Why is 'Hairspray' The Musical, So Darn Popular?

Rehearsals for " started on September 4, and already the show is looking good! It plays September 26-November 4.

With a terrific cast, including Broadway's William Thomas Evans as Edna Turnblad and Springfield's own Victoria Mayo as her/his daughter Tracy, this is one "Hairspray" you cannot afford to miss. Even if you have seen the show before, or watched the film a dozen times, this production of "Hairspray" will have you laughing at the unique characters and ironic situations, humming along to the familiar tunes, and applauding with joy as Baltimore circa the '60s becomes integrated.

Let's take a brief look at the history of "Hairspray."

"Hairspray" won eight Tony awards after opening on Broadway in 2002, and for good reason. The show elevates the civil rights movement of the past to renewed relevancy, particularly in this day and age of a nation polarized by politics, religion, and whether-someone-next-door is upsetting the entire neighborhood because of who they love.

"Hairspray" is a feel-good musical not just because of its awesome score, but because its message is one of hope, one of strength, and one of total acceptance--leaving bigotry and ignorance at the door.

This is the eternal hook of "Hairspray." Way back in the '80s, when John Waters splashed his look at the civil rights movement on the big screen in a satirical send-up starring then unknown Ricki Lake as Tracy and the divine drag queen Divine as her Mother, the film breathed new life into a stagnant time at the cinema.

Edgy, hilarious, and filled with big hair and bigger heart, "Hairspray" was John Waters' first---and some say only---mainstream film success. It became even more popular when VCRs across the nation brought the infamous Divine into thousands of living rooms. Families did not know whether to laugh with Divine...or to laugh AT Divine. But whatever their choice, the late great Divine found a place in their hearts.

Such was the message and the life force of "Hairspray" that in 2002 it became the very popular Tony winning Broadway musical, based on Waters' film.

Once again, the relevant messages and full throttle humor of the piece began touching audiences who found the musical adaptation of the heavy girl who becomes an overnight sensation on The Corny Collins Show (an American Bandstand style fictional TV show) to be exactly what they needed in an era of anxiety following the 9/11 disaster. It was upbeat, fun, and had a serious message--Who could ask for more for the entertainment dollar?

But it didn't stop there. Hollywood noticed what was happening as the Broadway show sold thousands of tickets, Harvey Fierstein became a household name for the umpteenth time, and teen girls were singing "Good Morning Baltimore" almost as if it were their theme song. The song, written by Marc Shaiman with lyrics by Scott Wittman, was the biggest (in every sense of the word) belt number Broadway had heard in years, and it was not going away.

The "Hairspray" train was in motion and in 2007 John Travolta stepped into Divine's (and Fierstein's) shoes, donning drag and a padded body suit to portray the now iconic role of Edna, the eternal-ironing lady who follows her daughter's dream.

The film-based-on-a-musical-based-on-a-film, while stopping short of being Oscar nominated for Best Motion Picture (it should have been) sold $200,000,000 worth of tickets, and now lives eternally on DVD, Netflix, and cable as one of the most heartwarming family musicals of all time.

Did you notice that last statement? "Family musical." Yes, it's a fact. John Waters' edgy in the '80s, off-beat and somehow heart-tugging film that featured a gay man in drag in a lead role has morphed into a fun family musical...and not just due to Broadway producers taking some of the 'edgy' out and preaching to the masses. No, it is a family musical now because all over this land opinions of what is 'the norm' are changing. While we still have, unfortunately, bigotry and hatred (equaling ignorance) in this country, plenty of inroads have been made that squelch the next generation's acceptance of 'not accepting.'

"Hairspray" still has a man in drag in a lead role, and still touches upon the hope that we will--as a society at large--eventually get past the ridiculous 'ridiculing' and hurtful bullying to reach a point where it's OK to see all types of people dancing together on the big dance floor we call LIFE.

In the '60s it was the integration of black and white. Now, it's the integration of straight and gay, black and white, Christian with Jew, Muslim with Mormon, religious with atheist, and rich with poor that we aspire to. This is the fundamental and quite appropriate message of "Hairspray" in all of its incarnations....To look beyond what you see on the outside and to accept what is on the inside.

And what is on the inside of someone who is not like you on the outside? Well, it's just another human being who laughs, cries, loves, and tries their best...just like we all do. To that, I say "Good Morning Baltimore!"

Watch rehearsal footage of Media Theatre's "Hairspray" here...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMwXBGzxnB0

Call 610-891-0100 for tickets, or visit mediatheatre.org.