Hairspray Exclusive! Producer Craig Zadan's On-Set Snapshots

Broadway's Big Fat Hit, Hairspray is heading to a movie theater near you this summer. To continue the countdown, BroadwayWorld is pleased to present a very special Photo Exclusive! Producer Craig Zadan's very own on-set snapshots!

The film version of Hairspray is directed by Adam Shankman (Bringing Down the House) and produced by Craig Zadan and Neil Meron for their Zadan/Meron Productions, which previously executive produced the Golden Globe and Academy Award-winning Best Picture Chicago.  It will be released in July of 2007. The cast features John Travolta as Edna Turnblad, Christopher Walken as Wilbur Turnblad, Queen Latifah as Motormouth Maybelle, Michelle Pfeiffer as Velma Von Tussle, Brittany Snow as Amber Von Tussle, Zac Efron as Link Larkin, Amanda Bynes as Penny Pingleton, Elijah Kelley as Seaweed, James Marsden as Corny Collins, Allison Janney as Prudy Pingleton and newcomer Nikki Blonsky as Tracy Turnblad, who helps to integrate a Baltimore dance show-and wins the heart of Link in the process. Hairspray is originally based on the 1988 John Waters comedy. The new version of the film is based on New Line's hit Broadway adaptation of the film, which debuted in 2002, and went on to win eight Tony Awards including Best Musical, Best Score, Best Book and Best Director. 

Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman contributed new songs to their existing Tony Award-winning score. Shaiman also serves as the film's music supervisor and will compose the music score for the film as well as produce its songs. Wittman and Shaiman will also serve as executive producers on the film. The new screenplay for Hairspray was written by Leslie Dixon (Freaky Friday, Outrageous Fortune).

Toby Emmerich, New Line's president of production, is overseeing the project along with New Line's Executive VP of Production Mark Kaufman, and Creative Executives Michael Disco and Daryl Freimark.

Craig Zadan is also one of The Producers behind the Oscar-winning Chicago.  Other musicals he has brought to TV audiences include Cinderella, Annie, Gypsy and The Music Man, as well as the award-winning Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows. Upcoming projects include a TV movie version of A Raisin in the Sun, starring members of the Broadway revival cast.

Photos courtesy Craig Zadan

Nikki Blonsky, Brittany Snow, Zac Efron, Adam Shankman, Amanda Bynes
and Elijah Kelley with Marc Shaiman (seated)

Zac Efron, Nikki Blonsky, Adam Shankman and Brittany Snow

Associate choreographers Zach Woodlee, Anne "Mama" Fletcher
and Joey Pizzi

Nikki Blonsky with Hairspray Council Girls

Hairspray Council Boys

The full Council with Nikki Blonsky and Adam Shankman

James Marsden

Karen Blonksy (Nikki's Mom) and Nikki Blonsky

Karen Blonksy (Nikki's Mom) and Nikki Blonsky

Craig Zadan, Elijah Kelley and Neil Meron

Associate Choreographer Anne "Mama" Fletcher, Zac Efron,
Associate Choreographer Joey Pizzi, Amanda Bynes
and Associate Choreographer Jamal Sims

Zac Efron and Amanda Bynes

Elijah Kelley

Elijah Kelley

Neil Meron, Amanda Bynes, Zac Efron and Craig Zadan

Nikki Blonsky

Nikki Blonsky and Council Member Spencer Liff

Anne "Mama" Fletcher, Joey Pizzi, (doubling as Driver's Ed Instructor),
Zach Woodlee and Adam Shankman

John Waters and Nikki Blonsky

John Waters, Nikki Blonsky and Craig Zadan

John Waters and Adam Shankman

John Waters and Neil Meron

Council Members with Adam Shankman, John Waters

The Full Council Members from Hairspray with Adam Shankman and Nikki Blonsky