Small disappointment with Hairspray :-(

I FINALLY joined the rest of the theater world last night by seeing Hairspray (Los Angeles) for the first time. I knew nothing about the show other watching than a few production numbers from TV. I loved it except for one thing. I am probably alone in my disappointment and this is probably an old question so forgive me ahead of time! Here goes! I was disappointed that the title song from the movie wasn't used in the stage musical. I loved that song. It's probably one of my favorite 80s songs ever. I got excited before the show when I was looking at my program and saw that there was a song Hairspray in it and figured it was that cool title track from the movie soundtrack. I was so disappointed when they sang a different song. Was there ever a reason given for why they didn't use the movie song? It sounds like all the other songs in the show so it couldn't be that they were worried it wouldn't fit into the show. Was it a copyright issue? Anybody care to shed some light on it for this new Hairspray fan?

Updated On: 7/29/04 at 05:58 PM

because it's NO the movie and that song is EIGHTIES.

It doesn't matter if the song was written in the '80s. It didn't sound like it one bit!

Hairspray was the LEAST dissapointing show Ive ever seen. I saw it last summer in the midst of all the hoopla, all the awards, and all the amazing reviews and was NOT let down at all. I had everyone from the OBC except Joel Vig but he wasnt a lead anyway. Harvey was hysterical and justified his Tony win and Marissa was bubbly, smart, and pitch perfect. I thought that Kerry Butlers FLAWLESS performance as Penny was totally overlooked. She made a stunning transition from geeky, whiny freak to a gorgeous, belty woman. She blew me away. The show was phenomenal, although the book was a little too 2-D for me and it didnt show much depth. The songs were the best to hit Broadway in years and I actually left the show singing them. The sets were cutely placed allowing one to feel as though they are inside a comic book. The costumes, lighting, and sound were are perfectly clever and the show was not at all a dissapointment and I have seen it twice since and plan to go again.

I guess the tour wasnt that pleasing.

If you read The Roots, you know that the creative team were very particular when it came to staying in 1962.

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yes they were.


and another thing about that somng from the movie. Jerry Mitchell and Jack O'Brien have said MANY MANY times that they were not putting the movie on stage. They were putting HAIRSPRAY on stage. So of course they weren't going to use a VERY small, indidental song from the movie that wouldn't even fit!

yeah, just like with many other movies-turned-musicals. like broadwayguy2 said, they are not trying to put the movie on stage. they want to recreate the story for audiences.

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As a matter of fact, I'm sitting in my dressing room at The Pantages Theatre in Hollywood, frantically reading as many posts before my evening performance and voila, my name pops up.

I'd love to comment on this thread's topic.

Although Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman are very gracious guys, I doubt that any composer/lyricist would entertain the thought of using someone else's music/words in what is designed to be AND should be an "original" score for a new Broadway Musical.

Call me crazy but that's what I think.

And yes, I've been posting less these days. I've been very busy with the show, cast changes, rehearsals, I have a vehicle that just got stolen and I'm also buying a house in Palm Springs. Call me ambitious.

ok, Phantom 2, are you suggesting any one of us "pristine" people on this board would even think of that (you are too funny!)...Jim suggested this week that Velma & Amber were SOOO into money, maybe they hocked the dad gum car for cash and revenge since they were not in the Ryan Secrest show...but with sincerity and reality, sorry Jim, your NEW GORGEOUS car? Maybe some of us could come out there and help the LA police find the ne'r do wells who stole it. Will keep you in our prayers, it is just not right!

Thanks, DGrant! How on earth anyone can take my post saying I LOVED Hairspray but had one small disappointment with it and interpret it as my saying the tour isn't good is beyond me!

I was thinking of how Millie used a couple of its film's songs in its Broadway score, and it made me curious why Hairspray took the opposite path. I'm not arguing pro or con on either choice, I'm just asking because I am curious. On the flip side, I'd also love to hear why Millie's composer/lyricist decided to keep a couple of the film's song.

Thanks for the straight answer, JimV! I really appreciate it! I understand the rationale behind the decision.

Updated On: 8/1/04 at 01:36 AM

I just love "Good Morning Baltimore". I sing it in the shower all the time and every time I see the show I'm singing along in my head (I don;t think anyone would be happy to hear me actually sing along.).
Maybe it's because I saw the musical before I saw the movie.
Jim, I hope you get your truck back!!! -Penny

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