From left, Robby Eisentrout, Grace Gilmore, Schuyler Robinson, Maimouna Jammeh and Tre Brown in "Hairspray."

photo by Myra Klarman

Pioneer High School's Theatre Guild will present the celebrated, multi-Tony Award-winning musical "Hairspray," based on the 1988 movie by John Waters, on Saturday, November 6 at 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, November 7 at 2 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, November 12-13, at 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday, November 14 at 2 p.m. All performances happen at Schreiber Auditorium, at 601 West Stadium Boulevard.

"Hairspray," the stage musical, takes place in 1962 Baltimore and follows the story of the pleasantly plump teen Tracy Turnblad, who fights for equality on a local television show — not only for herself, but also for anyone who strays from the stereotypical television star of the 1960's.

Tracy’s family and friends join together to form a mismatched group of rebellious civil rights activists, and against all odds, they triumph, and racial equality triumphs with them.

"Hairspray" — which premiered in 2002, with music by Marc Shaiman, lyrics by Scott Wittman and Shaiman, and a book by Mark O'Donnell and Thomas Meehan —became an immediate hit on Broadway with popular songs such as “Good Morning Baltimore," “Welcome to the Sixties,” and “You Can’t Stop the Beat." And in 2007, a film adaptation of the musical, starring John Travolta, Michelle Pfeiffer, Christopher Walken, and Queen Latifah, hit the screen.

General admission tickets cost $12, while students/seniors/PHS staff pay $9. Reserved seating available at ShowTix4U. Tickets will also be on sale at the door one hour before the show. 

For information about the Opening Night Gala (a fundraiser for the Theatre Guild Booster Club), go to the Pioneer High School Theatre Guild website.