Hairspray Advances Closing Date to 1/4

The Broadway production of Hairspray has advanced its closing date to January 4, 2009, two weeks earlier than the previously announced closing date of January 18. The hit musical will have played 2,641 performances and 31 previews at the Neil Simon Theatre upon closing, making it the 19th longest running show in Broadway history. As previously announced, Hairspray's Tony-winning star Harvey Fierstein will close the production in the leading role of Edna Turnblad, returning on November 11.

Based on the 1988 feature film by John Waters, Hairspray opened on Broadway on August 15, 2002, and went on to win eight 2003 Tony Awards. The show features a book by Mark O'Donnell and Thomas Meehan, music by Marc Shaiman, and lyrics by Shaiman and Scott Wittman and was directed by Jack O'Brien. The show was adapted into a hit feature film in 2007.

Hairspray currently stars Marissa Perry as Tracy Turnblad, George Wendt as Edna Turnblad, Karen Mason as Velma Von Tussle, Tevin Campbell as Seaweed J. Stubbs, Charlotte Crossley as Motormouth Maybelle, Kate Loprest as Amber Von Tussle, Ken Marks as Wilbur Turnblad, Kevin Meaney as Male Authority Figure, Susan Mosher as Female Authority Figure, Constantine Rousouli as Link Larkin, Niki Scalera as Penny Pingleton, Clarke Thorell as Corny Collins and Melissa VanPelt as Inez.