You can’t stop the beat! – Hairspray will hit the road this year for a North American tour

Hairspray is an American musical based on John Waters’s 1988 film Hairspray. With music by Marc Shaiman and lyrics by Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman and a book by Mark O’Donnell and Thomas Meehan. The music includes a 1960’s themed dance and rhythm and blues.

It is 1962 in Baltimore Maryland, where a plump teenager Tracy Turnblad’s dream is to dance on The Corny Collins Show, a local TV dance program based on the real life Buddy Deane Show. When Tracy ends up winning the role she becomes an instant star, leading to social change as Tracy campaigns for the show’s integration. Featuring the beloved score of hit songs including “Welcome to the 60’s,” “Good Morning Baltimore,” “It Takes Two,” “You Can’t Stop the Beat,” this new tour will also incorporate “Ladies Choice” from the musical film adaption.

The musical went on to win eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical out of 13 total nominations. The Tony Award-winning musical comedy phenomenon will launch a new North American tour in the fall of 2020. The production will launch at Blatimore’s Hippodrome Theatre on November 10th and will tour across an additional 60 cities in its first season. Casting has yet to be announced.

Hairspray originally premiered at Seattle’s 5th Avenue Theatre in June 2002. The show was a smash hit when it transferred to Broadway, winning eight 2003 Tony Awards including Best Musical, and became the longest-running musical to play the Neil Simon Theatre.

This new touring production will reunite Broadway’s award-winning creative team, led by director Jack O’Brien and choreographer Jerry Mitchell.