HAIRSPRAY Questions answered here! (inevitable Spoilers)- Page 7

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 7/21/07 at 11:04pm

Hi Marc,

You know I'm a big fan of Hairspray (both Broadway and film). My younger brother (not a musical fan) called me today, to tell me he was seeing Hairspray this weekend!! How about that!?

My questions:

1. Why was Edna's dream of becoming a fashion designer changed to owner of a coin-op laundry?

2. Costume question - I felt that Tracy's costume for You Can't Stop the Beat was more late 60s than early 60s. Was there a reason for this?

Thanks, and many congratulations on this film. I'm going again tomorrow.

[outovfashion07]

Posted: 7/21/07 at 11:27pm

Hey Marc, LOVED the movie. I've seen it three times so far. Once at midnight once at 10 AM and then once with my mom. I just wanted to know, If you could have ANY extras on the DVD what would they be?

[Marc Shaiman]

Posted: 7/22/07 at 1:28am

What musical instruments make up the "I can hear the bells" portion of the opening in to "Good Morning Baltimore"?

all of them!

piano, organ, saxes, acoustic guitars and strings

then once Tracy opens her eyes the drums really kick in, guitars, bass, trumpets, timpani...

whee!!

[Marc Shaiman]

Posted: 7/22/07 at 1:33am

How did the creation of this new Edna come about? Was it Travolta's choice first, and then you (the creative team) followed with the agoraphobic backstory, etc.?

Edna is agoraphobic in the stage version also...she does not want to go to Mr. Pinky's either

but in a movie, you have a wonderful thing called...A CLOSE UP!! So certain emotional beats just get to sink in more. And John Travolta really played that beautifully, that is my favorite scene in the movie.

The truth is, Travolta came in with his way of doing it, everyone was "concerned" about the accent, he said "trust me", we had no choice, and now we all can't imagine it without the accent. It is like asking W.C. Fields to not talk like W.C. Fields, Mae West not to talk like Mae West, (I know these references are FLYING over the heads of "the kids" in here)

anyway, his Edna is what he brought to the table. Then Adam, the designers and then even my underscoring all work to support his creation.
Updated On: 7/22/07 at 01:33 AM

[Marc Shaiman]

Posted: 7/22/07 at 1:36am

*Any chance you might compose another song for the London production - maybe for Michael Ball's great musical theatre voice? Would love to see/hear him in an Edna showstopper song!

*Will you be personally involved in the pre-production for the London version -- show changes ( such as adaptation of any of the new items from the movie), if any, and / or rehearsals?

no new songs for Michael Ball, no, but I certainly will make sure the keys and arrangements (and frills) allow him to show off his voice...at the right time

there are no plans right now to incorporate changes from the movie, but if our collaborators are open to it, I'd love to see it happen!

[Eileen2]

Posted: 7/22/07 at 1:37am

I normally don't see films on opening weekend, as I hit battling the crowd, but I just got back. I went to see it with my Mom who also loved it, especially the ending. Loved the orchestrations and casting.

A quick question... I was at Midsummer Night's Swing at Lincoln Center and some people started doing "The Madison" that someone said was from Hairspray. I was doing it along with them, and I didn't see "The Madison" in the film.

Do you know if I missed something, is the Madison actually in the film?

Thanks
Eileen

[Marc Shaiman]

Posted: 7/22/07 at 1:41am

1. Why was Edna's dream of becoming a fashion designer changed to owner of a coin-op laundry?

2. Costume question - I felt that Tracy's costume for You Can't Stop the Beat was more late 60s than early 60s. Was there a reason for this?

The screenwriter chose not to include that dream of Edna's which is I think a great concept that Harvey incorporated in the stage version. Some things just fall by the way side in a adaptation, that was one of them

Well, I can't speak for the designer Rita (who is brilliant) but I know that the song "WITHOUT LOVE" is also anachronistic, as it is modeled after the classic Marvin Gaye/Tammi Terrell Motown duets that were around 1967/68. The reasoning I have always offered is...well...um...er...the kids in the movie are "forward thinkers"! They are the future.

How's that?

[Marc Shaiman]

Posted: 7/22/07 at 1:43am

I was at Midsummer Night's Swing at Lincoln Center and some people started doing "The Madison" that someone said was from Hairspray. I was doing it along with them, and I didn't see "The Madison" in the film.

Do you know if I missed something, is the Madison actually in the film?

Adam felt The Madison had been done so definitively, brilliantly, iconically in both the original film and onstage, that it was time to NOT do it, for there was no way to top what had come before. So that is why we wrote "LADIES CHOICE" for Link to sing while Tracy shows her stuff.

[BroadwayEnthusiast2]

Posted: 7/22/07 at 2:00am

But The Madison is stil incorporated later on in the film.

Updated On: 7/22/07 at 02:00 AM

[jam_man]

Posted: 7/22/07 at 2:15am

Marc, great work - kudos on everything! I've seen it twice already, I'm going again Sunday night, and I would have seen it more already if I hadn't had to work the last couple of nights.

I was wondering, was the rumor of trying to get Billy Crystal for Wilbur true at the time, and if so, any particular reason that one fell through? As much as I enjoyed Walken (and I did!), I would still love to see Crystal's take!

[Marc Shaiman]

Posted: 7/22/07 at 2:36am

Billy decided not to do it

[mateo]

Posted: 7/22/07 at 2:40am

his loss. our gain.

Christopher Walken is in another league.

Plus his career and sense of humor IS Hairspray.

[Cruel_Sandwich]

Posted: 7/22/07 at 2:40am

Outside of musical theater, what sort of music are you into?

[mateo]

Posted: 7/22/07 at 2:45am

Please say Amy Winehouse.

[Link Larkin Wanabe]

Posted: 7/22/07 at 2:47am

Hah...so since I have your attention, I will go slightly off-topic. What information can you give me about your musical "Living Dolls" that you and Scott wrote. I have a set design book with a photo of the super cool set and it intrigued me. I assume it was some sort of Barbie and Ken parody. Are the rights available? Any songs floating around on any CDs out there?

Akiva

[Luckydave14]

Posted: 7/22/07 at 2:53am

Hi Marc! I LOVED the movie! It was everything I hoped it would be and more. The new orchestrations sound great and the new songs fit in perfectly.

I was at the Today Show on Friday morning to see the cast perform (and participate in the Elephant Project! hehe [if you don't know about the project, go to www.elephantproject.org]) and wanted to let you know that the response there was absolutely INCREDIBLE. I got there at 5:30am and the line was wrapped around the block already. There must've been like 300-400 people there already. Two years ago for Rent, at 5:45am, I was around the 40th in line. If this is any indication on how Hairspray will play out for its run in the theaters, it is going to be a smash. Plus, the audience loved the performance. Were you, Adam, the cast, etc. expecting the huge response at the show?

I saw you and Adam (wearing a Hairspray 'wig' haha) before the show and was tempted to call you two over to pose for a picture with an elephant for my project, but I didn't think you would hear me. Anyways, congrats on the success and I hope the film has a long run in the theaters. I will be seeing it again tomorrow for sure.

[CDuffy5062]

Posted: 7/22/07 at 8:18am

Well, there's a lot to show off with Michael Ball's voice, so it looks like I'm going to have to complete the Hairspray Hat Trick: Broadway, movie, and London!

Thank you, BTW, for taking the time and trouble to answer our questions :)

[Marlothom]

Posted: 7/22/07 at 8:53am

I have a question, and forgive me if it has been asked and answered already. . . but I am lazy. Why did Tracy have flat hair in the finale? I understood when she said her beehive-ish was a way of conforming to the man, but it threw me for a loop, it seemed a little NJ Trash, esp. with the blonde highlights.

However, I loved the film. Currently starting for the bar, and it was SO THE BREAK I needed, to smile and laugh, and sing. Congrats!

[Marc Shaiman]

Posted: 7/22/07 at 9:45am

Outside of musical theater, what sort of music are you into?

You name it. THere isn't a form of music I "hate". Some I maybe love more than others. My CD/iTunes library is like a history class, from Beethoven to Stephen Foster to Jimi Hendrix, Judy Garland, Tom Waits, Gypsy OBC, Jack Johnson to, yes Mateo, Amy Winehouse.

Why anyone would put up boundaries concerning music is beyond me!
Updated On: 7/22/07 at 09:45 AM

[pushdabutton]

Posted: 7/22/07 at 11:08am

For those of you that have seen the movie, is it appropriate for a 9 year old? My niece really wants to see it and I promised her I would take her. What do you think?

[Christy323]

Posted: 7/22/07 at 11:16am

I think it'd be fine to take your niece. There are little things like teenagers smoking in the bathroom, and if she's a Zac Efron fan, she might be a little bit shocked when he says "ass" and "damn" (my 14-year-old cousin gasped). But ultimately, this is a PG film. Yes it does deal with racism and prejudice in a big way, but it certainly isn't anything that she hasn't already learned about in school.
Updated On: 7/22/07 at 11:16 AM

[Broadwaywest2]

Posted: 7/22/07 at 12:40pm

Hi Marc,

Just checked out the movie last night in Vegas. I loved it. Just like when I saw the show I had a smile on my face from begining to end. Your amazing score, is still in my opinion, the true star of this piece. My question is kinda of interesting, I'm not sure if your the dude to answer it. but was John Travolta's blue dress in the "timeless to me number" an homage to Divine's in "pink Flamingos"?

P.S.You, Scott, Adam, and Ricki looked fabulous in the movie.

[Mojojo5]

Posted: 7/22/07 at 12:59pm

I seem to be joining this program already in progress...

Anyways, I've been a hair-hopper since the original film came out - loved it, loved the Broadway show, and now loved the movie musical! My question is regarding the score. Mentioned here and in other articles you've said that "Without Love" is based on the duets of Tammi Terrell and Marvin Gaye and "You Can't Stop the Beat" is an homage to Phil Spector and Tina Turner's collaboration on "River Deep, Mountain High"... are other songs from the show an homage to the music and songs of the 60s?

Z.

[neilberl]

Posted: 7/22/07 at 1:04pm

Marc -

What happened to the planned Martin Short Fame Becomes Me Tour? When the closing was announced, it was also announced that a tour would start.... but haven't heard about the tour - what's up with the tour?

[BroadwayEnthusiast2]

Posted: 7/22/07 at 2:15pm

Akiva, is there any way you could show me a picture of that set? I've been trying for awhile to dig up info on Living Dolls but there is barely anything out there. I would love to hear a couple of the songs, Marc!