Day Middle School Students Shake and Shimmy in Hairspray Jr. Performance

Press release provided by Day Drama.

What Gives a Girl Power and Punch?Is it Charm, is it Poise?No, it’s Hairspray!

DAY MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS SOME OF ‘THE NICEST KIDS IN TOWN’ TO TEASE UP THEIR HAIR AND TWIST AND SHOUT IN HAIRSPRAY JR.

Hairdos and excitement will be on the rise and Newton will shake and shimmy when local students at Day Middle School present their production of Hairspray JR. beginning March 5 through 7 at 7 PM, it was announced today by Freddie Gershon, CEO of Music Theatre International (MTI). The family-friendly show captures the spirit and turmoil of 1962 Baltimore through laughter, dance, romance, and deliriously tuneful songs.

“Hairspray JR. is a dynamic musical with an important message: that acceptance comes in all shapes, sizes, and nationalities,” says Gershon. “Through their production these students will explore ideas like civil rights and discrimination in the context of a period of tremendous social and historical significance in the U.S.” he adds.

The story follows Tracy Turnblad, a girl with big hair and a big heart, who has only one passion – to dance. When her determination and rock ‘n roll moves land her a spot on a local television dance program, “The Corny Collins Show,” she is transformed from an outsider to an irrepressible teen celebrity. This trendsetter in dance and fashion uses her fame to win the affections of heartthrob Link Larkin, challenge the program’s reigning princess Amber, and rally against racial segregation… all without denting her ‘do.

With a book by Mark O’Donnell and Thomas Meehan, music and lyrics by Marc Shaiman, and lyrics by Scott Wittman, Hairspray JR. is based on the 1988 New Line Cinema film written and directed by John Waters, which inspired the “bouffant” Broadway production which ran for over 2,500 performances and won eight Tony Awards including Best Musical. New Line Cinema released a film adaptation of the stage version, starring John Travolta, Michelle Pfeiffer, Christopher Walken, and Queen Latifah.

Day Drama in Newton will present Hairspray JR. on March 5-7 at 7 PM at Day Middle School at 21 Minot Place. Tickets are $10 and may be purchased by emailing the director at mcgettrickj@newton.k12.ma.us or purchasing tickets at lunchtime at Day. For more information please call/email Jessica McGettrick at Day Middle School.

Hairspray JR. is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. 421 West 54th Street, New York, NY 10019 Phone: 212-541-4684 Fax: 212-397-4684 www.MTIShows.com.

Music Theatre International (MTI) is one of the world’s leading theatrical licensing agencies, granting schools as well as amateur and professional theatres from around the world the rights to perform the largest selection of great musicals from Broadway and beyond. MTI works directly with the composers, lyricists and book writers of these shows to provide official scripts, musical materials and dynamic theatrical resources to over 60,000 theatrical organizations in the US and in over 60 countries worldwide.

MTI is particularly dedicated to the idea of theatre as education and has created special collections for younger performers. The MTI Broadway Junior Collection® includes JR. titles, 60-minute musicals for performance by middle school children; and KIDS titles, 30-minute musicals for performance by elementary school children. MTI School Editions™ are musicals that have been annotated for performance by high school students, and the Theatre For Young Audiences (TYA) Collection are 70-minute musicals designed for adults to perform for children.

MTIShowSpace.com is the theatre world’s online community where practitioners and fans from around the world share advice, photos, videos, sets, props, costumes and more to help bring their next productions to life.

Image via Flickr