SLCC's Grand Theatre Hosting Tony Award Winner 'Hairspray'

Salt Lake Community College's Grand Theatre will host a production of "Hairspray" to close out its 2016-17 season. The musical will run May 11 to June 3.

The 1950's are over and change is in the air. "Hairspray," winner of eight Tony Awards including Best Musical, is a family-friendly show piled bouffant-high with laughter, romance and deliriously tuneful songs. It's 1962 in Baltimore, and the loveable, plus-size teen Tracy Turnblad has only one desire: to dance on the popular Corny Collins Show. When her dream comes true, Tracy is transformed from social outcast to sudden star. Tracy uses her newfound power to dethrone the reigning Teen Queen, win the affections of heartthrob Link Larkin and racially integrate a TV network, all without denting her 'do.

Thomas Meehan and Mark O'Donnell wrote the original book "Hairspray." Marc Shaiman wrote the music and also the lyrics, along with Scott Wittman. The Grand Theatre production is under the direction of Jim Christian, with Ken Plain as musical director, Dee Dee Darby-Duffin as assistant musical director and Jessica Merrill as choreographer. Tickets are $8-$22 and are available at http://www.grandtheatrecompany.com.

The landmark Grand Theatre is a 1,100-seat venue located at Salt Lake Community College's historic South City Campus, home of the innovative and state-of-the-industry Center for Arts and Media at 1575 South State Street in Salt Lake City. The theatre dates back to the 1930s when it was part of South High School, which SLCC purchased in 1989, a year after the school closed. The Grand Theatre began offering productions that year and has since with great care and expense retained its Depression-era charm and attraction while also incorporating the latest technology in lighting and sound. For the past three years it has been an official screening venue for the annual Sundance Film Festival. Every season the Grand is host to award-winning theatre and dance productions and concerts that attract arts enthusiasts from all along the Wasatch Front.