“Hairspray” is a Broadway musical based on a 1988 film of the same name. It is set in the 1960s and tells the story of Tracy Turnblad, a plump teenager whose dream is to be on a televised dance show. Issues like race and size also come into play, as Tracy and her friends campaign to integrate the television show and increase tolerance of anyone who is “different.”

The show was previewed at Seattle’s 5th Avenue Theatre before moving to Broadway on August 15, 2002. The production ran until January 4, 2009, along the way garnering rave reviews and winning eight Tony awards in 2003, including those for Best Musical, Best Actor in a Musical (Harvey Fierstein), and Best Actress in a Musical (Marissa Jaret Winokur). The show embarked on a U.S. tour in 2005 and has been put on around the world. A movie remake of “Hairspray” was produced in 2007 with an all-star cast composed of Zak Efron, John Travolta, Michelle Pfeiffer and others.