hairspray - 2002

MUSIC: Marc Shaiman
LYRICS: Marc Shaiman & Scott Wittman
BOOK: Thomas Meehan & Mark O'Donnell

Based on the 1988 John Waters movie of the same name, HAIRSPRAY is the story of a big girl trying to make it big on television, while securing the station's heartthrob and integrating the station at the same time! The original movie starred now chat-show host Ricki Lake as the loveable Tracy Turnblad, and Divine as her mother, Edna. Although the musical version only premiered in 2002, Edna Turnblad has become one of the most popular musical theatre
characters of all time, and has been played by a variety of stars including Michael Ball, Harvey Fierstein, Michael McKean, Bruce Vilanch, Brian Conley, Paul Vogt and of course John Travolta, who played the role on screen. Tracy Turnblad has traditionally been played by an unknown actress. Nikki Blonsky who starred in the movie was found through an
open casting call. Previously she had been working in an ice cream parlour.

HAIRSPRAY closed on Broadway in January 2009 and also had a successful two year run at the Shaftesbury Theatre in London. The show was the subject of a documentary series entitled Hairspray: The School Musical which showcased British schoolchildren as they took on the show in the West End.