Hairspray the Musical

See Broadway's hit musical comedy Hairspray in London starring Michael Ball.

In Hairspray the Musical 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 programme, The Corny Collins Show and, overnight, is transformed from outsider to irrepressible teen celebrity. But can a trendsetter in dance and fashion vanquish the programme'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!

WINNER! BEST MUSICAL - The Evening Standard Theatre Awards 2007

Hairspray, the stage show, is based upon the film of the same name 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.

"A feel good, romantic comedy - pulsating with musical excitement" The London Evening Standard

Hairspray features an original score by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman whose songs take Tracy Turnblad from the soundstage of a 60s-style dance show to the streets of Baltimore to a downtown rhythm and blues record shop.

"Big hair. Big heart. Big hit!" The Daily Telegraph

The cast for Hairspray in London features Michael Ball as 'Edna Turnblad', Leanne Jones as 'Tracy Turnblad' and Ben James Ellis as 'Link Larkin'. Ben James-Ellis was a finalist on the Any Dream Will Do television programme. Casting subject to change. Please Note: From the 28 April 2008 Michael Ball will not perform on Monday evenings. He is contracted to play 'Edna Turnblad' up to 25 October 2008 with the following exceptions due to scheduled holiday: 28 April 2008 to 5 May 2008, returning 6 May; 30 June to 7 July 2008, returning 8 July; and 15 to 22 September, returning 23 September.

"The most happy, funny and sunny show in town" The Sunday Express

"It’s preposterous, but preposterously enjoyable... The story’s pretensions to having a serious message are a little dubious, but allow for some great dancing... At the heart of this essentially teenage trash comedy, it is a number by Tracy's parents that steals the show. Mel Smith, his features more and more, er, tired with every passing year, is an appealingly kindly dad, Wilbur Turnblad, while Michael Ball is clearly having a ball as Tracy's mountainous mother, Edna. Their duet, You're Timeless to Me, a hymn to enduring lust far into saggy, baggy middle-age, got the night's loudest applause." The Sunday Times

"The most feel good show in town" The Guardian

"Buoyant, bouffant and big-hearted, Hairspray is girly, curly pleasure... Jack O'Brien's production has a new star in Leanne Jones: it's amazing that this is her professional debut. In Michael Ball and Mel Smith, it has two established stars being surprising. It's driven by a really sharp script and lyrics, but also by Jerry Mitchell's terrific choreography and by Marc Shaiman's non-stop, grab-you-by-the-legs, gospel, rock and doo-wop music.... What makes Hairspray irresistible is that it has not a moment of earnestness - it comes on like theatrical bubble-gum, all pink, poppy and elastic - and yet it bats more winningly for the right side than many more po-faced offerings. Hairspray deserves a permanent wave." The Observer

"Michael Ball gives one of the warmest, funniest and most oddly touching performances in a musical I have ever seen" The Independent

"The combo of tongue-in-cheek comedy and political protest is remarkably joyous. A flimsy Stars in Her Eyes storyline morphs into a local revolution as Tracy struts her stuff on the dance floor and simultaneously spearheads a resistance movement against the authorities' xenophobic policies. Everybody – black and white – is doing the twist together by the end... Directed by the Tony winner Jack O'Brien, this production contrives to be slick but also playful and warm. Brightly coloured, cartoony sets whizz in and out on wheels. The plot is tighter and the script funnier than in the original 1988 film." The Independent on Sunday

"Finally the show has arrived in Britain, and this joyous West End version, starring Michael Ball in the role of his life, makes it obvious why it swept the board at the Tony Awards" The Daily Express

"Here's proof that a musical can both have depth and be a send-up of a protest show as light as hairspray. It tackles racial prejudice and fattism with a spring in its step and a goofy tongue in its cheek. Jones, making an appealing professional stage debut as dizzy Tracy, sing and boogies for all she's worth... Jack O'Brien's production fizzes with sparkling performances... This is going to be a big, fat award-winning hit. A must-see for every teenage dreamer who believes anything is possible." The Mail on Sunday

"Perfect pitch in every sense" The Sunday Express

The hit Broadway production of Hairspray the Musical opened at The Neil Simon Theatre in August 2002 where it continues to play today. The show won eight Tony Awards including for Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, Best Original Score Best Direction of a Musical for Jack O'Brien and Best Costume Design for William Ivey Long along with Best Actor in a Musical for for Harvey Fierstein, Best Actress in a Musical for Marissa Jaret Winokur and Best Featured Actor in a Musical for Dick Latessa. In addition it won the Drama Desk Award for 'Outstanding New Musical', the New York Drama Critics' Circle Award for Best Musical, the Outer Critics' Circle Award for Outstanding Broadway Musical, the Drama League Award for Distinguished Production of a Musical and the Grammy Award for 'Best Musical Show Album'.