Hairspray posts closing notices
Preview by Lizzie Guilfoyle
HAIRSPRAY has posted closing notices at the Shaftesbury Theatre. Although the award-winning musical had been booking until October 24, 2010, it will now close on March 28, 2010, just two days before it launches its first UK regional tour.
Based on John Waters’ cult 1988 film, Hairspray is the story of Tracy Turnblad, a big girl with big hair and an even bigger heart. But Tracy has a passion – to dance. And when she wins a spot on the local TV dance programme, ‘The Corny Collins Show’, she becomes an overnight success – no longer an outsider but an irrepressible teen celebrity.
Following its success on Broadway, where it won eight Tony Awards, Hairspray opened in the West End on October 30, 2007 (previews from October 11) and went on to win a string of awards, including Oliviers for Best New Musical, Best Actor in a Musical (for Michael Ball in the cross-dressing role of Edna Turnblad), Best Actress in a Musical for Leanne Jones, and Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical for Tracie Bennett.
The current cast features Chloe Hart (as Tracy Turnblad), Phill Jupitus (Edna Turnblad), Belinda Carlisle (Velma Von Tussle), Verity Rushworth (Penny), Liam Tamne (Link Larkin) and Sharon D Clarke (Motormouth Mabel).
From February 2, former Monkee Micky Dolenz will take over the role of joke shop owner Wilbur Turnblad.
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The tour kicks off at Cardiff Millennium Centre on March 30, 2010, with Michael Ball reprising his role as Edna Turnblad, before continuing to Glasgow, Southampton, Wolverhampton, Leeds, Manchester, Plymouth, Liverpool, Sunderland, Milton Keynes, Oxford, Birmingham, Bradford and Edinburgh. However, Ball will be alternating the role of Edna with Brian Conley and Phill Jupitus at different venues.