Mark O'Donnell News

The Henegar Center announces Cry-Baby the Musical. This is the World Community Theatre Premiere of the show. The Henegar is making history and you're invited to be a part of it!

Tony Maudsley (ITV1's Benidorm) will play Edna Turnblad in the major 40-week UK tour of Hairspray which will open at Curve theatre in Leicester this autumn. He will be joined by TV and stage actress and presenter Claire Sweeney (Educating Rita, Guys and Dolls) as Velma Von Tussle, Olivier Award nominated actor and much-loved Blue Peter presenter Peter Duncan (BBC1 Tumble) as Wilbur Turnblad and British singer and West End performer Brenda Edwards (Chicago, We Will Rock You, The X Factor) as Motormouth Maybelle. Freya Sutton will reprise the role of Tracy Turnblad alongside established musical theatre performer Jon Tsouras (A Chorus Line) who will play the role of Corny Collins. Dex Lee (The Scottsboro Boys) will play Seaweed, Ashley Gilmour (Miss Saigon) will play Link Larkin, Lauren Stroud (Wicked) will play Amber, Monique Young (Top Hat) will play Penny, Karis Jack (Urinetown) will play Little Inez, Adam Price (Hairspray) will play Male Authority Figure, Tracey Penn (Made in Dagenham) will play Female Authority Figure and Layton Williams (Bad Education, Billy Elliot) will play Duane. Further casting will be announced in due course.

Hottest Articles on BroadwayWorld.com from this weekend Sunday, January 4, 2015 - Sunday, January 4, 2015.

Theatre fans, set your DVR tonight for a Broadway movie musical! Producer Craig Zadan posted some pictures to Twitter today announcing that ABC will broadcast the 2007 film version of HAIRSPRAY on Saturday night at 8/7c.

Today in 2009, Hairspraiy closed at the Neil Simon Theatre after 2,641 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. The songs include 1960s-style dance music and 'downtown' rhythm and blues. In 1962 Baltimore, Maryland, plump teenager Tracy Turnblad's dream is to dance on The Corny Collins Show, a local TV dance program based on the real-life Buddy Deane Show.

The Muny announced today the directors, choreographers and music directors for the Muny's 2015 Season, which opens on June 15 with My Fair Lady. 'This is a thrilling roster of artists,' said Muny Artistic Director and Executive Producer Mike Isaacson. 'We look forward to bringing their vision and talent to our grand stage.'

Florida Studio Theatre announces its 14-15 Mainstage Season. Opening the season is the Tony Award winning musical Hairspray, followed by Regional Premieres of the emotionally stirring Dancing Lessons and the theatrical sensation of Fly. Finishing out the season is the Southeastern Premiere of the honest and uplifting Chapatti.

After six consecutive years, Disney's Beauty and the Beast has relinquished its place as the top musical in the annual survey of most-produced titles in United States high school theatres, unseated during the 2013-14 season by another adaptation of an animated anti-hero: Shrek the Musical. Returning to the list, and rounding out the top three, is Godspell, which has seen its popularity rise after a recent Broadway revival and subsequent national tour.

FST opens the Winter Mainstage Season with the energetic and colorful production of Hairspray based on the film by John Waters, with book by Mark O'Donnell and Thomas Meehan, music by Marc Shaiman, and lyrics by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman. Hairspray opens on November 15 and runs in the Gompertz Theatre through January 4, 2015. Subscriptions for all four shows can be purchased for as little as $49 online at Floridastudiotheatre.org, by phone at (941) 366-9000, or by visiting the Box Office

Florida Studio Theatre announces its 14-15 Mainstage Season. Opening the season is the Tony Award winning musical Hairspray, followed by Regional Premieres of the emotionally stirring Dancing Lessons and the theatrical sensation of Fly. Finishing out the season is the Southeastern Premiere of the honest and uplifting Chapatti.

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.

"You can't stop the beat" at Florida Studio Theatre, as the Winter Mainstage season opens with the multiple Tony award-winning Broadway musical, Hairspray. This vivacious production features the largest cast to ever grace the Gompertz stage. It's based on the film by John Waters, with book by Mark O'Donnell and Thomas Meehan, music by Marc Shaiman, and lyrics by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman. The show opens on November 14, 2014. Subscriptions for all four shows can be purchased for as little as $45 by phone at (941) 366-9000 or by visiting the Box Office.

A cast of young student actors will perform the Tony Award-winning musical 'Hairspray' July 16-20 at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. A cast of young student actors will perform the Tony Award-winning musical 'Hairspray' today, July 16-20 at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.PlayMakers Repertory Company, the professional theater in residence in UNC's College of Arts and Sciences, will present the Broadway musical as the culmination of its popular Summer Youth Conservatory.

Summer Theatre of New Canaan rocks the summer months with the powerhouse, feel-good musical, Hairspray.

Gladstone will open its 27th Season of Theatre in the Park with 'Hairspray'. The show opens tonight, July 3rd, but will break for the Independence Day Celebration Friday, July 4th and continue again on Saturday, July 5th and Sunday, July 6th. All performances begin at 8:30 p.m. and concessions will be provided by Gladstone Rotary.

Columbus Children's Theatre presents HAIRSPRAY, July 5 - 20, 2014 at Park Street Theatre. Music by Marc Shaiman, lyrics by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, book by Mark O'Donnell and Thomas Meehan, and based on the New Line Cinema film written and directed by John Waters. Performed by CCT's Summer Pre-Professional Company (ages 16-22). Check out a behind-the-scenes look below!

When Playhouse on the Square first showcased the musical version of the giddy John Waters' romp HAIRSPRAY a few seasons back, terpsichorean dynamo Courtney Oliver (as 'Tracy Turnblad') and theatre veteran Ken Zimmerman ('Miss Edna') left the stage each night with clamorous standing ovations for them and their colorful cohorts. I saw it more than once; it was the kind of theatrical experience that not only made you want to see it repeatedly, but one to which you longed to introduce others. I was thrilled to learn not only that HAIRSPRAY would return to end the current season at Playhouse, but that it would also reunite most of the original cast - and would be directed by the ever reliable Dave Landis.

Gladstone will open its 27th Season of Theatre in the Park with "Hairspray". The show opens Thursday, July 3rd, but will break for the Independence Day Celebration on Friday, July 4th and continue again on Saturday, July 5th and Sunday, July 6th. All performances begin at 8:30 p.m. and concessions will be provided by Gladstone Rotary.

A cast of young student actors will perform the Tony Award-winning musical 'Hairspray' July 16-20 at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. High school actors and technicians will begin work on the production June 16. PlayMakers Repertory Company, the professional theater in residence in UNC's College of Arts and Sciences, will present the Broadway musical as the culmination of its popular Summer Youth Conservatory.

As the summer months heat up, so do the Columbus stages. Check out BWW's top 5 picks that the whole family can enjoy without breaking the bank this summer: