John Waters News

Sandra Chipchase, CEO, Destination NSW today introduced to the media the seven actors who will play the lovable and bizarre characters who make up the deliriously delightful Addams Family. The members of the Addams Family are John Waters as Gomez Addams, Chloe Dallimore as Morticia Addams, Russell Dykstra as Fester Addams, Teagan Wouters as Wednesday Addams, Ben Hudson as Lurch, Meredith O'Reilly as Grandma Addams and Liam Faulkner-Dimond as Pugsley Addams. The production will open at the Capitol Theatre, Sydney in March 2013.

Today in 2002, Hairspray opened at the Neil Simon Theatre, where it ran for 2642 performances. Hairspray is a musical with music by Marc Shaiman, lyrics by Scott Wittman and Shaiman and a book by Mark O'Donnell and Thomas Meehan, based on the 1988 John Waters film Hairspray. In 1962 Baltimore, Maryland, plump teenager Tracy Turnblad's dream is to dance on The Corny Collins Show, a local TV dance program. When Tracy wins a role on the show, she becomes a celebrity overnight. She then launches a campaign to integrate the show. Hairspray is a social commentary on the injustices of parts of American society in the 1960s.

Sundance Channel previously announced its programming overview for the remainder of 2012 and the beginning of 2013. Premieres include GET TO WORK, tonight, August 13, plus the return of 'The Mortified Sessions' on October 8.

Delaware County's first professional production of the Tony winning musical Hairspray is at The Media Theatre this fall (September 26-November 4). Jesse Cline, Artistic Director for the professional music theatre company, recently announced the cast for the upbeat production.

Marking the 25th anniversary of the John Waters' original film, Principal Pops Conductor Jack Everly brings together an all-star cast of Broadway, film and TV stars for the full symphonic production of the Broadway musical, Hairspray. Hairspray: In Concert! will premiere with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra Jan. 11-13, 2013, and with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Jan. 24-27, 2013.

The 2012-2013 season of the Bryn Mawr College Performing Arts Series opens in September with new works by the Voloshky Ukrainian Dance Ensemble and Bread and Puppet Theater. One explores a rich mix of cultures through music and dance, and the other reflects contemporary issues through theater and puppetry.

Following a successful run at the Arcola Tent in Dalston this summer, the producers of Penny Arcade's B!D!F!W! (Bitch! Dyke! Faghag! Whore!) are thrilled to announce a new collaboration with The Old Vic Tunnels, where the show will run for 18 performances only from tonight, 8 August - 1 September 2012 with a press night on 10 August.

According to the Associated Press, HAIRSPRAY creator Mark O'Donnell passed away today in his Upper West Side home. He was 58 years old.

Iconic stage and screen actress Kathleen Turner returns to Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater to star in Red Hot Patriot: The Kick-Ass Wit of Molly Ivins, as the feisty, unforgettable political journalist. Written by twin-sister journalists Margaret Engel and Allison Engel and directed by David Esbjornson (Broadway's The Goat, or Who is Sylvia? and Driving Miss Daisy), the D.C. premiere kicks off Arena Stage's 2012/13 season playing August 23 through October 28, 2012 in the Arlene and Robert Kogod Cradle.

Check out a video interview with the fimmakers of HBO's VITO documentary, Jeffrey Schwarz and Lotti Pharriss, as featured on The Lip. TV's BYOD (Bring Your Own Doc) show! BYOD is hosted by Sundance award winning doc-maker Ondi Timoner (Dig!, Join Us, We Live in Public) and EP and entertainment attorney Vlad Radovanov's (We Live in Public). Watch below!

Following a successful run at the Arcola Tent in Dalston this summer, the producers of Penny Arcade's B!D!F!W! (Bitch! Dyke! Faghag! Whore!) are thrilled to announce a new collaboration with The Old Vic Tunnels, where the show will run for 18 performances only from 8 August - 1 September 2012 with a press night on 10 August.

Recounting the life of one of the founding fathers of the gay liberation movement, the inspiring documentary VITO debuts tonight, JULY 23 (9:00-10:45 p.m. ET/PT), exclusively on HBO.

Fort Lauderdale Children's Theatre presents HAIRSPRAY tonight, July 20 and July 21, 2012, Friday 7:30pm and Saturday 2pm & 7:30pm at the Broward Center, located at 201 Southwest 5th Avenue Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Outfest - the Los Angeles-based nonprofit organization dedicated to nurturing, showcasing and protecting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) media - announced today that Jeffrey Schwarz's documentary "Vito" has been selected as the Opening Night gala of the 30th Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Film Festival. "Vito" chronicles the story of Vito Russo, founding father of the gay liberation movement, author of 'The Celluloid Closet,' and vociferous AIDS activist in the 1980s. The film features Lily Tomlin, Armistead Maupin, Bruce Vilanch, Richard Berkowitz and Larry Kramer.

Recounting the life of one of the founding fathers of the gay liberation movement, the inspiring documentary VITO debuts MONDAY, JULY 23 (9:00-10:45 p.m. ET/PT), exclusively on HBO.

Sundance Channel announces its programming overview for the remainder of 2012 and the beginning of 2013. Upcoming premieres include GET TO WORK on August 13 plus the return of 'The Mortified Sessions' on October 8.

Tony Award-winning actress Marissa Jaret Winokur (Broadway's 'Hairspray') is joining the cast of TV Land's original comedy, RETIRED AT 35 when the series returns for its second season tonight, June 26 at 10pm ET/PT.

Today we are talking to the noted director of one of the most successful stage-to-screen adaptations of the new century, HAIRSPRAY, about his brand new feature film adaptation of Broadway's currently running 80s stadium rock smash hit ROCK OF AGES - the eminently talented Adam Shankman. Discussing the starry cast of ROCK OF AGES - Tom Cruise, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Alec Baldwin, Russell Brand and Mary J. Blige included - as well as the expanded songstack of the reconceived film version - which now includes Joan Jett's 'I Love Rock N Roll' and Def Leppard's 'Pour Some Sugar On me', among others - Shankman imparts his infectious enthusiasm for the movie musical format and expresses his relishing of the exciting possibilities afforded by the heavy metal jukebox property. Additionally, Shankman reminisces on his experiences filming HAIRSPRAY and confirms his future re-teaming with HAIRSPRAY and HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL superstar Zac Efron on an upcoming film comedy which begins shooting next month, titled THIS IS WHERE I LEAVE YOU, co-starring Jason Bateman and Goldie Hawn. Plus, memories of choreographing Paul Thomas Anderson's BOOGIE NIGHTS, directing two episodes of GLEE, working with Carrie Ann Inaba on ROCKULA more than twenty years ago (his film debut), anecdotes about SMASH - and much, much more!