON: At its core, "Hairspray" is about an overweight girl with an amazinging sense of empowerment and an innate faith that anything is possible -- an attitude shared by Winokur.

You've always had, though, had a pretty good image about yourself and your body image, I mean, which has really affected by all that?

WINOKUR: Yes, I've actually been pretty lucky. Of course, like everybody else, I'm always, like, oh, it would be great to lose ten pounds, but I certainly don't obsess on it.

CLINTON: Well, I understand that with all the running around with the musical and the rehearsal and the treadmill, you were actually losing weight.

WINOKUR: Yes. And I still am, like, every, like -- so our joke is that the crew keeps bringing up candy for me and telling...

FIERSTEIN: Keep the show running.

WINOKUR: They're, like, we want this show to run.

CLINTON: With millions in advance ticket sales, that shouldn't be a problem.

Paul Clinton, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LIN: And look who's with us right now. Marissa Jaret Winokur joins us. Congratulations. This is -- what a great success story you're having.

WINOKUR: Yes, it's quite insane. It's really exciting.

LIN: You know, I love -- one reviewer describes you as dancing like Janet Jackson on speed.

WINOKUR: Yes. At the theater, they call me the German Teddy bear, because I'm -- I have some craziness going on.

LIN: You know what, your character -- I mean, you and your character, the reaction that you're getting from people -- we've got some videotape, as you're arriving at one of the premiers. And I hope we can show it because it shows people hugging you and responding to you.

WINOKUR: Yes.

LIN: Why is it that people are resonating so much with this character, do you think?

WINOKUR: I think it's the fact that she's the outsider and people just love the outsider winning, I guess, at the end. I don't know. I know I always comment on how I'll leave the stage door and everyone just wants to hug me, and it's, like, oh, my gosh, because everyone just wants to hug Tracy, it's not Marisa. They just -- everyone can, you know, understand what Tracy's going through, being the outsider and then really making it. It's kind of -- it's more than a Cinderella story, but it's got this, just, strong woman who everybody just wants to, you know, get along with, so I ...

LIN: Yes.

WINOKUR: ... guess that's why. I don't know.

LIN: And it's, like -- it's not necessarily strength, so much from adversity, but really strength in the faith to believe in yourself.

WINOKUR: Yes.

LIN: You know, even though...

WINOKUR: That's how you...

LIN: ... you don't fit into society's, you know, stereotypes of what it thinks you should be.

WINOKUR: Right. Right. And I think that probably everybody in their life somewhere feels like they didn't fit in society because of a minority or ethnic group or, you know, religion or something. So maybe -- and it's this girl who just, literally, believes in herself so much and really knows what she wants and has such big dreams and big goals that you just -- you know, you just love that about that girl.

LIN: Right. Well, there was another actress, a famous young lady actually who actually played the same part, and this is what she had to say about your performance.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RICKI LAKE, ACTRESS: It's a mixed bag for me to see, you know, I squint and I sort of see myself up there, so it's a little strange, but I thought they did a great job. She was terrific and I was really pleased. My expectations were very high and I have to say they exceeded them.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LIN: Ricki Lake played your character in the movie "Hairspray."

WINOKUR: Yes.

LIN: Did you know that she said that about you?

WINOKUR: No, that's the first time I heard it. She actually -- the first time we met was, actually, on opening night in the press line. It was so -- it was so not the way you wanted to meet somebody, but she's so gracious and so nice and sent me a huge bag of candy the next day, so she's very, very cool. She's very nice.

LIN: OK. We're going to name this Marisa Jaret Winokur day, because I've got to show people the latest Vanity Fair that came out and...

WINOKUR: Oh, yes.

LIN: ... did you see it?

WINOKUR: Yes.

LIN: They had the hall of fame section, OK, and there is a picture of you and the cast. But you know, you've got some pretty distinguished company in this hall of fame issue -- Lance Armstrong...

WINOKUR: Yes.

LIN: ... The Quecreek miners. I mean...

WINOKUR: Yes.

LIN: ...extraordinary.

WINOKUR: And Annie Liebowitz did the photo. It was -- it's so -- it's been so surreal. You know, you do a Broadway show and you just think I'm going to do a Broadway show, this will be great. This is about my dreams and my goals. And then, all of a sudden, it's like you're in the (inaudible) issue of Vanity Fair, being photographed by Annie Liebowitz and, you know, it's just -- it's been such an unreal ride.

LIN: All right. The cover of the magazine, Nicole Kidman.

WINOKUR: Yes.

LIN: Yes.

WINOKUR: I know.

LIN: Not bad. Marissa, I've got to ask you, you know, growing up, you know, when you were talking to Paul Clinton about how you feel about your body image.

WINOKUR: Right.

LIN: What is it about the way you grew up that just gave you such healthy balance, self-esteem about yourself?

WINOKUR: I don't -- I wish I knew, because that's been -- you know, that's, like, the one thing everyone wants to put their finger on and I don't know. I just -- I never -- nothing ever stopped me. I never thought about it. I was a cheerleader. I played soccer. I, you know, always had a boyfriend, always had a job.

I don't know. It never was something -- I mean, I guess if you have to put it on, it was my family. I have a great family. My parents are wonderful, both very strong individuals. And I'm the youngest of four kids and maybe that's where it all came from, and very supportive family, very loving family. And I knew at a very young age that I wanted to be an actress and that I wanted to sing and dance. And so, I always had a goal and I was always looking for something. I wish I could say, "Oh, this one person said this one thing to me that changed my life," but it's always just been who I am.

LIN: Well, maybe it's just because people never told you that yo couldn't. The just...

WINOKUR: Right.

LIN: They just simply believed that you could.

WINOKUR: Yes.

LIN: Thanks so much, Marisa, we can learn a lot...

WINOKUR: Thank you.

LIN: ... from you and your character. Marisa Jaret Winokur, good luck with the play.

WINOKUR: And good luck with your baby.

LIN: Oh, thank you. That's why I asked the question. Yes, we're having a little girl. Thanks so much.

WINOKUR: Oh, good luck.

LIN: Thanks so much.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com