Ephraim Sykes | Entertainment News, Photos, and Videos

The first trailer for Detroit has been released and it tells the gripping story of one of the darkest moments during the civil unrest that rocked Detroit in the summer of ’67.

The movie also features an all-star cast including John Boyega, Will Poulter, Algee Smith, Jacob Latimore, Kaitlyn Dever, Jack Reynor, John Krasinski, Anthony Mackie, Ben O’Toole, Joseph David Jones, Ephraim Sykes, Leon Thomas III, Nathan Davis Jr., Jason Mitchell, Hannah Murray, Peyton Alex Smith, Malcolm David Kelley, Gbenga Akinnabve, Chris Chalk, Jeremy Strong, Laz Alonzo, Austin Hebert, Miguel Pimentel, and Kris Davis.

Academy Award winner Kathryn Bigelow directed the movie.

Watch the trailer below…

One of the highlights of Hairspray Live! was definitely Ephraim Sykes‘ performance of “Run And Tell That,” which you can watch right here!

He was joined by the ensemble cast, which included Maddie Baillio, Garrett Clayton, and Shahidi Wright Joseph.

Starring Ephraim‘s Seaweed J. Stubbs, the song confronts prejudice and celebrates the value of diversity. Watch the full video below!

And make sure to keep checking JustJared.com all night for full coverage of the live production!

ALSO MUST-READ: Who is Ephraim Sykes? Meet Hairspray Live‘s Seaweed!

Get to know Ephraim Sykes, the talented actor who plays Seaweed J. Stubbs in Hairspray Live!.

The 31-year-old performer is well-known in the theater community.

In fact, he was part of the original ensemble cast for the record-breaking hit musical Hamilton!

Ephraim recently opened up about how being in Hamilton changed his life.

Hairspray Live! airs TONIGHT, Wednesday, December 7 @ 8PM ET/PT on NBC.

Click through the slideshow to meet Ephraim Sykes…

On December 7th, Hairspray fans will see Jennifer Hudson play the role of Motormouth Maybelle. She’ll also be the mother of Seaweed, who is portrayed by Ephraim Sykes. But in real life, there is only a four-year age difference between the two actors. Jennifer, 35, says that the revelation just recently hit her that she’ll be the maternal figure in the life of 31-year-old Ephraim. “I was just saying, ‘I must be getting old. My kids in these movies are getting older and older.’ Geez!” she says, with a laugh.

The actress admits that the lack of age difference is not only funny but also makes her role extra difficult. “It makes me have to stretch more,” she says. “In rehearsals Kenny [Leon] is always like, ‘You’re 20 years older than them.’ He has to remind me of that,” Jennifer tells Just Jared. “It’s like right but when we’re sitting and hanging out, you know, I’m amongst my peers. So it challenges me as an actress.”

Another challenge for the actress on set is running around on the lot, performing intense dance routines, and belting out song lyrics. “That’s been a challenge too just the dancing and the singing and just catching the breaths in the space where you have this much space to catch it because you’ve got to get to the next word,” she says. “Where do I breath? Where do you breath? There’s no space!,” she jokes.

When asked whether performing on American Idol has prepared her for live TV, Jennifer immediately replied, “Yes! I see so much of my past in a lot of this from being on a reality show and singing. And I always say when I feel nervous ‘If I can get through Idol, I can get through anything!’” she reveals.

Be sure to catch Hairspray Live!, which airs on Wednesday, December 7 at 8PM ET/PT on NBC.

If you missed it, Ephraim discussed how his Broadway show Hamilton changed his life!

�” Reporting by Nicole Pajer

Nobody could have predicted the cultural phenomenon that Hamilton has become — not even the stars of the original installment themselves.

If you ask any of the cast members, they’ll surely tell you that show has forever impacted their lives. That is definitely the case for Hairspray Live! star Ephraim Sykes, who was a part of the hit ensemble cast.

“It’s changed my life because I get a million requests everyday for tickets,” he joked with JustJared.com. “It’s insane!”

The 31-year-old actor, who is set to play who plays Seaweed J. Stubbs in Hairspray Live!, told us that people from all walks of his life came out of the woodwork to ask him for free admission to the show.

“I would have people I haven’t spoke to since the fifth grade — haven’t spoken to since the 5th grade and is literally not asking for themselves but asking for a friend or their cousin. Or hey ‘Hey I met you back then. And guess what, congratulations and I love you. But it’s my mom’s birthday so could you?’”

While he would have loved to have helped out everyone in his circle, Ephraim told us that being on the cast taught him to master the ability to say ‘No,’ adding, “I had to learn how to ignore a lot of people. I became good at it.”

The budding Broadway star also explained that he still hasn’t fully processed what a vibrant part of pop culture his latest job has become.

“I feel like I’m going to have to get another five years removed to understand truly the effect that Hamilton has had on the world,” he said.

He added that it’s become so popular that he was only able to get his mother in twice.

“I could not get a ticket for my dang self right now. I’m like sneaking in the back ‘Hand me my costume again. I’m here.’”

Hairspray Live! airs on Wednesday, December 7 @ 8PM ET/PT on NBC.

Be sure to stream and download the full soundtrack now!

�” Reporting by Nicole Pajer

The soundtrack for NBC’s Hairspray Live! has been released in advance of next week’s live production and you can listen to it here!

The cast album features stars like newcomer Maddie Baillio, Ariana Grande, Kristin Chenoweth, Jennifer Hudson, Garrett Clayton, Dove Cameron, and more belting out the musical’s songs.

You can download the soundtrack on iTunes and Amazon and stream it below via Spotify!

The album features some of the songs that were written just for the movie version, including “Ladies’ Choice,” now sung by Corny Collins (Derek Hough), and “Come So Far,” sung as a finale song by Jennifer and Ariana.

Click inside now to listen to the Apple Music stream… More Here! »

As the highly-anticipated premiere of Hairspray Live! gets closer, the cast continues to put in work at rehearsals!

We have some new behind-the-scenes shots of Harvey Fierstein, Jennifer Hudson, Derek Hough, Martin Short, Garrett Clayton, Ephraim Sykes, Shahadi Wright Joseph, and Maddie Baillio getting ready for the big show.

Based on the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical, Hairspray Live! takes place in 1962 Baltimore.

Here’s the synopsis: Plump teenager Tracy Turnblad’s dream is to dance on “The Corny Collins Show,” a local TV program. When against all odds Tracy wins a role on the show, she becomes a celebrity overnight and meets a colorful array of characters, including the resident dreamboat, Link; the ambitious mean girl, Amber; an African-American boy she meets in detention, Seaweed; and his mother, Motormouth Maybelle, the owner of a local record store.

Tracy’s mother is the indomitable Edna, and she eventually encourages Tracy on her campaign to integrate the all-white “Corny Collins Show.”

Hairspray Live! will air on Wednesday, December 7 @ 8PM ET/PT on NBC.

MUST-READ: Ariana Grande and Jennifer Hudson talk about their duet!

ALSO MUST-READ: Watch the cast’s performance at the 2016 Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade!

More Here! »