Hairspray script changes?

[broadwaystar2b]

Posted: 1/24/05 at 10:17pm

Brought up in my review thread of this Saturday matinee performance of the touring company, I was curious if any of the hardcore hair-hoppers could answer this:
I noticed a few changes in the show's dialogue and even in the transitional music.
The first one was in the detention scene. As I remember the show when I saw it in July 2003, the principal comes in and sees the kids dancing, puts everyone in Special Ed, and then Tracy has a line that goes like “What do you do in special ed?” to which one of the boys says “We do musicals!”. Well in this production, the lines were, “What do you do after special ed?” to which one of the boys said, “Well, some people join Congress”
Also, “I could hear the bells” was said not only by Tracy, but also by Link after she gets hit with the ball, and Edna during “Timeless to Me”.
But one thing that really surprised me that I know I would have noticed before, was that the character of Shelley sang a reprise of "Mama I'm A Big Girl Now" during a scene change.
Was I really so oblivious the first time I saw the show that I just don't remember anything, or has the show actually gone through some script changes?

BTW, for those interested, here's my review of the show you can scim through if you'd like
Thanks for any and all help
My Hairspray Review

Posted: 1/24/05 at 10:28pm

the show has definitely changed a bit, my brain is mush right now so i cant really tell you when they changed those things. most of the changes were joke updates.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 1/24/05 at 11:13pm

There HAVE been joke updates, yes. On the tour, a few bits were changed to accomodate differences in the set. Shelley has always had an encore to "mama" to transition into the audition scene.


The scripting of the deteion joke is actually --
TRACY:: Special Ed?!? Where can you go after special Ed?!?
Stooie:: Congress!

Link has always had an "I can hear the bells" moment. Oroiginally it was scipted as Link reacting to the sound of bells playing the "I Can Hear The Bells" melody, but the line was added at some point.

A lot stuff has been ad-libbed during "Timeless To Me" and some of that has become basically scripted.

[juice23]

Posted: 1/24/05 at 11:21pm

has anyone noticed that the lyrics in cooties have changed? when i went tracy jai sang something diff. than what is on the cd....

[PennyLou]

Posted: 1/24/05 at 11:22pm

ok the 'special ed' was changed just beforee the holidays last year. so around dec 2003. I saw the show for the first time June 2003 and Shelly sang the repsise to 'Mama I'm a big girl now' as far as I know she alwasy did. Also I recall link always saying "I can hear the bell" during the doge ball sceen. Then Edna in timeless to me is a lot of adlibbing so it depends on which edna you see ans the night ect. At the same time they changed the joke you asked about they changed the Joke about what Doge ball is.. Its pretty much the same but a liltt differnt the black ensumble boy join in on it and the Joke about here comes 'special ed' He tell Fender to act like a grown up and then the gym teacher chims in aga a smll diffence but diffent none the less.

Then when Harvey left they changed the Joke befroe timeslees to me about being a worn out pair o bobbi sox to being a half full book of green stamps.

Also at the same tiem they added more dancing to the end of 'Without Love'.. they couples use to do there own ting now they all dance the same.

A lot of ther things they changed then they had tried on the tour first and then when it worked there they changed the tony winning show to meet the tour's show. But it's good thery are the same show so people can change in and out liek they do here and there.

Updated On: 1/25/05 at 11:22 PM

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 1/24/05 at 11:23pm

the cd was recorded BEFORE previews in NYC. Lyrics to several songs changed a bit during previews.

[PennyLou]

Posted: 1/24/05 at 11:25pm

there ahev been a few differnt things changed in the song since the CD. but they where changed befoer the shows opening night

edit.. bway guy your faster then I, but same info :)

Updated On: 1/24/05 at 11:25 PM

[juice23]

Posted: 1/24/05 at 11:27pm

thanks- i didnt know that. i actually find that rather odd- dont most shows now wait until after opening?

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 1/24/05 at 11:31pm

the repsonse and anticapation of the show was EXTREME, so they took advantage of the buzz and released the CD the day before opening.

[broadwaystar2b]

Posted: 1/25/05 at 1:43pm

yes, a few songs on the CD have had lyric changes:
"The Legend of Miss Baltimore Crabs" has a bunch (off the top of my head, instead of "belting high C's" it's something like "belting Aida" and there's a reference to Candid Camera)
In "Big Blonde and Beautiful" instead of "You bet I'm big/This blonde is grey" it's "We're here to dance/We're here to stay"
And of course, "You Can't Stop the Beat" is actually "You Can't Stop the Beat Part 1" and "You Can't Stop the Beat Part 2", and the Dynamites' riffs are in the scene change music versus actually being a part of the song.

[MagicToDo82]

Posted: 1/25/05 at 2:08pm

Personally, I will greatly miss the "We do musicals" line. I always really appreciated that. AND, I loved hearing Shoshana as Shelley singing the reprise of "Mama, I'm a big girl now."

[Joshua488]

Posted: 1/25/05 at 4:22pm

They changed lyrics to "(The Legend of) Miss Baltimore Crabs"? Aww, that line ("...by belting high Cs and preparing souffles") was one of my favorite lines in the song! Now it has something to do with AIDA??? WTF?!

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 1/25/05 at 4:35pm

I love everything about Hairspray, but I really liked the bridge that Shelley sings after "Mama, I'm a Big Girl Now". I wish they had recorded that as well. Donna Vivino (Shelley on tour) sang that bridge exceptionally well. I hope she eventually joins the Broadway company.

[PennyLou]

Posted: 1/25/05 at 7:05pm

Joshua488~ The line you are refering to isn't that differnt then the one in the CD it's "why sining aida and preraring cheese souffles"

Also in 'You Can't Stop the Beat' Edna ask Wiber to call for back up rather then oxygen.

Also after Chest started as Seaweed they added a small part to the end of 'without love'. "Penny little darlin".. "you had best belive me never leave me without love"