Broadway's Hairspray to Close in January; Harvey Fierstein Returns on November 11

Tony Award-winning musical Hairspray will close on January 18 at Broadway’s Neil Simon Theatre. Tony Award winner Harvey Fierstein, who originated the role of Edna Turnblad, will return to the production on November 11.

Based on John Water’s 1988 cult film of the same name, the stage version of Hairspray features music by Marc Shaiman, lyrics by Shaiman and Scott Wittman and a book by Mark O’Donnell and Thomas Meehan based on Waters’ screenplay. Directed by Jack O’Brien and choreographed by Jerry Mitchell, the musical won eight 2003 Tony Awards. It won for Best Musical, Best Book, Best Actor Fierstein, Best Actress Marissa Jaret Winokur, Best Featured Actor Dick Latessa, Best Costume Design William Ivey Longand Best Direction O’Brien.

Hairspray centers on Tracy Turnblad, a big girl with big hair and an even bigger heart, who has only one passion—to dance. She wins a spot on the local TV dance program, The Corny Collins Show and overnight is transformed from outsider to irrepressible teen celebrity. She then tries to vanquish the program’s reigning princess, win the heart of heartthrob Link Larkin and integrate a television show—all without denting her ‘do.

The musical, which opened on Broadway on August 15, 2002, has featured many stars over its six-year run. They include Michael Mckean, Bruce Vilanch, Jerry Mathers, Jenifer Lewis, Darlene Love, Aaron Tveit, Ashley Parker Angel, Haylie Duff and Aubrey O’Day, among others. The show was adapted into a movie musical, starring John Travolta and Nikki Blonksy, in 2007. It continues to play in London’s West End at the Shaftesbury Theatre.

Fierstein joins current Broadway cast members Marissa Perry, Constantine Rousouli, Kate Loprest, Clarke Thorell who was also in the original cast, Karen Mason, Charlotte Crossley, Tevin Campbell, Scott Davidson, Naturi Naughton, Ken Marks, Kevin Meaney, Susan Mosher, Niki Scalera, Kirsten Bracken, Summer Broyhill, Iris Burruss, Ryan Christopher Chotto, Dwayne Cooper, Steven Cutts, Brooke Leigh Engen, Leslie Goddard, Curt Hansen, Carla J. Hargrove, Lauren Kling, Lori Eve Marinacci, Kasey Marino, Matthew S. Morgan, Nicole Powell, Terita R. Redd, Travis Robertson, Daniel Robinson, Robbie Roby, Judine Somerville, Todd Michel Smith and Annie Funke.