CHEERS - CHEERS STAR WENDT LANDS HAIRSPRAY ROLE

Former CHEERS star GEORGE WENDT is set to become the latest actor to try on EDNA TURNBLAD's dress for size after signing on to play the heavyweight HAIRSPRAY part on Broadway. The actor, who played barfly Norm in the hit sitcom, will take over the role of Turnblad on 23 October (07) at Broadway's Neil Simon Theatre. He'll play the larger-than-life role throughout autumn and Christmas, wrapping up on 20 January (08). John Travolta and Divine have both played Edna on the big screen and British star Michael Ball is currently playing the role onstage in London.