I need a Hairspray revival.- Page 2

[JennH]

Posted: 6/7/20 at 9:47am

Personally? The revival we need right now isn't Hairspray...but Ragtime. Same subject, way more 'Hello??!! This crap is still happening!". I enjoy Hairspray for what it is, but it leans way to more into the audience psyche as something that happened 50 years ago, but everything is ok now...I mean Ragtime has this issue too to a degree, but it's just way more in your face about racial justice and the events surrounding it. The 09 revival didn't hit very well then but it would now. 

Updated On: 6/7/20 at 09:47 AM

[Luminaire2]

Posted: 6/7/20 at 11:47am

JennH said: "Personally? The revival we need right now isn't Hairspray...but Ragtime. Same subject, way more 'Hello??!! This crap is still happening!". I enjoy Hairspray for what it is, but it leans way to more into the audience psyche as something that happened 50 years ago, but everything is ok now...I mean Ragtime has this issue too to a degree, but it's just way more in your face about racial justice and the events surrounding it. The 09 revival didn't hit very well thenbut it would now."


Can we have both? 

[JennH]

Posted: 6/7/20 at 12:04pm

Luminaire2 said: "JennH said: "Personally? The revival we need right now isn't Hairspray...but Ragtime. Same subject, way more 'Hello??!! This crap is still happening!". I enjoy Hairspray for what it is, but it leans way to more into the audience psyche as something that happened 50 years ago, but everything is ok now...I mean Ragtime has this issue too to a degree, but it's just way more in your face about racial justice and the events surrounding it. The 09 revival didn't hit very well thenbut it would now."


Can we have both?"

I wouldn't say no to that at all! I just think one is a bit more needed than the other and if I had to pick only one, I'd pick Ragtime because like many have said elsewhere, Hairspray is a bit too "feel good". Ragtime doesn't fall into that trap, or at least avoids it when it can. 

 

[MollyJeanneMusic]

Posted: 6/7/20 at 4:17pm

I would love to have a revival of Hairspray and/or Ragtime, but I also feel like when Broadway comes back, a lot of emphasis will be put on the writers of the show.  A lot of people have been posting today, the day that should've been the Tony Awards, about how few plays and musicals written by black writers have won major awards at the Tonys.  So hopefully that discussion can lead to other, black-written shows coming to Broadway - perhaps A Strange Loop, fresh off their Pulitzer?  I'd also love to see black people as directors on Broadway - coming back to the shows mentioned in this thread, you can't suddenly "make" Hairspray or Ragtime be written by black writers.  So why not hire a black director who can allow their input to be heard?

[hearthemsing22]

Posted: 6/8/20 at 1:36am

I would absolutely LOVE a revival of Hairspray (I was in a production in college (ensemble) and/or Ragtime.

 

I will say, one of my earliest theater memories on  Broadway is sitting in the back of the orchestra. I was sitting with family and family friends who went to see it with us, and this was right before "You Can't Stop The Beat" I turn around and there's an actor standing there in a sparkly blue dress. I think it may have been Kerry Butler before she made her "I am now a checkerboard chick!" entrance. :)