Ariana Grande plays Tracy's repressed best friend, Penny Pingleton, and Garrett Clayton is twink heartthrob Link Larkin. Harvey Fierstein, who originated the role of Tracy's dowdy mother, reprises his star drag turn opposite Martin Short as Tracy's prankster dad. The live TV version stars newcomer Maddie Baillio as Tracy, with a galaxy of stars in the supporting parts. Adapted from the 1988 John Waters film by Mark O'Donnell and Thomas Meehan – and buoyed by an exuberant 1960s-pastiche score by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman – 'Hairspray' balances Broadway showmanship with winking camp all the way to its unstoppable finale. At first, that just means making space for plus-size gals like herself eventually it extends to integrating the program for her African-American friends. Set in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1962, 'Hairspray' is the tale of the irrepressible Tracy Turnblad, who is committed to breaking down barriers on 'The Corny Collins Show', a local TV platform for dancing teens. And this version, broadcast live on NBC in December 2016, is among the most enjoyable live-TV musicals in recent memory. Here’s what you need to know.įor sheer bubblegum musical-theater joy, it's hard to beat 'Hairspray', one of the best film-to-musical adaptations in Broadway history. The Shows Must Go On! – the run of free musicals on YouTube that began as an Andrew Lloyd Webber marathon – continues tonight, and this week’s production is ‘Hairspray Live!’ – with a cast featuring none other than pop superstar Ariana Grande.

Watch hairspray live online for free