Jennifer Lopez set to produce, star in NBC's Bye Bye Birdie Live!
NBC's next live musical to be December's Hairspray Live
Say hello to Jennifer Lopez in NBC's forthcoming Bye Bye Birdie.
NBC says the actress-singer will headline its 2017 live holiday musical. She will play Rosie, the role originated on Broadway in 1960 by Chita Rivera.
Tony Award-winning Harvey Fierstein will write the script.
Bye Bye Birdie Live! airs a year from now as the next in NBC's annual live-musical tradition. Hairspray Live!, starring newcomer Maddie Baillio, is set to air on Dec. 7.
Birdie is an homage to circa-1950s rock 'n' roll mania and centres on the character Conrad Birdie, who is reminiscent of a young Elvis Presley.
The original stage musical, which featured Dick Van Dyke and Chita Rivera, was a massive success. A Tony-winner, it sparked a 1963 film, which included Van Dyke, Maureen Stapleton, Janet Leigh, Jesse Pearson and Ann-Margret in its cast.
ABC aired a 1995 TV-movie version starring Jason Alexander and Vanessa Williams.
Lopez stars in NBC's cop drama Shades of Blue and will judge its upcoming competition series, World of Dance.