Picture: Ellie Kurttz
The highly successful touring production of the hit musical Hairspray which is due to end in May will hit the road for a second major UK tour in 2017.
The new production of the multi award-winning show began its UK tour last year at the Curve Theatre, Leicester, and is due to end its current run at Southend’s Cliffs Pavilion on 21 May. It will now make its return trip around the country from late summer next year until the spring of 2018.
Mark Goucher, one of the show’s producers said: “I am delighted that after seeing this new production of Hairspray, Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman (the show’s writers) have personally extended the rights to the show, in order for us to embark upon a second tour. This next tour will give us the opportunity to bring the show to new venues… and also to return to theatres which welcomed the show during its current tour.”
Hairspray is directed by Paul Kerryson, with choreography by Drew McOnie and musical direction by Ben Atkinson. Set design is by Paul Moore, with costume design by Takis, lighting design by Philip Gladwell and sound design by Ben Harrison.
Matthew Rixon (The Producers and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang) took over the role of Edna Turnblad this week joining a current cast that includes Claire Sweeney (Guys and Dolls), Peter Duncan and former X Factor contestant Brenda Edwards (Chicago)
Hairspray is a musical based on the 1988 film of the same name which starred Divine and Ricki Lake by cult filmmaker John Waters. With music and lyrics by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman and book by Mark O’Donnell and Thomas Meehan, Hairspray originally opened to rave reviews on Broadway in 2002 and subsequently won eight Tony Awards.
The production opened in London at the Shaftesbury Theatre in 2007 and won four Laurence Olivier Awards including Best New Musical. Proving to be an international success, Hairspray has also opened in South Africa, Japan, South Korea, China and Dubai.
Hairspray is produced by Goucher and Laurence Myers, Tom O’Connell Productions Ltd, Just for Laughs Theatricals, Gale King Productions, Gary Brown and Curve Theatre, Leicester.
Angela Thomas
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