Study Guide Hairspray

7/21/2019 Study Guide Hairspray

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2011-2012 Season Education/Outreach Programs sponsored by

C r e a t e d b y S a r i R o s e P o l l ,E d u c a t i o n / O u t r e a c h C o o r d i n a t o r

Music by MARC SHAIMAN Lyrics by SCOTT WITTMAN

Book by MARK ODONNELL and THOMAS MEEHAN

Associate ProducersRICHARD NERI & KURT SCHULZMAN

Youth Performances Underwritten byARTS COUNCIL FOR LONG BEACH MARI HOOPER

LARRY RABEN, Director

LEE MARTINO, Choreographer

DENNIS CASTELLANO, Musical Director

S o u t h e r n C a l i f o r n i a s P r e m i e r M u s i c a l T h e a t e r C o m p a n yPa u l G a rma n, Execut i ve D i rector /Producer S teven G la ud in i , Art i s t i c D i rector

2011-2012 Season Honorary Producers ACKERMAN FAMILY/EVALYN M. BAUER FOUNDATION KEN & DOTTIE REINER


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The characters ofHAIRSPRAY....3

The Synopsis......4

The 1960s.......6The Civil Rights Movement......7The Dances....8

Baltimore, Maryland.......9

Themes..........10Identify the Themes.........11Problem-Solving........12


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TRACY TURNBLAD: Teenager from Baltimore who isnt afraid to be herself and stand up for what

she believes in. She has dreams to be a dancer on The Corny Collins Show.

EDNA TURNBLAD: Tracys mother (usually played bya man in drag).

WILBUR TURNBLAD: Tracys father who encourageshis daughter to follow her heart.

LINK LARKIN: The teenage heartthrob on The CornyCollins Show and the object of Tracys affection.

AMBER VON TUSSLE: The reigning teenage queen

on The Corny Collins Show and Links formergirlfriend.

VELMA VON TUSSLE: Ambers mother and producerof The Corny Collins Show.

SEAWEED J. STUBBS: Motormouth Maybelles son, aNegro Day dancer who befriends Tracy indetention, and Pennys love interest.

MOTORMOUTH MAYBELLE: Seaweeds mother and the host of Negro Day on The Corny CollinsShow.

PENNY PINGLETON: Tracys awkward best friend.

PRUDY PINGLETON: Pennys mother.

CORNY COLLINS: Host of The Corny Collins Show who is a fan of Tracy and integration.

LITTLE INEZ: Seaweeds little sister who cant be on The Corny Collins Show because she is not white.

HARRIMAN F. SPRITZER: President of Ultra Clutch Hairspray and sponsor of The Corny CollinsShow.

THE DYNAMITES: Female singing trio.

MR. PINKY: Owner of Mr. Pinkys Hefty Hideaway clothing store.

Dancers on The Corny Collins Show:BRAD, TAMMY, FENDER, BRENDA, SKETCH, SHELLEY, IQ, and LOU ANN.

Friends of Seaweed:DUANE, GILBERT, LORRAINE, and THAD.

Gym Teacher, Principal, Matron, Guard, Denizens of Baltimore


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It's 7am on a Monday morning in Baltimore, 1962. Tracy Turnblad, a pleasantly plump teenager reflectson how much she loves her city and she loves to dance. She dreams of being a star ("Good Morning Balti-more"). Later that day, Tracy and her friend Penny rush home from high school to catch the latest episod

of The Corny Collins Show, a teenage dance TV show ("The Nicest Kids in Town"). Meanwhile, Tracy'smom, Edna, is ironing her neighbors' laundry to earn extra money. Penny's mom, Prudy, arrives to pick uher laundry from Edna. Prudy objects to the girls watching "colored music" performed on the show.

The action shifts to the TV studio were the The Corny Collins Showbroadcast has just gone to commerciabreak. Hunky teen idol Link offers his Council Member ring to vapid teen queen dancer Amber (whoseoverbearing mother, Velma, is the show's producer). When the show returns from the break, CornyCollins announces an upcoming live prime-time special, where talent scouts will be on-hand and an elec-tion to crown Miss Teenage Hairspray will be held. Tracy, watching the show, is mortified to see that Am-

ber is wearing Link's ring. Corny further announces that they're auditioning a new female dancer for the show. Tracy pleads with hemother to let her audition. Tracy's father, Wilbur, arrives home from work at his novelty gag and joke shop. Edna fears that Tracy

will be ridiculed at the auditions, but Wilbur encourages Tracy. Meanwhile, Prudy berates Penny for listening to "race music" asVelma criticizes Amber on her poor dancing. All three girls argue with their mothers ("I'm a Big Girl Now").

Tracy ultimately does attend the auditions, where she literally bumps into Link, initiating a romantic dream sequence ("I Can HearBells"), which is interrupted when Tracy is called upon to audition. Velma rejects her due to her weight and because Tracy states thashe's in favor of racial integration ("Miss Baltimore Crabs").

The following day at school, Tracy is sent to detention because her monumentally teased hair is blocking other students' view of theblackboard. In the detention hall, an African-American boy named Seaweed teaches Tracy some dance moves. Soon afterwards,Corny Collins is the guest DJ at the school's sophomore hop ("The Madison"). Corny and Link are immediately impressed by Tracy'dance moves. The next episode of The Corny Collins Showfeatures a new cast member - Tracy ("The Nicest Kids in Town - Re-prise"). During an interview with Corny, Tracy again comes out in favor of racial integration, impressing Corny but horrifying

Velma. Amber grows increasingly jealous of the attention Tracy is getting, and, to compound the situation, Corny invites Link to sina song to Tracy ("It Takes Two"). Tracy and Link kiss at the conclusion of the song.

Post-show, an argument breaks out between Corny, Velma and Mr. Spitzer, who represents the show's sponsor, Ultra Clutch hair-spray. Spitzer objects to the casting of Tracy, whom he describes as "that chubby communist". Corny informs them that he plans tointroduce lots of changes to the show, so that the kids in the cast will more accurately reflect the kids in the audience. Corny threat-ens to take the show to another network if Velma interferes. After he departs, a seething Velma decides to ruin Tracy ("Velma's Re-

venge").

At the Turnblad apartment, Edna fields calls from Tracy's burgeoning fan base. When Tracy gets a call inviting her to become thespokesperson for plus-size clothing outfitter Mr. Pinky, she asks Edna to represent her as her agent. Edna protests that she hasn'teven left the apartment in years, but Tracy insists and Edna receives an elaborate makeover ("Welcome to the 60s").

Tracy's popularity is skyrocketing at school. Amber spreads mean-spirited rumors about her. The students assemble in gym class foa game of dodgeball. Penny and Seaweed meet and immediately hit it off. A violent game of dodgeball ensues, ending with Ambersnapping the ball into Tracy's head, knocking her cold. Link reprimands Amber and goes to Tracy's aid. Tracy introduces Link toSeaweed and Penny. Seaweed invites them all to a party at his mom's record shop. When Link expresses concern that white peoplemay not be welcome in Seaweed's neighborhood, Seaweed reassures him ("Run and Tell That").

Seaweed's song carries them into Motormouth Maybelle's Record Shop, where Seaweedintroduces them to his sister, Little Inez, a dancer who was rejected at the Corny Collinsauditions for being black. Motormouth Maybelle makes a grand entrance. Amber, havingfollowed Link to the record shop, enters and is horrified at the proceedings. Velma, havingfollowed Amber, enters immediately afterwards and is similarly horrified. Edna and

Wilbur, having also been in the neighborhood, arrive as well and Velma and Edna immedi-ately dislike each other. Velma and Amber storm out; Link refuses to leave with them.Tracy hatches a plan to integrate dancing on the TV show. Motormouth is enthusiastic butLink is reluctant to participate and departs. Edna is reluctant to participate as well, solely

because she is embarrassed to be seen on TV due to her weight, but Motormouth assuresher that she has nothing to be ashamed of ("Big, Blonde and Beautiful").

The protest at the studio is disrupted by the police (called by Velma). Link expresses hissupport for Tracy as most of those present are arrested.

(ACT II continued)


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The entire female cast, with the exception of Prudy, are in jail ("The Big Doll-

house"). Due to Velma's political connections, Velma and Amber are soon re-

leased. Wilbur mortgages his store to post bail for the others. However, againdue to Velma's manipulations, Tracy remains incarcerated alone ("Baltimore -

Reprise"). Wilbur and Edna return home, only to find that Mr. Pinky has fired

Tracy as his spokesperson due to the scandal. Edna sadly recalls her own unreal-

ized dream to design a line of queen-sized dress patterns. However, even in this

time of despair and crisis, Wilbur and Edna are comforted by their shared love

("You're Timeless to Me").

Link sneaks into the jail to find Tracy. He gives her his Council ring, explaining

that he took it back from Amber to give it to Tracy ("Without Love"). Meanwhile,

Seaweed rescues Penny, who has been tied to her bed by her mother as punish-

ment for going to jail without permission. They declare their love for each other.

Simultaneously, Link helps Tracy escape from jail.

Seaweed and Penny take refuge at Motormouth Maybelle's Record Shop, where

Link and Tracy soon join them. By now, news of Tracy's escape from prison is be-

ing broadcast on TV. The friends are tempted to abandon their goal of integrating

The Corny Collins Show,but Motormouth convinces them to struggle on ("I Know

Where I've Been").

It's now the day of the live prime-

time spectacular broadcast of The

Corny Collins Show ("It's Hair-

spray!"). During a commercial

break, a disguised Wilbur wheels a

giant hairspray can onto the set.

Velma penetrates his disguise, but

Seaweed and Motormouth have

replaced the security guards. They

pretend to eject Wilbur at her be-

hest. Despite Tracy's fugitive status,

Corny reports that she and Amber

are currently neck-and-neck in the voting for Miss Teenage Hairspray. Am-

ber performs an unflattering dance dedicated to Tracy ("Cooties"). Just as

Amber seizes the crown, Tracy storms onto the set, accompanied by Link,

Penny, Seaweed, Little Inez, and company ("You Can't Stop the Beat - Part1"). Penny has been re-styled and given a cool new look. The voting now

shows Tracy as the undisputed winner, and Corny crowns her Miss Teenage

Hairspray 1962. Tracy declares the show officially integrated. Spitzer arrives

and announces that the audience is thrilled with the show, the governor has

pardoned Tracy, and he wants Velma to serve as vice president of a new line

of hair products for women of color. Wilbur opens the giant hairspray can to

reveal Edna dressed in finery ("You Can't Stop the Beat - Part 2"). The com-

pany celebrates a brand new day for Baltimore.

-Synopsis provided by Music Theatre International

Beginning:

Middle:

End:

Write a one sentence description ofwhat happens in the beginning, middle,

and end after seeing the production.


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Jackie Kennedy, First Lady toPresident John F. Kennedy,made the Bouffant hairstyle

popular in the 1960s.BIG HAIR WAS IN!!!

Use this space to draw yourfavorite hairstyle of today!


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HEY MAMA HEY MAMA,

LOOK AROUND

EVERYBODYS GROOVIN TO A BRAND NEW SOUND

HEY MAMA HEY MAMA,

FOLLOW ME

I KNOW SOMETHINGS IN YOU

THAT YOU WANNA SET FREE

Describe what you think life was like in the United States in the 1960s.

1946

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1960

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1964

President Harry S. Truman establishes the Presidents Committee on Civil

Rights due the rise of racial discrimination.

Jackie Robinson becomes the first black Major League player in baseball.

The US military becomes integrated by orders of President Truman.

BROWN vs BOARD OF EDUCATION: The US Supreme Court orders thatstudents will be admitted to public schools without regard to race.

Rosa Parks refuses to give up her seat to a white passenger on a bus and was arrested. After thbus boycott by 50,000 African-Americans, a court order declared buses were to be integrated.

The Buddy Deane Show aired in Baltimore, MD from 1957-1964, but was taken off the airbecause the TV station did not want to integrate black and white dancers. **This was the real-lifinspiration for The Corny Collins Show in HAIRSPRAY.

Students in Greensboro, NC sat at a restaurant with blacks in protest of segregation. Thesesit-ins quickly spread across the south and brought national attention to the Civil Rights Movemen

250,000 people of all races attend the March on Washington to advocate civil rights laws,integrated education, and the right to vote. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivers his I have a Dreamspeech.

The Civil Rights Act: Segregated schools and discrimination based on race, religion, ornational origin were made illegalin public places.

HAIRSPRAY takes place in 1962. The Civil Rights Movement was gather momentum and

racial tensions were at an all-time high. The country was split: some wanted integration and others

wanted to keep segregation between the blacks and whites.


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1. Stand in upright position with feetapart, doing the frug movement.

2. Hitch-hike with right thumb on thecounts 1-2-3, to you right side.

3. Clap on the fourth beat on the rightside of your body.

4. Hitch-hike with the left thumb onthe count 1-2-3, back to the left side.

5. Clap on the fourth beat on the leftside of your body. Repeat over andover.

1. Step left forward

2. Place right beside left (no weight) and clap3. Step back on right

4. Move left foot back and across the right

5. Move left foot to the left6. Move left foot back and across the right

Extend your left arm in front of your body as if you'reholding reins. Wave your right arm in a circular motionabove your head while galloping in place for two counts.Bend slightly at the waist and stick out your rear. Make

the circular arm motion by your knees while continuing to gallop in place for two counts.


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GOOD MORNING BALTIMORE / EVERY DAYS LIKE AN OPEN DOOR

EVERY NIGHT IS A FANTASY / EVERY SOUNDS LIKE A SYMPHONY

A teen dance TV show thataired in Baltimore, MD from1957-1964. The show wascanceled because the station

was unable to integrate blackand white dancers.

A teen dance TV show inthe musical HAIR-SPRAY that successfullyintegrates white and

black Baltimore teens.

The Buddy Deane Show, a local Baltimore teen dance show, is memorialized in the JohnWater's film and musical, Hairspray. The story revolves around the successful attempt bwhite and black Baltimore teens in 1962 to integrate a teen dance show, The Corny

Collins Show. The truth is starker....The rise of teen dance shows in the late 50s and ear60s signaled a dramatic cultural shift in musical taste for teens from the big band soundof the 1940s so popular with their parent, to rock and roll. More importantly, teen dancshows introduced black music, musicians and singers to a white audience who were liviin an increasingly racially integrated world. Modified forms of dances popular with blacteens also slipped into these shows. Some die-hard segregationists were so distressed atthis development that they circulated flyers warning parents about saving the white youof America by not buying or even listening to race music - negro records.

--retrieved fromHairspray in Context: Race, Rock 'n Roll and Baltimoreby Professor Taunya Ba

1954

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1964

Baltimore becomes the first Southern city to integrate its schools after the Brown decision.Public housing is integrated.

7 % Black students attend integrated schools.Department stores allow blacks to try on clothes.

14 % Black students attend integrated schools

26% Black students attend integrated schools.The Buddy Deane Show first airs on WJZ-TV in Baltimore.

Most movie theaters open to black customers.Most Baltimore hotels accommodate black customers.

Sit-ins start to occur all over Baltimore.

Protest organized by white and black ministers against a Baltimore Amusement Park for excluing blacks with mass arrests.

The Buddy Deane show is cancelled.


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Marissa Jaret Winokur, the original Tracy Turnblad, talks about confidence, bodyimage, and self-acceptance.

Hefty. Plus-sized. Dimple-kneed. Those are all from articles about Hairspray. They never want touse the word fat so they find every other word there is. Its like nobody can talk about it, or evensay it out loud. Why is that?

There are studies around that say girls who are five years old already have a bad self image.They feel bad when they look in the mirror, and theyre five years old. That is really crazy!Look at this I still have my report card from kindergarten. It says Marissa needs to learn tocontrol and lower her voice. Well, I guess I didnt really pay attention to that. I know theyprobably meant well girls should be quiet and polite but through your whole life there arepeople who want to tell you what you should do and who you should be. I dont think you shouldalways listen to them.

Ive been lucky, I guess. I always had a lot of self-confidence thats what got me into performing. And most of the timenobody gave me too much trouble about my size. Im short just five feet tall and Im not a skinny little stick. But I had alot of friends, I was a cheerleader, I was in shows at school. I just ignored anyone who said I shouldnt do those things, Iguess. Of course I would love to lose 10 pounds. I would never lie and say I dont think about it, but I dont think about itevery day. I love my body. I dont like wearing clothes that hide or cover it. I love wearing costumes that show it off.

Whenever I would go out and audition for parts, I always decided I wouldnt take the poor fat girl roles. Thats not who Iam. When I heard they were doing a musical of Hairspray I thought, yeah, thats for me. I know that some people see myweight first, but I dont think of Tracy as a role model for all the heavy girls out there shes more than that. Shes anindividual. She doesnt fit the mold. This show says that you can be whoever you really are, and not only that, you can win.John Waters always likes to say that what he loves most about Hairspray is that when they do it in high schools, there willfinally be a part for the fat girl and the drag queen. Its cool to be part of something like this, a show that really sayssomething.

Playing Tracy well, its one of the hardest things Ive ever done in my life just because of all the energy it takes, but itsalso a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Im doing my best to enjoy it and trying not to lose too much weight.

Many people deal with issues regarding self-image. Brainstorm ways a person can reach out for helpif he/she feels depressed about body image or emotions that are difficult to express.


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Identify current situations we face today in schools, in homes, and in the worldsurrounding the following problems: racism, self-image, and bullying.

Brainstorm how we might be able to start tackling these problems.

Study Guide Hairspray

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