2007 when I first watched this musical and the moment I heard its music, I never stopped listening to the tracks and dance with it. And Yes, I’m talking about the big fat musical comedy that swept the world with its catchy tunes and recognizable characters.

Hairspray is a stage musical based on the 1988 John Waters movie with the same title. The story revolves around a bubbly, sweet, plus sized girl named Tracy Turnblad that has an undying devotion in dancing. In fact she always makes sure to go home early after school just to watch the Dance variety Corny Collins show. Together with her best friend Penny, they spend the whole afternoon in front the television mimicking the dance moves and dreaming that someday they can be part of the show. Other than the moves, Tracy is also crazy over a council member in the Show. She is deeply in love with the school heartthrob and celebrity Link Larkin. On a much unexpected turn of event, Tracy landed a spot in the Corny Collins show. And Tracy doesn’t know that fame comes with a great price for she didn’t know that her entry in showbiz is a work of fate for a higher calling.

With the music of Marc Shaiman, Lyrics of Scott Wittman and book of Mark O'Donnell and Thomas Meehan, Hairspray is a colorful tale of Baltimore Maryland during the racially oppressed era between Whites and Blacks. But with Tracy’s TV debut she discovered that this social and political problem is more than what it looks like. Together with new found friends and her family, she dance all the way to the top and fights for freedom and racial equality.

Last year, New Line Cinema produced a movie version of the musical starring Nikki Blonsky as Tracy Turnblad and Zack Efron as Link Larkin. Other than the movie Broadway is the only way for every musical lover to watch this show. But unfortunately, very few Filipinos have the opportunity to travel. So worry not because Hairspray is already set to hit Manila.

Atlantis Productions, producers of hit musicals like Rent and Avenue Q already got the license over a Hairspray adaptation here in the Philippines and set to premiere this coming November 14. Musical lovers like me are very excited to watch this show and to be sure, we already reserved our tickets from friends connected to the production.

Hairspray cast will be including the new comers Madel Ching and Tim Espinosa playing the leads as Tracy Turnblad and Link Larkin repectively, Leo Rialp as Wilbur Turnblad, The incomparable singer Dulce as Motormouth Maybelle, coming back from her recently successful adaptation of West Side Story Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo as Velma Von Tussle, the acoustic performer Nyoy Volante as Seaweed Stubbs, Monica Reynoso as Penny Pingleton, Noel Rayos as Corny Collins, Christine Allado as Amber Von Tussle and the Multi-awarded stage, movie and TV Actor and Director Michael De Mesa playing Tracy’s big mother Edna Turnblad.

The musical will also be directed by Bobby Garcia, the very talented and genius behind Avenue Q, Rent and the Asian Tour of Roger’s and Hammerstein’s Cinderella top billed by the Tony award winner Lea Salongga. Choreography by Cecile Martinez, sets and costumes by Gino Gonzales, lighting design by Shoko Matsumoto and Musical Director Archie Castillo conducts FILharmoniKA.

With a cast lineup like this combined with Director Bobby’s stage excellence and a stellar staff, Hairspray Manila will guarantee everyone a great show with feet tapping dance moves and music.

Hairspray will start running this coming November 14, 2008 and will end in December 7, 2008 at the CCP Star theater. Get your tickets now in Ticketworld, call 8919999 or call Atlantis Productions at 892-7078.

Let’s shake our shimmy and see you at the show.