Hairspray the Musical was written based on the 1988 film. The musical runs the same plot and the characters are also the same as within the film version. The interest that has been generated from the musical has led to the film being remade in 2007 which was a blockbuster hit and created yet more interest in the musical. The musical opening in New York’s Broadway in 2002 and became an instant hit.
It received eight Tony Awards out of the outstanding thirteen nominations that it received. This success of the musical spread to the UK and it opened on the West End in London during October 2007. The award winning reign of Hairspray the Musical continued as it received eleven nominations of various Laurence Olivier Awards and successfully gaining four including the much sought Best New Musical award.
The musical tells the story of a chubby high school student from Baltimore, Maryland during the 1960s. Tracy, the young girl, has a passion and further more a talent, for singing and dancing. However, her physique holds her back as she faces rejection due to her size. The moral story documents the cruel treatment that Tracy faces as she battles to succeed in an image obsessed world.