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Overview
Synopsis
It’s 1962 in Baltimore, Maryland, and quirky, plus-sized, teenage Tracy Turnblad has one dream: to dance on "The Corny Collins Show". When she gets put in detention with the African-American students in the school, they teach her some of their dance moves, and her new found groove wins her a spot on Corny’s show. Overnight, Tracy transforms from a nobody into a star, and uses her newfound influence to advocate for racial integration on the television show. Tracy faces scrutiny and bullying from the network producer, Velma, and her popular, but vicious, daughter, Amber. With the help of the teenage heartthrob Link, host Corny Collins, and Motormouth Maybelle (the host of "Negro Day" on Corny's show), Tracy overcomes the odds and succeeds in her mission to integrate "The Corny Collins Show". Tony Award-winning Hairspray continues to be one of the most widely produced musicals today, not only because of its wit and charm, but also because of the beautiful message of acceptance and progress that it portrays. The bright, energetic story of Tracy Turnblad teaches us all to look past the color of one’s skin and fight for every human being’s equal rights.
Show Information
- Book
- Thomas Meehan , Mark O'Donnell
- Music
- Marc Shaiman
- Lyrics
- Marc Shaiman , Scott Wittman
- Based on the Play/Book/Film
- Hairspray
- Category
- Musical
- Age Guidance
- Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
- Number of Acts
- 2
- First Produced
- 2002
- Genres
- Comedy
- Settings
- Multiple Settings
- Time & Place
- baltimore, 1962
- Cast Size
- medium
- Orchestra Size
- Large
- Dancing
- Heavy
- Licensor
- Music Theatre International
- Ideal For
- College/University, Community Theatre, Diverse Cast, Ensemble Cast, High School, Large Cast, Middle School, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Mostly Female Cast, Includes Early Teen, Late Teen, Adult, Young Adult Characters, Medium Cast
Context
Hairspray is based on the 1988 film of the same name. Director and screenwriter John Waters based the television show featured in Hairspray, "The Corny Collins Show", on the real-life "The Buddy Deane Show" and the racial events that surrounded it. "The Buddy Deane Show" was taken off the air in 1964 because its home station, WJZ, was unable to integrate the black and white dancers. In Hairspray, "The Corny Collins Show" faces the same dilemma, but instead, successfully integrates. Much
to read the context for Hairspray and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
Act One
It is 1962 in Baltimore, Maryland. As the alarm clock rings, and we see a plus-sized teen waking up for school, we are introduced to Tracy Turnblad. This fun-loving, somewhat oversized young woman reflects on how she loves her city and reveals to us her dreams of becoming a star of song and dance ("Good Morning Baltimore"). She sings all the way to school as she introduces us to her hometown, Baltimore.
After school, we see Tracy and her best friend, Penny Pingleton, rushing
to read the plot for Hairspray and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Alto |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Alto |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Ensemble |
Either Gender |
Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Baritone |
Songs
Act One
- Good Morning Baltimore – Tracy and Ensemble
- *The Nicest Kids in Town – Corny and Council Members
- Mama, I’m a Big Girl Now – Edna, Tracy, Prudy, Penny, Velma, Amber, and Female Ensemble
- I Can Hear the Bells – Tracy and Council Members
- The Legend of Miss Baltimore Crabs – Velma and Council Members with Tracy, Penny, and Little Inez
- *The Madison – Council Members
- *The Nicest Kids in Town (Reprise) – Corny and Council Members
- It Takes Two – Link, Tracy, and Council Guys
- Velma’s Revenge – Velma
- *Welcome to the 60's – Tracy, Edna, The Dynamites, Mr. Pinky, and Ensemble
- *Run and Tell That! – Seaweed, Little Inez, and Detention Kids
- Big, Blonde and Beautiful – Motormouth, Little Inez, Tracy, Edna, Wilbur, and Company
Act Two
- *The Big Dollhouse – Matron, Edna, Velma, Tracy, Amber, Penny, Motormouth, Little Inez, and Female Ensemble
- Good Morning Baltimore (Reprise) – Tracy
- You’re Timeless to Me – Edna and Wilbur
- You're Timeless to Me (Reprise) - Edna and Wilbur
- Without Love – Tracy, Link, Penny, Seaweed, and Ensemble
- I Know Where I've Been – Motormouth and Ensemble
- *It’s Hairspray – Corny and Council Members
- *Cooties – Amber and Council Members
- *You Can't Stop the Beat – Tracy, Link, Penny, Seaweed, Edna, Wilbur, Motormouth, Velma, Amber, and Ensemble
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
A young person in the process of developing from a child into an adult.
A presentation of songs and/or monologues as a representation of your talent in front of theatre professionals or college faculty.
A song that uses short stanzas to tell a story about love.
A government and economic system in which people do not own individual property.
Performance of gender expression, often when men imitate or exaggerate a feminine style.
A series of events in a performance or piece of literature that are a dream experienced by one of the characters.
The script of the musical, separate from the musical orchestrations.
An objective of the Civil Rights movement, eliminating social, economic, political, educational, and civic barriers based on race.
The notation of music for the musical. There are several types of scores (detailed in the guide).
The enforced separation of groups of people, often based on race.
Music sung or played outdoors, often at night by a man under the window of the woman he loves.
The belief that the social benefits and privileges of a society ought to be divided fairly.
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