Hairspray lands at the Princess Theatre

The Australian theatre world is counting down to the opening night performance of Hairspray in Melbourne this Saturday night.

The Australian theatre world is counting down to the opening night performance of Hairspray in Melbourne this Saturday night.

After years of speculation about the show coming down under, the Tony Award winner finally hits the Princess Theatre this weekend and is expected to settle in for a long run.

Hairspray is being produced by Paul Dainty and Joel Pearlman.

“Hairspray is the ultimate feel good musical which has extraordinary international pedigree and success,” Dainty said.

“We are very excited and delighted to be re-creating the international success in Melbourne, with a first class Australian creative team who will incorporate new state-of-the-art technologies, direction, choreography and design.”

Having won over 30 awards, the show takes audiences to 1960s Baltimore. The 50’s are out and change is in the air. Tracy Turnblad, a big girl with big hair and an even bigger heart, has only one passion – to dance. She wins a spot on a local television program, and becomes an overnight celebrity.

The stage musical is based upon the original 1988 New Line Cinema film written and directed by John Waters.

Producers will be hoping that the success of the recent new film version, which starred John Travolta, will assist in boosting ticket sales for the upcoming Australian production.

The film was seen by one in 10 Australians and the subsequent DVD release has achieved multi-platinum sales.

Hairspray stars Jaz Flowers as Tracy Turnblad, Trevor Ashley as Edna, Renee Armstrong as Amber and Tevin Campbell as Seaweed.

Making up the industry-strong cast is Jack Chambers, Nancy Denis, Esther Hannaford, Scott Irwin, Marney McQueen, Cle Morgan, Grant Piro, Jacqui Rae, Garry Scale, Briden-Starr Aspinall, Kirby Lee Burgess, Doug De Voogt, Akina Edmonds, David Gauci, Peter Harrington-Olsen, Joel Benjamin Hewlett, Mitchell Hicks, Kirby Lunn, Loredo Malcolm, Hayley Martin, Scott McConnell, Karlee Misipeka, Tshire Mokou, Scott Morris, Kristina Adesuwa Okunzuwa, Ashlea Pyke, Katherine Rodrigues, Elenoa Rokobaro, Michelle Smitheram, Michael Snell and Chloe Zuell.

Hairspray has been somewhat surprising in its casting in that it did not aim to cast a known public star in one of the lead roles. It will instead rely on reviews, word of mouth and what is already known about the show and the concept.

The show has already commenced preview performances.