'Hairspray' Opens Jan. 27 at Youth Theatre Northwest

It's adolescent passion and celebrity on display with 's production of "", an exuberant and youthful film that became a Broadway musical phenomenon.

Directed by Isiah Anderson, Jr., YTN's poduction of "Hairspray" is set in 1960’s Baltimore, where "the ‘50s are out -- and change is in the air," as described by a press release. The Tony Award winning musical will open on YTN's Mainstage on Jan. 27 and run through Feb. 12.

"Loveable plus-size heroine, Tracy Turnblad, has a passion for dancing and wins a spot on the local TV dance program, 'The Corny Collins Show.' Overnight she finds herself transformed from outsider to teen celebrity. Can a larger-than-life adolescent manage to vanquish the program’s reigning princess, integrate the television show, and find true love (singing and dancing all the while, of course!) without mussing her hair?"

The story of Hairspray began in 1988 as a comedy film written and directed by screen visionary John Waters and starring Ricki Lake, Sonny Bono, Debbie Harry, and Divine.

Heather MacLaughlin Garbes is musical director and  Ashley FitzSimmons is the musical's  choreograper. Hairspray’s book was written by Mark O’Donnell and Thomas Meehan, with Music by Marc Shaiman, and lyrics by Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman.

The Broadway production of the musical won eight 2003 Tony Awards, including Best Musical. Hairspray is best for ages 8+. 

Performances on Fridays and Saturday evenings start at 7 p.m., Saturday and Sunday matinees begin at 2 p.m. Tickets are $17 for adults and $15 for youth/seniors for the January 27th Opening Night Gala, which includes an intermission dessert buffet. All other performances are $15 for adults and $13 for youth/seniors. Tickets may be purchased by calling the Box Office at (206) 232-4145, ext. 109, or online by visiting www.youththeatre.org.

Hairspray comes to life through the creative talents of its dynamic production team; including Scenic Designer Brian Jackson,  Lighting Designer Chris Frickland, Costume Design by Janessa Styck, Properties by Amanda Lee Williams and Stage Management by Michael Yakovich.

The cast of 30 actors are from Mercer Island, Seattle, Bellevue, Redmond, Issaquah and Newcastle.