Sun coverage: 'Hairspray'

The Gripe

Why did Oscars leave 'Hairspray' high and dry?

Not a single Oscar nomination for Hairspray? Something's not right here.

Theater Review

'Hairspray' holds up time after time

Hairspray, you're timeless to me.

The spritz heard 'round the world

Hold on to your pettipants: the world of Formstone and John Waters, of big hair and the Har-De-Har Hut, has invaded Tokyo and Johannesburg.

'Hair' apparent

(A) No other teen film heroine has enjoyed herself as much as Tracy Turnblad (Nikki Blonsky) in Hairspray. She's always singing about her elation and her delight in feeling that elation. She belts out all her love: for her hometown in "Good Morning, Baltimore," for Zac Efron's sympathetic, ready-for-action Link Larkin in "I Can Hear the Bells" and for an optimistic and open-for-anything age of music and dancing in "You Can't Stop the Beat."

Zac Efron

Taking his 'fabulousness' in stride

Zac Efron understands that he may be the luckiest teenager on the planet right now.

The Gripe

Yes, it's Toronto. Get over it, already

It's time to get over the hurt from not having Hairspray shot in Baltimore.

Online exclusive

John Waters interview excerpts

Two weeks before the opening of the new movie musical Hairspray, based on the 2002 Broadway musical smash based on John Waters' 1988 surprise hit comedy, Waters talked on the phone to Sun movie critic Michael Sragow about his delight with every version and his involvement with all three. Here are some excerpts:

Online exclusive

Adam Shankman interview excerpts

Best known for a string of hugely profitable big-star comedy vehicles from The Wedding Planner to Cheaper By the Dozen 2, Adam Shankman takes a giant step forward as a director in Hairspray . As he made clear to Sun movie critic Michael Sragow over the phone from London a dozen days ago, nobody could be more pleased than the ebullient Shankman himself.

Pssssst! Hairspray opens

Sure, the stars turned out for Hairspray at The Charles cinema last night - Amanda Bynes, teen heartthrob Zac Efron, newcomer Nikki Blonsky. John Waters was there, too, along with his family, both real (his mother and sister) and adopted (a few hundred starstruck Baltimoreans).

Online exclusive

Elijah Kelley talks about his experiences with 'Hairspray'

Sun movie critic Michael Sragow interviewed "Hairspray" star Elijah Kelley about his role as Seaweed J. Stubbs in the Baltimore-evoking (albeit not Baltimore-made) film. Here are some quotes from Kelley on his experience with the film:

Sweetheart role

John Waters' original thought was to cast Divine as both Edna Turnblad and her daughter, Tracy, in his 1988 film Hairspray. But common sense won out, and he ended up casting a real teen as Tracy, rather than the 42-year-old, cross-dressing Divine.

Behind the 'Hair' dressing

Beehives. Pencil skirts. Tight sweaters. Eyeliner.

Baltimore Faux Real

Hometown fans and film workers shredded their garments and tore their hair when producers decided to shoot Hairspray the movie musical - based on the Broadway musical, based on the 1988 John Waters film - in Toronto instead of Baltimore.

A peek at 'Hairspray' suggests a summer smash

Energy-plus: That's what Hairspray should offer moviegoers when it opens July 20.

Baltimore loses role as itself in movie

Say it ain't so, hon!

Tween favorite lands 'Hairspray'

Nascent star Zac Efron, 18, best known for his role in the mega-popular High School Musical, has signed on to play teen heartthrob Link Larkin in the movie version of the musical Hairspray.

'Hairspray' hopefuls vie for a shot to shine

If Tracy Turnblad could do it, why not one of them?

Travolta to star in 'Hairspray' movie

After a long break, John Travolta's got the music in him again.

'Hairspray' to film here, Toronto

Current plans call for the movie version of the Broadway hit Hair- spray to be filmed in both Baltimore and Toronto, an executive with New Line Cinema confirmed yesterday.

Hollywood needs a new Tracy

Wanted: Overweight girl with a pretty face, infectious grin and indomitable spirit. Must be a "triple threat" talent - singer/dancer/actress with a powerful Broadway-caliber singing voice.

J. Wynn Rousuck: Full circle for 'Hairspray'

Spritzzzzz! Hairspray fans have even more to cheer about. The movie version of the hit Broadway musical is expected to begin filming in summer 2005. And, New Line Cinema hopes "to at least film some of it in Baltimore," according to Mark Kaufman, senior vice president of production.