Hairspray
A Big Fat Gorgeous Hit
New York Times
Why see Hairspray?
I Can Hear The Bells!
Broadway's award-winning creative team is bringing 1960's Baltimore to stages across North America! That's right, the feel-good musical is heading back on tour and bringing ample amounts of Hairspray with it. The Tony award-winning musical, which inspired the blockbuster film, will be brought to a new generation of theatre-goers by director Jack O'Brien. So, get ready to make your hair big and dance to the beat with Tracy Turnblad in style!
What is Hairspray About?
Welcome to the 60s! Change is on the horizon and the civil rights movement is gaining strength. Baltimore's Tracy Turnbald is a big girl, with big hair and an even bigger dream; to be a dancer on the Corny Collins Show. With new friends in unlikely places, Tracy's optimism and determination helps her to fulfil this dream, but of course - it won't come easy.
Along with a full-hearted story, Hairspray is piled bouffant high with glowing soundtracks which features tracks 'I Can Hear The Bells', 'Good Morning Baltimore' and 'You Can't Stop The Beat' which make this musical an unmissable instant classic.
So shake those hips in this direction and don't miss Hairspray when it comes to town!
Key Information
Audience
Hairspray is fine for elementary through college age kids. Children under 4 years of age will not be admitted.
Run Time
2 hours 40 minutes with one 15 minute intermission.
Dates
Finished May 15, 2022
Cast
- Andrew Levitt (aka Nina West) as Edna Turnblad
- Niki Metcalf as Tracy Turnblad
- Sandie Lee as Motormouth Maybelle
- Charlie Bryant III as Seaweed J. Stubbs
- Nick Cortazzo as Link Larkin
- Ralph Prentice Daniel as Wilbur Turnblad
- Billy Dawson as Corny Collins
- Ryahn Evers as Amber Von Tussle
- Addison Garner as Velma Von Tussle
- Emery Henderson as Penny Pingleton
- Joi D. McCoy at Little Inez
- Sydney Archibald as Peaches, Dynamite
- Kelly Barberito as Tammy
- Tommy Betz as Fender
- Helene Britany as Shelley
Further cast
Caroline Eiseman, Melanie Puente Ervin, Craig First, Alex Fullerton, Annie Gagen, Carly Haig, Lauren Johnson, Sabrina Joseph, Greg Kalafatas, Kyle Kavully, Matthew J. Kelly, Mclaine Meachem, Faith Northcutt, Nicholas Dion Reese, Sage, Micah Sauvageau, Clint Maddox Thompson, Jade Turner, Mickey White and Emmanuelle Zeesman
Creative
- Directed by Jack O'Brien
- Choreography by Danny James Austin
- Scenic Design by David Rockwell
- Costume Design by William Ivey Long
- Lighting Design by Kenneth Posner
- Sound Design by Shannon Slaton
- Lyrics by Mark Shaiman & Scott Wittman
- Music by Marc Shaiman
- Book by Mark O'Donnell & Thomas Meehan
Awards
2008 Olivier Awards
- Best New Musical
- Best Actor in a Musical - Micahel Ball
- Best Actress in a Musical - Leanne Jones
- Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical - Tracie Bennett
Nominations
- Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical - Elinor Collett
- Best Director - Jack O'Brien
- Best Theatre Choreographer - Jerry Mitchell
- Best Set Design - David Rockwell
- Best Costume Design - William Ivey Long
- Best Lighting Design - Kenneth Posner
- Best Sound Design - Steve C. Kennedy
2003 Theatre World Award
- Jackie Hoffman
- Marissa Jaret Winokur
2003 Drama Desk Awards
- Outstanding Musical
- Outstanding Book of a Musical - Mark O'Donnell and Thomas Meehan
- Outstanding Orchestrations - Harold Wheeler
- Outstanding Actor in a Musical - Harvey Fierstein
- Outstanding Actress in a Musical - Marissa Jaret Winokur
- Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical - Dick Latessa
- Outstanding Lyrics - Scott Wittman and March Shaiman
- Outstanding Music - Marc Shaiman
- Outstanding Director - Jack O'Brien
- Outstanding Costume Design -William Ivey Long
Nominations
- Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical - Corey Reynolds
- Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical - Kerry Butler
- Outstanding Choreography - Jerry Mitchell
- Outstanding Set Design - David Rockwell
2003 Tony Awards
- Best Musical
- Best Original Score - March Shaiman and Scott Wittman
- Best Direction of a Musical - Jack O'Brien
- Best Book of a Musical - Mark O'Donnell and Thomas Meehan
- Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical - Harvey Fierstein
- Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical - Marissa Jaret Winokur
- Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical - Dick Latessa
- Best Costume Design - William Ivey Long
Nominations
- Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical - Corey REynolds
- Best Choreography - Jerry Mitchell
- Best Orchestrations - Harold Wheeler
- Best Scenic Design - David Rockwell
- Best Lighting Design - Kenneth Posner
Reviews
Customer reviews
16 reviews, average rating: (4.1 Stars)
Annie B.
Hairspray
We have had Overture Broadway season tickets for years and have seen both outstanding and less-than-so productions. Our last show before the pandemic was the incomparable Hamilton and our first since Covid was supposed to be Mean Girls which was cancelled due to (drum roll) Covid. So, our expectations for Hairspray were not high. This show and these performers blew us away!! The talent these kids displayed was amazing and the joy they shared was contagious. Niki Metcalf (Tracy) has a gorgeous voice and the comedy duet with Andrew Levitt and Christopher Swan (Edna and Wilbur) was a standout. My only complaint was that the orchestra occasionally played over the beautiful singing voices. One of the best Broadway shows we have seen at the Overture, ever! Go see if if you can. ... Read more
Paulette Bonafonté Parcelle
Welcome BACK to 1962 Hairspray The Musical
Saw the show tonite May 17, 2023 and it was wonderful- funny- relevant- and heart-warming with great singing and dancing! Nina West was wonderful as Edna Turnblad, , as were the actors who played Wilber, Tracy, Link, Penny, and Seaweed! And the Dynamites and Motormouth Mabel were fantastic!! The sound however was a problem at times with crackling, volume, and mics going in/out- seems to be a tech/engineer issue, not a performer one. It was a wonderful night at the Dolby in LA! ... Read more
Linda Mota
Don’t miss out!
Took my 9 year old who loves to sing, dance and all of the above. Watching her react to the amazing performances and singing and dancing was something that will forever stay engraved in my mind and heart. It has so many messages that kids (and sadly adults) need to be reminded of nowadays. Equality, body image, bullying, goal setting, following your dreams, love, friendship, etc. It wasn’t boring or long, and even the songs that sometimes feel like “fillers†were done so nicely that you ended up feeling like they were singing directly to you. The energy and vibe was all there, and EVERYONE on stage was rocking it! Wether they were dancing in front of the crowd or all the way on back. Everyone brought it! Go watch it! You’ll love it! ... Read more
NEWS, TICKETS, THEATRE & MORE
"Broadway and show news straight to your inbox!"
Read how we protect your data .