In this June 8, 2014 file photo, Kenny Leon accepts the award for best direction in a play for "A Raisin in the Sun" at the 68th annual Tony Awards in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)
By Mark Kennedy, Drama Writer
NEW YORK (AP) --
NBC has tapped some deep Broadway talent for its live production of the stage musical "Hairspray."
Kenny Leon, who won a Tony for the recent revival of "A Raisin in the Sun," will direct the show from composer Marc Shaiman and his co-lyricist, Scott Wittman.
Jerry Mitchell, who won Tonys for choreographing "La Cage aux Folles" and "Kinky Boots," will choreograph. And Harvey Fierstein, who won a Tony playing "Hairspray" on Broadway, will write the teleplay.
The musical adaptation of John Waters' 1988 cult film will air Dec. 7.
NBC has made something of a cottage industry with live musicals, including "The Sound of Music," ''Peter Pan" and "The Wiz." Fox jumped in with its recent "Grease: Live!" and ABC plans a TV movie of the big-screen film "Dirty Dancing."
Pepsi soft drinks in plastic bottles are on sale at a grocery store in New York on Weds., Nov. 15, 2023. (AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey, File)
PepsiCo confirmed Friday that it's ending some of its diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, even as rival Coca-Cola voiced support for its own inclusion efforts.
In a memo sent to employees, PepsiCo CEO Ramon Laguarta said the company will no longer set goals for minority representation in its managerial roles or supplier base. The company will also align its sponsorships to events and groups that promote business growth, he said.
Laguarta wrote that inclusion remains important to PepsiCo, whose brands include Gatorade, Lay's potato chips, Doritos, Mountain Dew as well as Pepsi. The Purchase, New York-based company's chief diversity officer will transition to a broader role focused on employee engagement, leadership development and ensuring an inclusive culture, he said.
Since President Donald Trump returned to the White House last month, U.S. government agencies, companies and schools have rushed to reevaluate policies and programs they adopted with the goal of reducing discrimination against members of minority groups, women and LGBTQ+ people.
Trump ended DEI programs within the federal government and has warned schools to end DEI programs or risk losing federal money.
PepsiCo's rollback came as Coca-Cola reaffirmed support for its DEI efforts.
In its annual report, Atlanta-based Coke warned that its business could be negatively affected if it is unable to attract employees that reflect its broad range of customers.
"Failure to maintain a corporate culture that fosters innovation, collaboration and inclusion … could disrupt our operations and adversely affect our business and our future success," the company said.
Coca-Cola has set a goal of having women in 50% of its senior leadership roles by... Read More
