HAIRSPRAY - The Roots

[jamiekennywicked]

Posted: 2/19/11 at 4:43pm

Hi everyone :)
I recently got back into the music of Hairspray and was wondering, can someone briefly describe Hairspray - The Roots book and is it worth getting?

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 2/19/11 at 4:53pm

Here are to 2 reviews on Amazon that should more than answer your inquiry:

1. If you're a fan of the Broadway musical Hairspray, then you need this book. It's really that simple. In addition to a detailed history of the show, tons of photos, insider information, detailed analyses of previous versions of the script and the script that was eventually used, and even more information in general than you could possibly digest in one (or even two) readings, it's full of exactly the same kind of wacky, irreverant style and humor that's found in the show and that's helped to make it such a big success on Broadway. Hairspray: The Roots is hip, hilarious, colorful, and, in its own way, very musical.

Only one thing prevents the book from being the perfect example of its kind and earning a five star rating: it does not preserve the entire complete libretto of the show, choosing instead to eliminate the dialogue in places and replace it with scene descriptions. While this is unthinkable and incomprehensible given the sheer amount of information that was included and the great care that has been put into every other element of it, in the end, this particular frustration remains minor. If you can live with that, you'll find no other flaw in this remarkable, must-own volume.


2. This book was ok. Im glad I did not spend more than 5 dollars on it though. I expected more "Behind the Scenes" stuff. And didnt get much of that at all. I would ONLY reccomend u to get it if you are a FREAK OVER HAIRSPRAY!!! I am a HUGE broadway fan, and didnt really get into this like i have some other ones! Sorry.

[Kad]

Posted: 2/19/11 at 6:42pm

I have it. It's colorful, and full of amusing little notes. But, like the reviews mention, it does NOT contain the full libretto, just song lyrics. It does have a few cut songs, but nothing major or really insightful. It has a ton of pictures from the original production you won't see anywhere else.

I also have The Producers book, which I would say is far superior in terms of content. If you really love Hairspray, I'd say just go for the published libretto.

[Overkill]

Posted: 2/20/11 at 12:32am

I have The Producers book, and it's FANTASTIC. I read this one, and wasn't as impressed. It's like the Wicked book, but less...if that makes sense. lol