Welcome to the 60’s! The 1950s are out, and change is in the air! Hairspray, winner of eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical, is fun for the whole family! Piled high with laughter, romance, unforgettable dance numbers, and famed songs like “Good Morning Baltimore”. It's 1962 in Baltimore, and the lovable plus-size teen, Tracy Turnblad, has only one desire – to dance on the popular "Corny Collins Show." When her dream comes true, Tracy is transformed from social outcast to sudden star. She must use her newfound power to dethrone the reigning Teen Queen, win the affections of heartthrob, Link Larkin, and integrate a TV network... all without denting her 'do! You better put your dancing shoes on! After all, You Can’t Stop The Beat!

*At Short North Stage, we believe Hairspray, at its core, is a vibrant celebration of spirit, resistance, and the power of community. This show was inspired by the real-life Buddy Dean Show in 1960s Baltimore which was a beloved yet segregated teenage dance program that ultimately ended amid tensions around integration. Hairspray reflects this divisive time in our history and the many voices shaped by it and reimagines a more hopeful outcome for The Corny Collins Show where barriers are broken and communities come together through collective action. Through music, humor, and heart, Short North Stage is committed to telling this story with care, uplifting its themes of diversity, body positivity, allyship, joy, and connection. At this current moment, when questions of representation and belonging remain at the forefront, Hairspray invites you to reflect on the past while imagining a more inclusive future.