Back for Broadway's final 'Hairspray' 'do

NEW YORK - "It takes a village to put Edna together," says Harvey Fierstein, back on Broadway for the final weeks of

Hairspray

.

"But the people who help put me together can now do it faster."

Fierstein has returned to the long-running musical hit for its last performances, reprising his Tony Award-winning role of Edna Turnblad, 1960s Baltimore's favorite plus-size mom.

The stage adaptation of John Waters' 1988 cult movie closes Jan. 4 at the Neil Simon Theatre, where it has been in residence since August 2002. (In Philadelphia, the Walnut Street Theatre has just opened its own production of the show, which will end on the same day as the Broadway run.)

For Fierstein, coming back to

Hairspray

, and Edna, has produced mixed emotions.

"She means a lot to me," he says. "I am very fond of her, and the role certainly revitalized my worth on ... Broadway. I played it for two years and when I was done, I really felt I was done. I didn't need to do it again."

Fierstein turned down the London and Los Angeles companies, but did agree to resume the role in Las Vegas because the paycheck was too good to pass up.

"So I've done it for love and I've done it for money," he says. But when the producers "called me and told me the show was closing, I couldn't say no. I felt I wanted to see

Hairspray

go out with the highest high that it could - and if I could help to do that, then it was worth it.

"People always ask, 'How do you get the energy to do the show eight times a week?' I say, just knowing what we are going to do to the audience allows us to do it. We know no matter what mood you're in coming into the theater, you're going to come out flying."

Fierstein pondered the art of dressing up.

"We're actors. Actors put on makeup. They put on costumes. And the more stuff you put on ... the easier it is to become another person.

"I think that even after all this time, just sitting in that [makeup] chair and watching me disappear and Edna begin, Edna does take over my life.

"So when that first song is sung, Edna is there; she's ready to go. From the time you step on the stage, you surrender yourself to

Hairspray

."

And Fierstein isn't the only

Hairspray

alumnus back in the show.

His costar, Marissa Jaret Winokur, who played Edna's plump and passionately principled daughter, Tracy, will return on Dec. 9 to reprise her Tony-winning role in the musical for the remainder of its run.