Hairspray: the musical

Tracy Turnblad wants to set a new standard for racial relations while also becoming a dancer on live television. Based in Baltimore in 1962, Pierce College’s rendition of “Hairspray” stars Jordan Haddad as the go-getting high schooler turned TV star who has a big crush on Link Larkin (Elias Korio)—the roles made famous on screen by Nikki Blonsky and Zac Efron.

Pierce Theatre Manager Michael Sande said the department hasn’t done a musical since “Cabaret,” and they wanted to do something playful but serious.

“We wanted to do something really big and contemporary,” Sande said. “It really speaks a lot to younger people because it’s about a bunch of high school students. But it also speaks to our older audience who remembers the early `60’s very well.”

Sande adds that the production touches on the marginalization of people based on size and ethnicity, but it’s also a fun musical.

“Hairspray” opens Friday, May 5, 2017, at 8 p.m. Tickets are $20 for general admission, $15 for students.