Fierstein will discuss his role as Edna Turnblad in the new musical at the Neil Simon Theatre. Fierstein plays — in glorious drag — the mother of Tracy Turnblad (Marissa Jaret Winokur), a plus-sized dynamo who brings about great change in 1960’s Baltimore.

Harvey Fierstein won two 1983 Tony Awards — Best Actor in a Play and Best Play — for his groundbreaking opus Torch Song Trilogy. He also won a Best Book of a Musical Tony in 1984 for Jerry Herman’s La Cage aux Folles. Fierstein’s other plays include Safe Sex, Spookhouse and Forget Him. His film credits include “Independence Day,” “Mrs. Doubtfire,” “Bullets Over Broadway,” “The Times of Harvey Milk” and “Torch Song Trilogy.” He wrote and starred in HBO’s “Tidy Endings,” which brought him an ACE Award. Fierstein also recently published the children’s book “The Sissy Duckling.”

Hosted by New York Post theatre columnist Michael Riedel and producer Susan Haskins, "Theatre Talk" airs late Friday nights at midnight on WNET/Thirteen. Check local listings for air times in Boston, Hartford and Washington, D.C. or visit www.theatertalk.org for more information.