Photo Preview: Michael Ball and West End 'Hairspray' Stars

Michael Ball (The Woman in White, Les Miserables), Mel Smith ("Smith & Jones") and newcomer Leanne Jones will star in the multi-award winning musical Hairspray, which will open at the Shaftesbury Theatre on Tuesday, October 30, following previews from October 11.

Ball stars as "big, blonde and beautiful" Edna Turnblad, with Smith as her meek husband Wilbur and Jones as her spirited full-figured daughter Tracy.

Hairspray, which won eight Tony Awards in 2003 (including Best Musical), has a book by Mark O'Donnell and Thomas Meehan, music by Marc Shaiman and lyrics by Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman. The musical is based on the New Line Cinema film, written and directed by John Waters. The musical will be directed by Jack O'Brien and choreographed by Jerry Mitchell. The scenic design is by David Rockwell, the costumes by William Ivey Long, the lighting by Kenneth Posner and the sound by Steve C. Kennedy. With orchestrations by Harold Wheeler and arrangements by Marc Shaiman, the musical direction is by Lon Hoyt. The West End production of Hairspray will be staged by the entire original Broadway creative team.  The current smash New Line film adaptation stars John Travolta, Queen Latifah, Michelle Pfeiffer and Nikki Blonsky, among others.

Performances times at the Shaftesbury Theatre will be Mondays to Saturdays at 7.30pm, with Thursday and Saturday matinees at 3.00pm. Tickets, priced from £20 - £60, are available from the Shaftesbury Theatre Box Office on 0207 379 5399 or by visiting www.hairspraythemusical.com.

Photos by Jason Bell

 
Michael Ball

Mel Smith and Michael Ball

Mel Smith, Leanne Jones and Michael Ball

Michael Ball

Michael Ball

 

Leanne Jones, Michael Ball and Mel Smith

Mel Smith

Michael Ball, Leanne Jones and Mel Smith

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