A ‘Hairspray’ dream come true

Twenty-eight years have passed since John Travolta did his thing in “Grease.” For fans, it's been 28 long years, which should make the 18-month wait until John makes his musical return to the big screen in “Hairspray” fly by.

But Access found one lucky girl who is already counting the days — meet Nikki Blonsky.

And the cameras were rolling as the stunned 17-year-old Nikki found out her dreams were about to come true.

After auditioning during a nationwide search for the film “Hairspray,” producers called Nikki and told her they would be sending a camera crew to shoot footage of all of the finalists.

What Nikki didn't know was that the search was already over.

The cameras came to see Nikki as she was scooping ice cream at Cold Stone Creamery and the crew brought along a long distance surprise message.

“Adam Shankman, the director, popped up on the screen and he proceeded to tell me to make myself an ice cream cone because I got the part and I fell off my chair screaming,” Nikki told Access. “The first thing that I had someone do was to pinch me and just give me a good hit in the back to make sure it was all real.”

Hugs, cheers and tears flowed as family, friends and co-workers surrounded Nikki when she got the big news. And it wasn't long before the star-to-be was already signing autographs for kids in the shop.

Fittingly, at her job at Cold Stone, the employees sing for tips. But now instead of singing for an extra buck, Nikki will be singing with Travolta.

“When they tell you John Travolta is going to be playing your mother, it's like, ‘Oh my goodness!’” Nikki beamed.

Yep, you heard right — John will be in drag for the role of Nikki's mom. For those of you who don't know “Hairspray,” it's the Tony Award winning Broadway musical about a typical teen who achieves her dream by getting a dance spot on a national TV show.

Ironically, life is almost imitating art for young Nikki.

“I'm just so thrilled,” she said. “I can't even begin to tell you everything that's running through my body.”

Already a star at Great Necks, New York Village High School, a year ago, Nikki auditioned for the Broadway version but was told she was too young. Little did she know it would turn out to be a blessing in disguise.

“I was a little bummed. I'm not going to lie,” Nikki told us.

But now as she prepares to hit the big screen, Nikki and her family are gushing with pride.

“I am just so thankful to everybody for making my daughter's dream come true,” her mother Karen said.

“Hairspray” is slated to hit theaters in December 2007.

MORE FROM ACCESS HOLLYWOOD

Access Hollywood Section Front

Beyonce speaks out on unique bond with Jay-Z T.R. Knight latest to fight gay marriage ban Brandon and Brenda return to ‘90210’? Hilton's new ad urges Palin to 'show some skin' Foo Fighters want McCain to stop using song Audrina puzzled by Lauren’s alleged affair Spears’ ‘Womanizer’ video unveiled Lauren Bacall: 'Tom Cruise is a maniac' May-Treanor finished ‘Dancing,’ Burke says Duchovny finishes stint in sex-addiction rehab Access Hollywood Section Front