"Hairspray" is originally "Hairspray" is originally based on the 1988 John based on the 1988 John Waters comedy about star-Waters comedy about star-struck teenagers on a local struck teenagers on a local Baltimore dance show. The Baltimore dance show. The new version of the film will new version of the film will be based on New Line's hit be based on New Line's hit Broadway adaptation of the Broadway adaptation of the film, which debuted in 2002, film, which debuted in 2002, and went on to win eight and went on to win eight Tony Awards including Best Tony Awards including Best Musical, Best Score, Best Musical, Best Score, Best Book and Best Director. Book and Best Director. Travolta will play Edna Travolta will play Edna Turnblad and Queen Latifah Turnblad and Queen Latifah will play Motormouth will play Motormouth Maybelle in the film. Marc Maybelle in the film. Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman Shaiman and Scott Wittman will contribute new songs to will contribute new songs to their Tony Award winning their Tony Award winning score.score.

SYNOPSIS

CAST

The kids of the Corny Collins Council, including The kids of the Corny Collins Council, including Zac Zac Efron Efron (center left) as "Link Larkin(center left) as "Link Larkin", James Marsden ", James Marsden (center) as "Corny Collins", and (center) as "Corny Collins", and Brittany Snow Brittany Snow (center (center right) as "Amber von Tussle"right) as "Amber von Tussle"

CAST & CREW & SET

Nikki Blonsky Nikki Blonsky (center left) stars as "Tracy Turnblad", (center left) stars as "Tracy Turnblad", Amanda Bynes Amanda Bynes (center) as "Penny Pingleton", and (center) as "Penny Pingleton", and Elijah Elijah Kelly Kelly (center right) as "Seaweed"(center right) as "Seaweed"

CAST

Elijah Kelley Elijah Kelley (left) stars as (left) stars as "Seaweed J. Stubbs" and "Seaweed J. Stubbs" and Taylor Taylor Parks Parks (right) stars as "Little Inez"(right) stars as "Little Inez"

CAST

John Travolta John Travolta has been honored twice has been honored twice with Academy Award® with Academy Award® nominations, the latest nominations, the latest for his riveting portrayal for his riveting portrayal of a philosophical hit-of a philosophical hit-man in Quentin man in Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Tarantino's Pulp Fiction. He also Fiction. He also received BAFTA and received BAFTA and Golden Globe Golden Globe nominations for this nominations for this highly acclaimed role highly acclaimed role and was named Best and was named Best Actor by the Los Actor by the Los Angeles Film Critics Angeles Film Critics Association, among Association, among other distinguished other distinguished awards.awards.

John Travolta John Travolta has been honored twice has been honored twice with Academy Award® with Academy Award® nominations, the latest nominations, the latest for his riveting portrayal for his riveting portrayal of a philosophical hit-of a philosophical hit-man in Quentin man in Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Tarantino's Pulp Fiction. He also Fiction. He also received BAFTA and received BAFTA and Golden Globe Golden Globe nominations for this nominations for this highly acclaimed role highly acclaimed role and was named Best and was named Best Actor by the Los Actor by the Los Angeles Film Critics Angeles Film Critics Association, among Association, among other distinguished other distinguished awards.awards.

Nikki Blonsky Nikki Blonsky Hairspray marks the professional Hairspray marks the professional debut of eighteen-year-old Nikki debut of eighteen-year-old Nikki Blonsky, who was born and raised in Blonsky, who was born and raised in Long Island, New York. She received Long Island, New York. She received all her dramatic and musical training all her dramatic and musical training at Great Neck South High School, at Great Neck South High School, which is a four-time Grammy which is a four-time Grammy Foundation Signature School.Foundation Signature School.

Nikki Blonsky Nikki Blonsky Hairspray marks the professional Hairspray marks the professional debut of eighteen-year-old Nikki debut of eighteen-year-old Nikki Blonsky, who was born and raised in Blonsky, who was born and raised in Long Island, New York. She received Long Island, New York. She received all her dramatic and musical training all her dramatic and musical training at Great Neck South High School, at Great Neck South High School, which is a four-time Grammy which is a four-time Grammy Foundation Signature School.Foundation Signature School.

CREW

Ricki Lake Ricki Lake as William Morris talent as William Morris talent agent at Miss Teenage agent at Miss Teenage Hairspray 1963Hairspray 1963

John Waters John Waters as "the flasher who lives as "the flasher who lives next door“next door“

Jerry Stiller Jerry Stiller as Mr. Pinky - the owner of as Mr. Pinky - the owner of the Hefty Hideawaythe Hefty Hideaway

Paul Dooley Paul Dooley as Mr. Harriman F. Spritzer - as Mr. Harriman F. Spritzer - the president of Ultra-the president of Ultra-Clutch HairsprayClutch Hairspray

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EXTENDED SYNOPSIS

In 1962 Baltimore, "pleasantly plump" teenager Tracy In 1962 Baltimore, "pleasantly plump" teenager Tracy Turnblad (Turnblad (Nikki BlonskyNikki Blonsky) has only one passion – ) has only one passion – dancing. Her dream is to appear on The Corny Collins dancing. Her dream is to appear on The Corny Collins Show, Baltimore's hippest dance party on TV. Tracy Show, Baltimore's hippest dance party on TV. Tracy seems a natural fit for the show except for the problem seems a natural fit for the show except for the problem that she doesn’t fit in.that she doesn’t fit in.

EXTENDED SYNOPSIS

Her plus-sized figure has Her plus-sized figure has always set her apart from always set her apart from the cool crowd, which she the cool crowd, which she is reminded of by her loving is reminded of by her loving but overly protective plus-but overly protective plus-sized mother, Edna (sized mother, Edna (John John TravoltaTravolta). That doesn’t stop ). That doesn’t stop Tracy because if there is Tracy because if there is one thing she knows, it's one thing she knows, it's that she was born to dance. that she was born to dance. As her father Wilbur As her father Wilbur (Christopher Walken) tells (Christopher Walken) tells her, "Go for it! You’ve got her, "Go for it! You’ve got to think big to be big."to think big to be big."

EXTENDED SYNOPSIS

After wowing Corny After wowing Corny Collins (Collins (James MarsdenJames Marsden) ) at her high school at her high school dance, Tracy wins a spot dance, Tracy wins a spot on his show and on his show and becomes an instant on-becomes an instant on-air sensation, much to air sensation, much to the chagrin of the the chagrin of the show’s reigning show’s reigning princess, Amber von princess, Amber von Tussle (Brittany Snow), Tussle (Brittany Snow), and her scheming and her scheming mother, Velma (Michelle mother, Velma (Michelle Pfeiffer), who runs the Pfeiffer), who runs the WYZT television station.WYZT television station.

EXTENDED SYNOPSIS

Even worse for Amber is the fact that it's not just the Even worse for Amber is the fact that it's not just the audience who loves the new girl in town; audience who loves the new girl in town; AmberAmber's 's sweetheart sweetheart LinkLink Larkin ( Larkin (Zac EfronZac Efron) seems to be ) seems to be smitten with smitten with TracyTracy's charms as well. This dance 's charms as well. This dance party gets personal as a bitter feud erupts between party gets personal as a bitter feud erupts between the girls as they compete for the coveted "Miss the girls as they compete for the coveted "Miss Teenage Hairspray 1963" crown.Teenage Hairspray 1963" crown.

TracyTracy

AmberAmberLinkLink

EXTENDED SYNOPSIS At school, however, a short stint At school, however, a short stint in detention and raised-eyebrows in detention and raised-eyebrows caused by the budding caused by the budding relationship between her best relationship between her best friend friend Penny Pingleton (Amanda Penny Pingleton (Amanda Bynes) Bynes) and and Seaweed J. Stubbs Seaweed J. Stubbs (Elijah Kelley), (Elijah Kelley), opens Tracy's opens Tracy's eyes to a bigger issue: racial eyes to a bigger issue: racial inequality. Throwing caution to inequality. Throwing caution to the wind, she leads a march with the wind, she leads a march with Motormouth Maybelle (Queen Motormouth Maybelle (Queen Latifah) to fight for integration Latifah) to fight for integration and winds up with an arrest and winds up with an arrest warrant instead. Tracy is on the warrant instead. Tracy is on the run now and - literally - goes run now and - literally - goes underground to Penny’s underground to Penny’s basement.basement.

PennyPenny SeaweedSeaweed

CRITICAL OPINION

FILM REVIEWHAIRSPRAY

HAIR SPRAY CONNECTS WITH THE OUTSIDER

Why does John Travolta play Why does John Travolta play the role of a woman? the role of a woman?

FINDING TRUTH IN

FINDING TRUTH IN

HAIRSPRAY

HAIRSPRAY

–Is God an‘Outsider’ too?

–Is God an‘Outsider’ too?

BEING COMFORTABLE AS AN OUTSIDER

““For years, I felt miserable about being an outsider, but then I For years, I felt miserable about being an outsider, but then I suddenly embraced it, ... I saw suddenly embraced it, ... I saw the value of being an outsider. the value of being an outsider. It was It was liberatingliberating. You didn't have to worry about trying to fit in or losing . You didn't have to worry about trying to fit in or losing your insider status. It also encouraged you to challenge and your insider status. It also encouraged you to challenge and provoke the status quoprovoke the status quo.” .” --Alex Kapranos, the guitarist and singer of the Scottish band Franz --Alex Kapranos, the guitarist and singer of the Scottish band Franz Ferdinand.Ferdinand.

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