BWW Gets Exclusive Photo Coverage: Inside Hairspray UK Film Premiere Party!

Coincidence and a few days off from the Streisand European Tour, found actor Michael Arden and director Richard Jay-Alexander in London and invited by producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron to the splashy London premiere of the musical film version of HAIRSPRAY. The primary color carpet opening of the film was at the famed Odeon West End Cinema in Leicester Square. Richard, luckily for BWW, had his camera and snapped some pictures at the party at Studio Valbonne. We caught up with him this morning and he told us the following: 

"First of all, the film is fantastic and everyone in the audience had a smile on their face from beginning to end. It's beautiful to look at, the sound is amazing and Adam Shankman did one hell of a job on this film adaptation of the stage musical. The new songs are terrific and the entire cast scores big time! Travolta pulls off some subtleties and nuances that are just amazing and his performance as Edna is heartfelt, touching and very human....and, of course, he DANCES! Queen Latifah really anchors the "race" story and the young cast is positively joyous. Also scoring big time are Michelle Pfeiffer, Chris Walken, Allison Janney, Jerry Stiller and James Marsden. The movie makes you want to go out dancing into the streets. But we danced over to the party, as it was lightly drizzling (typical London), and we headed upstairs into what was truly one of the better parties for such an occasion that I'd ever been to. 

The space was decked out with Pinky's Hefty Hideaway, the dance floor was The Corny Collins Show with a live band, fun hostesses in wigs, professional dance couples doing period stuff, fantastic music and all the staff that were doing the serving (of amazing food) were wearing huge wigs. The now-famous HAIRSPRAY logo letters and vinyl discs were all over the walls and of course the "spirits" were flowing. There are parties and there are parties and believe me....I've seen some parties, but this one went on and on, as nobody seemed to want to leave. Michael Arden and I got some good photos, but somehow managed to miss a few people, including Sarah Michelle Gellar and others. A good time was had by all."

Amanda Bynes and director/choreographer Adam Shankman

Jonathan Butterell, Producer Neil Meron and Michael Arden

Jonathan Butterell, Nikki Blonsky and Neil Meron

Adam Shankman, Zac Efron and Richard Jay-Alexander

Elijah Kelley

Michael Arden, Nikki Blonsky and Producer Craig Zadan

Jonathan Butterell, Nikki Blonsky, Richard Jay-Alexander and Neil Meron

Neil Meron and Michael Arden

Elwood Hopkins and Craig Zadan