Wendt to star in 'Hairspray'

NEW YORK, Oct. 5 (UPI) -- Former "Cheers" star George Wendt is set to join the cast of the Broadway company of "Hairspray," The New York Times reported.

The actor best-known for playing barfly Norm Peterson on the Boston-set sit-com will don drag to play Edna Turnblad in the Tony Award-winning musical, starting Oct. 23, 2007 and running through Jan. 20, 2008.

Edna is the mother of the show's star, Tracy, a bubbly, plus-sized teen who dreams of starring on a TV dance show in 1960s Baltimore.

Wendt also appeared in the national tour of the ensemble drama, "Twelve Angry Men" and was last seen on Broadway in "Art."