'Hairspray' at Musicals at Richter - My Review

Pictured: ‘HAIRSPRAY’ AT MAR DAVID HENNINGSEN PHOTOGRAPHY

More than one venue has chosen to present the show that requires the purchase of multiple cans of hairspray this year. ‘Hairspray the Broadway Musical’ has a book by Mark O’Donnell and Thomas Meehan with music by Marc Shaiman and lyrics by Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman. The musical opened on Thursday as part of the 34th season at Musicals at Richter in Danbury, Connecticut’s longest running outdoor theater. Over 200 patrons filled the lawn on their opening night to watch the “nicest kids in town” sing and dance their way through the story of how Tracy Turnblad changed Baltimore.

Matthew Farina is a MAR alum and is a first time director for what he calls this “high-energy, high- spirited, and high-haired musical comedy” that delivers a social message about acceptance and inclusiveness that is still relevant today. He call his first directing experience “fun, laughter-filled, and rewarding” and those qualities shone through in this fun production. Mr. Farina also did the impressive choreography and was recently nominated by the CT High School Musical Theater Awards for Outstanding Choreography for ‘In the Heights’ at Immaculate High School in 2014..

CLICK HERE TO READ MY ENTIRE REVIEW ON ONSTAGE.

Next up at Musicals at Richter is ‘Annie Get Your Gun’ which runs July 24 - August 8. Summer Youth Musical Theatre Workshop performances will be ‘Broadway Bound’ July 13, 14, 15 and ‘Peter Pan Jr.’ August 13, 14, 15.