Sony Classical to Record Original Cast Recording of 'Hairspray,' a New Broadway Musical Based on the Film By John Waters

CD to Be Recorded On June 29 - July 1, 2002 in New York, For Release on August 13, 2002, Two Days Before Hairspray Opens At Broadway's Neil Simon Theater

PRNewswire
NEW YORK
06/27/2002

The cast of the new Broadway musical Hairspray will go into a New York studio on June 29 - July 1 following the successful Seattle run to record the original cast recording. Released by Sony Classical, the original cast recording of Hairspray, starring Harvey Fierstein and Marissa Jaret Winokur will be in-stores on August 13, 2002, two days before the show opens at Broadway's Neil Simon Theater.

Hairspray features an original score by Marc Shaiman (who co-wrote the music and lyrics to acclaimed animated film musical South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut) with lyrics by Shaiman and Scott Wittman. The show's book is by Mark O'Donnell and Thomas Meehan, and it is directed by Jack O'Brien and choreographed by Jerry Mitchell. Shaiman is also producing the original cast recording for Sony.

Based on John Waters' hilarious 1988 film, Hairspray, set in Baltimore in 1962, tells the story of Tracy Turnblad (Winokur), a big girl with big hair, an even bigger heart and one passion -- to dance. She wins a spot on the local TV dance program and, overnight, is transformed from outsider into irrepressible teen celebrity. But can a trendsetter in dance and fashion vanquish the program's reigning princess, win the heart of its heartthrob and integrate a television show without denting her 'do? Fierstein plays the role of her dangerously devoted stage mother, Edna.

Hairspray begins previews at Broadway's Neil Simon Theater, 250 W. 52nd St., on Thursday, July 18, 2002, at 8 p.m. and opens on Thursday, August 15, 2002, at 6:45 p.m. Prior to Broadway, the production received its world premiere at Seattle's 5th Avenue Theater, where it opened on June 14 to rave reviews.

Sony Classical's recording of Hairspray continues the label's long running relationship with the Broadway musical theater. Sony Classical's original cast recording of Tony Award-winning The Producers won a Grammy, as did the label's production of the documentary film Recording The Producers. Earlier this year, Sony Classical released the original cast recording of the Tony-nominated Sweet Smell of Success, and its other recent Broadway cast recordings include Jane Eyre, Swing, The Life and Side Show. In partnership with the Legacy label, Sony Classical is issuing the Columbia Broadway Masterworks series, with definitive new remasterings of classic Broadway recordings from the label's catalogue including My Fair Lady, Oklahoma, Lil' Abner and Guys and Dolls to name a few.

The original Broadway cast recording of Hairspray will be featured at http://www.hairspraymusic.com/ on Sony Classical's Web site at http://www.sonyclassical.com/. The site will include album art, track listings, sound clips, multimedia features and more. Sony Classical's Web site is an online resource for exploring the label's entire catalogue of recordings, features an online radio show, album supersites, multimedia, artist biographies, tour schedules and discographies for all Sony Classical artists, as well as special promotions, and much more.

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SOURCE: Sony Classical

CONTACT: Carol Della Penna of Sony Classical, +1-212-833-7479 or
carol_dellapenna@sonymusic.com

Web site: http://www.sonyclassical.com/
http://www.hairspraymusic.com/