Corny Collins (Kyle Dagnan) touts the merits of his sponsor, Ultra-Clutch Hairspray, on The Corny Collins Show with (from left) Candace Nichols , Kandace Shipley, Fiona Battersby, and Karley Moon.IF YOU GOWhat: “Hairspray.”When: 8 p.m. today, Saturday, July 8-9, July 15-16, July 22-23; 7 p.m. Thursday, July 14 and July 21; 2:30 p.m. July 10, July 17 and July 24.Where: MainStage, Chattanooga Theatre Centre, 400 River St.Admission: $10-$25 (opening night $30).Phone: 267-8534.Website: www.TheatreCentre.com.HAIRSPRAY TEASERSThe Chattanooga Theatre Centre has planned several special events in conjunction with its MainStage production of “Hairspray.”Today: 7 p.m. “Welcome to the ’60s” opening night gala includes complimentary hors d’oeuvres from Events With Taste and drinks; costumes are encouraged, and patrons are eligible to win theater tickets.Thursday: 7 p.m. show offers real-time captioning for deaf and hard-of-hearing patrons.July 8: 8 p.m. show offers talk-back with the director and cast after the show.July 22: 8 p.m. Girls Night Out show offers complimentary snacks and drinks.
It’s a show as big as its hair.
“Hairspray,” the Tony Award-winning production that focuses on a plump Baltimore teenager’s desire to be famous, opens at the Chattanooga Theatre Centre today for the first of 14 shows.
“The story,” said show director George Quick, who is also the theater’s producing director, “is that Tracy [Turnblad] is a fat girl who gets made fun of. It’s the [broader] story of people on the outside who don’t seem to fit in [eventually] triumphing and becoming a part of the whole.”
While the message is not missed, he said, it’s couched in a production chock-full of fun songs and opportunities for laughter, paying homage to musicals of the late ’50s and early ’60s.