Hairspray Takes Hold at Shaftesbury in Autumn???
Date: 9 March 2007
The on-again, off-again Broadway transfer of
Hairspray looks like it may finally be back on again (See
The Goss, 22 Mar 2005). Premiered on Broadway in August 2002,
Hairspray won eight 2003 Tony Awards, including Best Musical. Based on John Waters' cult 1988 film and set in 1960s Baltimore, it tells the story of geeky teen Tracy Turnblad, a big girl with big hair, a big heart and a big stage mother who finds celebrity on a TV dance programme. The musical was originally tipped for a spring 2003 transfer to the Victoria Palace and, subsequently, was expected to open at the Cambridge Theatre in autumn 2005. Casting calls went out two years ago, but the 2005 opening was scrapped after problems transporting the set from North America. Now, the
Daily Mail is reporting that the production will at last open in the West End this autumn at the Shaftesbury Theatre. In fact, we hear it’s part of a long-term lease that the UK arm of Dutch company Stage Entertainment has negotiated with the frequently dark theatre. The limited summer season of
Fame is also being brought to the Shaftesbury care of Stage Entertainment (See
News, 21 Feb 2007), which last year hired former Really Useful Group chief executive Bill Taylor as part of its plan to gain a greater foothold in London Theatreland (See
News, 6 Feb 2007). Subsequent appointments – including West End producer Adam Spiegel (the force behind
Fame) and former National Theatre marketing director Chris Harper – have reinforced those efforts.
Got some goss? Contact gossip@whatsonstage.comRelated Content
