Fans might see the nicest kids back in town on Broadway! In a recent interview with Broadway, Director Jack O'Brien hinted at a revival of the musical comedy 'Hairspray.'
The musical comedy has received eight Tony Awards in 2003, including one for O'Brien's direction.
"We're trying to bring it back to Broadway next year," O'Brien said. "The country needs it. I saw the non-Equity version several months ago in Connecticut, and the audience went bananas."
The 1988 film 'Hairspray,' directed by John Waters, focuses on young Tracy Turnblad, born in Baltimore in the 1960s and aspires to dance on 'The Corny Collins Show.'
Upon discovering the performance's segregation policy, she and her friends plot a scheme to integrate the show. The musical focuses on themes of diversity, equality, and representation, which are topics at the front of today's political consciousness.
O'Brien described 'Hairspray' as a sweetly subversive musical. He explained, "It's adorable and funny, but it's the kind of show that, when you're having your coffee the next morning, you realize had more beneath the surface than just the glitz of a Broadway musical. People love it because they don't feel talked down to."
The Tony-winning book by Mark O'Donnell and Thomas Meehan and the soundtrack by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman features 'Hairspray.' Next season, Shaiman and Wittman's work may be seen on several stages as their stage adaptation of the NBC sitcom 'Smash' is scheduled to open on Broadway in the spring of 2025.
The cast members of the original Broadway production of 'Hairspray' include Marissa Jaret Winokur as Tracy Turnblad, Harvey Fierstein as Edna Turnblad, Kerry Butler as Penny Pingleton, Corey Reynolds as Seaweed J. Stubbs, Laura Bell Bundy as Amber von Tussle, Matthew Morrison as Link Larkin, Dick Latessa as Wilbur Turnblad, Linda Hart as Velma Von Tussle, Mary Bond Davis as Motormouth Maybelle and Clarke Thorell as Corny Collins.
Shoshana Bean, a current Tony nominee, understudy Tracy in the original ensemble. The Neil Simon Theatre hosted the production from July 2002 to Jan 2009.
Nikki Blonsky (Tracy), Zac Efron (Link), John Travolta (Edna), Amanda Bynes (Penny), Queen Latifah (Motormouth Maybelle), Brittany Snow (Amber), Michelle Pfeiffer (Velma), James Marsden (Corny Collins), Elijah Kelley (Seaweed), and Christopher Walken (Wilbur) starred in the 2007 feature film adaptation of the musical. A live NBC telecast of the show in 2016 saw Fierstein reprising his Broadway role as Edna.
Furthermore, 'Hairspray' is currently on a non-Equity North American tour.
