HAIRSPRAY Begins Thanksgiving Weekend at Syracuse Stage

Bubbling with joy and 60s era music and dance, Hairspray is the Tony Award-winning hit Broadway musical piled bouffant high with laughter, romance, and deliriously tuneful songs. Tracy Turnblad is a teen whose life revolves around dancing on the Corny Collins TV show. Who knew that a teenybopper TV show could be a catalyst for integration? You can't stop the beat, and truth be told, you won't want to once the all-singing and dancing cast takes the stage.

Hairspray performs Nov. 28 - Jan. 4 in the Archbold Theatre at the Syracuse Stage/Drama Complex, 820 East Genesee Street. Discounted preview performances are Nov. 28 - Dec. 4. The Opening Night performance is Friday, Dec. 5 at 8 p.m. Tickets and info are available at www.syracusestage.org, by phone at 315-443-3275, and in person at the Syracuse Stage Box Office, Mon-Fri, 10am-5pm. Ticket discounts are available for groups of 10 or more at 315-443-9844. Discounts are also available for seniors, students, and U.S. military personnel and veterans. Sign interpretation, open captioning, and audio description services are available for select performances. Family guide: fun for all members of the family, some mildly suggestive dialogue.

The Broadway production of Hairspray won eight Tony Awards in 2003 including Best Musical. Incorporating 60's style dance music and rhythm and blues, popular songs from Hairspray include "You Can't Stop the Beat," "I Know Where I've Been," "I Can Hear the Bells," "Big, Blonde and Beautiful," "Good Morning Baltimore," "Run and Tell That," "It Takes Two," and "Welcome to the 60s," among others. Composer/lyricist Marc Shaiman and lyricist Scott Wittman won the Tony Award for Best Original Score and a Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album.

Hairspray at Syracuse Stage is directed by Bill Fennelly, who previously directed Stage's S.A.L.T. Award-winning production of A Midsummer Night's Dream. Fennelly's previous credits includes Frankenstein the musical (Off-Broadway), A Christmas Carol featuring F. Murray Abraham and Lynn Redgrave, Original Assistant Director of Jersey Boys, and Resident Director forThe Lion King.

"There are so many things I like about Hairspray. The music is fabulous, and the choreography by David Wanstreet (White Christmas, Syracuse Stage) is going to be out of this world," said Fennelly.

"Hairspray is a unique and thrilling choice for a holiday musical. The musical is a love explosion! There are epic, amazing love stories for so many of the characters, and there's no better time than the holidays to think about those you love. It's also a time to remember the illuminating power of light in the darkness. One person can make a difference. I think that's very moving especially at this time of year."

Set in 1962 Baltimore, Hairspray uses the Corny Collins Show to shed light on social injustices of American society. John Waters, the creator of the original Hairspray movie upon which the musical is based, was inspired by the real-life Buddy Deane Show, a competitor to American Bandstand. (Read more about the historical context of Hairspray in our Program Book)

"If people are going to take something away from this production of Hairspray the musical, I hope everyone will remember that they are unique, beautiful and not like anyone else, and that is to be celebrated," said Fennelly. "I think Hairspray asks us to try and be more compassionate-live better, live more joyfully, live with more love, live with more courage."

Hairspray is a co-production with Syracuse University's Department of Drama in the College of Visual and Performing Arts. The 29-member cast includes professional Broadway actors, SU Drama faculty members, SU Drama alumni, and current SU Drama students. (View artist bios in our Program Book)

The Presenting Sponsor for Hairspray is Onondaga County/CNY Arts. Sponsors are Key Bank, The Allyn Foundation,Grandma Brown Foundation, and Excellus BlueCross BlueShield. The Media Sponsor is WAER Syracuse Public Media. The 2014/15 Season Sponsor is Syracuse Media Group.

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