Hairspray the musical

Hairspray the musical is based on John Waters ‘s 1988 film of the same name and has been presented worldwide onstage as well as on film and television.

The cast of NBC’s Hairspray Live

Hairspray the musical is set in Baltimore, 1962. Tracy Turnblad is a big girl with big hair and big dreams. Can she make it on the local TV dance show, win the heart of teen heartthrob Link Larkin and bring everyone together – whatever their colour, size or hairdo? Well if you want a change, you’ve really got to shake things up

Hairspray the musical features music and lyrics by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman with a book by Mark O’Donnell and Thomas Meehan.

Opening on Broadway in 2003. Hairspray the musical won eight Tony awards including Best Musical running for 2642 performances on Broadway. The Broadway production starred Harvey Fierstein playing the role Divine created in the original film. The London production opened at the Shaftesbury Theatre in 2008 starring Michael Ball winning four Olivier Awards including Best Musical closing after playing over 1000 performances.

A revival starring Michael Ball reprising the role of Edna Turnblad is due to be staged in 2021.

A film version was released in July 2007. The film was directed and choreographed by Adam Shankman and starred John Travolta as Edna Turnblad, Christopher Walken as Wilbur Turnblad, Queen Latifah as Maybelle, Michelle Pfeiffer as Velma Von Tussle, James Marsden as Corny Collins, and Nikki Blonsky as Tracy Turnblad

Hairspray To Tour Again in 2017

Douglas Mayo17th March 202116th March 2016 Hairspray the musical, News, Touring

Following the huge success of the current tour of Hairspray, Producer Mark Goucher has announced that the show will return at the end of 2017 for a second tour of the UK. The current tour of hairspray began at Leicester’s Curve Theatre and will conclude in May 2017. The production has been seen by just under a quarter of a million people with nine venues still to visit. Mark Goucher said: “I am delighted that after seeing this new production of Hairspray, Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman have personally extended the rights to the show, in order for us to embark upon a second UK tour. This next tour of Hairspray will give us the opportunity to bring the show to new venues which we were unable to visit in 2015/16 and also to return to theatres which welcomed the show during its current tour.” Hairspray is directed by Paul … Read more

Further Venues on Sale for Hairspray UK Tour

Douglas Mayo17th March 202117th July 2015 Hairspray the musical, News, Touring

Further venues for the UK Tour of Hairspray The Musical went on sale today. Tickets are now on sale for Woking, Bromley, Stoke On Trent and Milton Keynes. Baltimore, 1962. Tracy Turnblad is a big girl with big hair and an even bigger dream: to dance her way onto national TV, and into the heart of teen idol Link Larkin. Tracy’s audition makes her a local star and soon she is using her new-found fame to fight for integration. But can she win equality – and Link’s heart – without denting her ‘do? Starring Tony Maudsley (ITV1’s Benidorm) as Edna Turnblad, Claire Sweeney (Educating Rita, Chicago) as Velma Von Tussle, Peter Duncan (Blue Peter, Tumble), and Brenda Edwards (Chicago, We Will Rock You, X Factor) as Motormouth Maybelle. Freya Sutton will reprise the role of Tracy Turnblad alongside Jon Tsouras as Corny Collins, Dex Lee as Seaweed, Ashley Gilmour as … Read more

Hairspray UK Tour – Manchester And Liverpool On Sale Today

Editorial Staff17th March 202130th March 2015 Hairspray the musical, News, Touring

Tickets for Hairspray The Musical in Liverpool and Manchester go on sale today. This new production of the award-winning musical starts it UK tour in September 2015 at the Leicester Curve and will then tour to 29 venues across the UK. It’s Baltimore 1962, where Tracy Turnblad, a big girl with big hair and an even bigger heart, is on a mission to follow her dreams and dance her way onto national TV. Tracy’s audition makes her a local star and soon she is using her new-found fame to fight for equality, bagging local heartthrob Link Larkin along the way. Hairspray is directed by Paul Kerryson with choreography by Drew McOnie and musical direction by Ben Atkinson. Click Here for the full Hairspray UK Tour schedule

Meet The Ladies Of The Hairspray 2015 Tour

Editorial Staff17th March 20214th March 2015 Hairspray the musical, News, Touring

Casting was announced today for the Hairspray 2015 tour commencing in September at the Curve Theatre in Leicester before visiting over 25 venues across the UK. Tony Maudsley (ITV1’s Benidorm) will play Edna Turnblad. He will be joined by TV and stage actress and presenter Claire Sweeney (Educating Rita, Guys and Dolls) as Velma Von Tussle, Olivier Award nominated actor and much-loved Blue Peter presenter Peter Duncan (BBC1 Tumble) as Wilbur Turnblad and British singer and West End performer Brenda Edwards (Chicago, We Will Rock You, The X Factor) as Motormouth Maybelle. Freya Sutton will reprise the role of Tracy Turnblad alongside established musical theatre performer Jon Tsouras (A Chorus Line) who will play the role of Corny Collins. Dex Lee (The Scottsboro Boys) will play Seaweed, Ashley Gilmour (Miss Saigon) will play Link Larkin, Lauren Stroud (Wicked) will play Amber, Monique Young (Top Hat) will play Penny, and Karis … Read more