Photo FeaturesCelebrate the 18th Anniversary of Hairspray Opening on BroadwayFlip through the photo celebration of the Tony Award-winning musical, based on the John Waters film, that opened on Broadway August 15, 2002.
By
Playbill Staff
August 15, 2020
The stage musical adaptation of John Waters’ 1988 film Hairspray opened on Broadway August 15, 2002, at the Neil Simon Theatre.
Songwriters Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman collaborated with librettists Mark O’Donnell and Thomas Meehan on the musical adaptation of Waters’ Baltimore-set story of a plus-size girl who breaks social and racial barriers on local TV in the 1960s.
Hairspray won eight 2003 Tony Awards, including Best Book, Best Score, and Best Musical. Jack O’Brien directed (and won a Tony for his work), while Jerry Mitchell was Tony-nominated for his roof-raising choreography.
Waters’ original film starred Ricki Lake as Tracy Turnblad, Divine as Edna Turnblad, and Sonny Bono as Wilbur Turnblad. On Broadway, the roles were originated by Marissa Jaret Winokur, Harvey Fierstein, and the late Dick Latessa. Winokur, Fierstein, and Latessa won Tony Awards for their performances.
The original cast also included such notables as Glee star Matthew Morrison, Kerry Butler, Laura Bell Bundy, Jackie Hoffman, Joshua Bergasse, and Shoshana Bean.
Hairspray ended its Broadway run January 4, 2009, after 31 previews and 2,642 regular performances.The stage musical was later adapted into a 2007 film musical, and a live adaptation aired on NBC in December 2016.
Take a look back through some of Hairspray'shighlights below.
When we got our first look at Hairspray on Broadway:
When they brought Hairspray to the Hollywood Bowl with members of the original cast:
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Hairspray at the Hollywood Bowl, With Marissa Jaret Winokur, Harvey Fierstein, Nick Jonas and More
Hairspray at the Hollywood Bowl, With Marissa Jaret Winokur, Harvey Fierstein, Nick Jonas and More
The Hollywood Bowl's summer production of the Tony-winning musical Hairspray, featuring original Stars Marissa Jaret Winokur and Harvey Fierstein along with Nick Jonas, Corbin Bleu and more, played the famed California venue Aug. 5-7. Read the Playbill.com story.
Derek Hough, Maddie Baillio, Dove Cameron, and cast
Ariana Grande, Harvey Fierstein, and Martin Short
Dove Cameron and cast
Kristin Chenoweth
Garrett Clayton, Ariana Grande, and Ephraim Sykes
Hrvey Fierstein and Martin Short
Shahadi Wrigt Joseph, Ephraim Sykes, and Ariana Grande
Kristin Chenoweth and Dove Cameron
Ariana Grande and Andrea Martin
Sean Hayes and Harvey Fierstein
Shayna Steele, Judine Somerville, and Kamilah Marshall
Garrett Clayton and Maddie Baillio
Dove Cameron, Rosie O'Donnell, and Maddie Baillio
Derek Hough
Derek Hough and Maddie Baillio
Maddie Baillio and Harvey Fierstein
Justin Lubin/NBC
Kristin Chenoweth
Derek Hough and Dove Cameron
Derek Hough, Maddie Baillio, and Garrett Clayton
Kristin Chenoweth and Dove Cameron
Jennifer Hudson
Neil Meron and Derek Hough
Dove Cameron, Neil Meron, Ariana Grande, Garrett Clayton, and Ephraim Sykes
Garrett Clayton, Jerry Mitchell, and Derek Hough
Kristin Chenoweth and Dove Cameron
Darren Criss and Neil Meron
Jennifer Hudson and Chairman NBC Entertainment Robert Greenblatt
Shahadi Wright Joseph and Ephraim Sykes
Maddie Baillio and Garrett Clayton
Choreographer / Associate Producer Jerry Mitchell and Maddie Baillio
Executive Producer Neil Meron, Kristin Chenoweth, Chairman, NBC Entertainment Robert Greenblatt, Co-Executive Producer / Live Television Director Alex Rudzinski, and Maddie Baillio
