Mathers plays novelty specialist Wilbur Turnblad in the Tony Award-winning musical, opposite Paul C. Vogt as portly wife, Edna Turnblad.

Mathers, 59, will play Wilbur — singing the charming duet, "Timeless to Me," with Vogt — for three months at the Neil Simon Theatre.

"For an actor, Broadway is the pinnacle!" Mathers told Playbill.com Stage to Screens columnist Michael Buckley. "My agent called and asked, 'How would you like to do a Broadway show?' For me, just to be able to tell people I auditioned would be a treat. I flew in [from L.A.], did it, and the next thing you know, here I am."

To view the entire Playbill.com interview with Mathers, click here.

The current cast features Shannon Durig as Tracy Turnblad, Ashley Parker Angel as Link Larkin, Tevin Campbell as Seaweed, Darlene Love as Motormouth Maybelle, Naturi Naughton as Inez and Alexa Vega as Penny Pingleton. *

Jerry Mathers created the role of Theodore "Beaver" Cleaver in the situation comedy "Leave it to Beaver." His other screen credits include "I Love Lucy," "Batman," "Lassie," "My Three Sons," "Still the Beaver," "Diagnosis Murder" and "Will to Power."

In Hairspray "it's 1962 — the '50s are out and change is in the air. Baltimore's Tracy Turnblad, a big girl with big hair and an even bigger heart, has only one passion — to dance. She wins a spot on the local TV dance program, 'The Corny Collins Show' and, overnight, is transformed from outsider to irrepressible teen celebrity. But can a plus-size trendsetter in dance and fashion vanquish the program's reigning princess, win the heart of heartthrob Link Larkin, and integrate a television show without denting her 'do?"

Hairspray is based on the New Line Cinema film written and directed by John Waters, who serves as a creative consultant on the musical comedy. It features a book by Mark O'Donnell and Thomas Meehan, and a score by five-time Academy Award nominee Marc Shaiman and lyrics by Shaiman and Scott Wittman.

Hairspray is directed by Jack O'Brien and choreographed by Jerry Mitchell; scenic design is by David Rockwell; costume design is by William Ivey Long; lighting design is by Kenneth Posner; and sound design is by Steve C. Kennedy.

Hairspray will celebrate its fifth anniversary on Broadway in August. It's the winner of eight 2003 Tony Awards, including Best Musical.

For more information about Hairspray, visit www.hairsprayonbroadway.com.