Hairspray is based upon the New Line Cinema film written and directed by John Waters, with a book by Mark O'Donnell and Thomas Meehan, music by Marc Shaiman, and lyrics by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman. Hairspray is directed by Jack O'Brien and choreographed by Jerry Mitchell.
In Hairspray it's 1962 - the '50s are out and change is in the air. Baltimore's Tracy Turnblad, a big girl with big hair and an even bigger heart, has only one passion--to dance. She wins a spot on the local TV dance program, "The Corny Collins Show" and, overnight, is transformed from outsider to irrepressible teen celebrity. But can a trendsetter in dance and fashion vanquish the program's reigning princess, win the heart of heartthrob Link Larkin, and integrate a television show without denting her 'do? Only in Hairspray! Welcome to the '60s!
The musical features an original score by Marc Shaiman (who co-wrote the music and lyrics for the acclaimed animated musical, South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut) and Scott Wittman. Their songs take Tracy from the soundstage of a 60's-style dance show to the streets of Baltimore to a downtown rhythm and blues record shop.
Hairspray is two and a half hours of musical comedy heaven! Marc Shaiman, Scott Wittman, Mark O'Donnello and Thomas Meehan have created what will always be, to me, the most fun I have ever had sitting down.
- Bobby Garcia, Director
Hairspray live in Manila Written by Ivy Jean Vibar (http://www.thepoc.net/index.php/Metakritiko/Theatre-News/Hairspray-live-in-Manila.html)
Monday, 10 November 2008
Hairspray, according to BroadwayWorld, won “every major Best Musical award, including [eight] Tony [awards], [the] New York Drama Critics Circle Award, Drama Desk Award, and the Outer Critics Circle Award” during the theater season that it opened on Broadway in 2002. Its Broadway run will close on January 4, 2009.
Reviews of Hairspray's different performances have been good. Aside from a few rants on the acting of individual actors, critics have had nothing but raves for this unique play. With two movie versions and numerous stage productions, that is no mean feat.
The musical was originally based on a 1988 movie by John Waters. According to Pegasus News, it has two gimmicks: lead Tracy Turnblad has to be played by “an unknown who has never really done much professional theatre: ideally a complete amateur” and Tracy's mother has to be “played by a man.”
In 2007, a film version of the musical was released. It had a stellar cast including John Travolta (Edna), Michelle Pfeiffer, Christopher Walken, Amanda Bynes, Zac Efron, James Marsden and Queen Latifah. Nikki Blonsky was the “unknown” who snagged the role of Tracy.
Hairspray tells the story of “pleasantly plump” teenager Tracy Turnblad, who has hopes to be part of a dance show on television. She lands a spot on the program and, BroadwayWorld says, “is transformed [overnight] from outsider to irrepressible teen celebrity.”
The play isn't only about dancing. It tackles issues of discrimination and acceptance in a world where to some people, prejudice comes as naturally as breathing.
It is the late 1960s in Baltimore, United States, and the Corny Collins Show is the hottest program on air, where “all the nicest kids” go. Blacks are allowed on the set only during “Negro Day,” except for singer Motormouth Maybelle, who sometimes serves as a co-host to the show's namesake and host, Corny Collins.
The show features a group of talented teenagers, which Tracy becomes a part of when she blows everyone away during an audition. Tracy, through her open-mindedness and determination to be taken seriously despite traits that some take against her, becomes the catalyst for major changes not only on the Corny Collins show but in Baltimore as well.
On October 26, director Bobby Garcia wrote in a Philippine Star article that he “jumped at the chance” to get the Manila rights for Hairspray when Broadway Asia offered it to him. Though he had reservations due to the difficulty of finding a good cast, he went ahead with the Manila version of the play, anyway.
Auditions for the play took place in April for the role of Tracy and other minor roles. For the major parts, Garcia said, he got in touch with actors he had previously worked with.
The final cast features various heavyweights (no pun intended) in the Philippine theater and entertainment industries , such as Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo (Velma Von Tussle), Nyoy Volante (Seaweed J. Stubbs), Dulce (Motormouth Maybelle), Leo Rialp (Wilbur Turnblad) and Michael de Mesa.
De Mesa will play Tracy's mother Edna, a role which the veteran actor admits has been very difficult for him. “Edna's not a cross-dresser. She's a woman. It's a bit hard because there's a thin line [between] men playing gay roles and real female roles,” he told PEP in an interview. “I'm really working hard on that thin line of not making Edna look bakla (gay), but babae (female) and motherly.”
Newcomer Madel Ching will play Tracy and ABS-CBN Star Magic Batch 15 member Tim Espinosa will be Link Larkin, PEP said.
A winner of 8 Tony Awards including BEST MUSICAL, Hairspray is set to stage in Manila, following a hugely successful run in Broadway and London's West End.
As Atlantis Productions’ highly anticipated “Hairspray” draws closer and closer to its Manila premiere, one can’t help but wonder at the future some theater newcomers will face after they begin their professional careers with this show.
Now that they are all past the audition jitters and are in the thick of rehearsals for the show, the challenges and expectations have grown.
Ever since childhood, Madel has had her fair share of attention – positive and negative, expectant and accepting. She feels that although she may not fall under the conventionally pretty standard, she resorts to other avenues where she can shine. In theater, for example, it’s a different kind of attention.
