Mel Smith Joins Ball and Jones in London 'Hairspray'

Mel Smith will make his West End musical debut starring as 'Wilbur Turnblad' in the smash hit multi-award winning musical Hairspray, which will open at the Shaftesbury Theatre on Tuesday, October 30, following previews from October 11.  He will play opposite Michael Ball, who will star as 'Edna Turnblad', with 22 year-old complete unknown LeAnne Jones, making her first professional appearance, playing 'Tracy Turnblad'.

Mel Smith is best known from his award winning television career, including "Smith & Jones", "Alas Smith & Jones" and "Not The 9 O'Clock News".  His many films include Twelfth Night, Wilt, Morons From Outer Space, National Lampoon's European Vacation and The Princess Bride.  His career also encompasses stage work, both as an actor and as a director.

Ball has had an award-winning career both in the West End and on Broadway. A best selling recording artist, he has starred in musicals on both sides of the Atlantic, including The Phantom Of The Opera, Les Misérables, Aspects Of Love, Passion, The Woman In White and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. He has had several of his own television shows including his "Michael Ball Christmas Special" and "An Evening With Michael Ball". His numerous solo albums have all been best-sellers. 

The musical has a book by Mark O'Donnell and Thomas Meehan, music by Marc Shaiman and lyrics by Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman. The musical is based on the New Line Cinema film, written and directed by John Waters. The musical will be directed by Jack O'Brien and choreographed by Jerry Mitchell. The scenic design is by David Rockwell, the costumes by William Ivey Long, the lighting by Kenneth Posner and the sound by Steve C. Kennedy. With orchestrations by Harold Wheeler and arrangements by Marc Shaiman, the musical direction is by Lon Hoyt. The West End production of Hairspray will be staged by the entire original Broadway creative team. 

Hairspray opened at the Neil Simon Theatre in New York in August 2002 to rave reviews and public acclaim. It subsequently swept the board at the 2003 Tony Awards, winning 8 including 'Best Musical', the Drama Desk Awards, winning 10 including 'Best Musical', and the Outer Critics Circle Awards, winning 5 including 'Best Broadway Musical'. The show also won the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for 'Best Musical' and the Drama League Award for 'Outstanding Musical Production'.  The show has also played two hugely successful US tours as well as seasons in Toronto and Las Vegas.  A major motion picture version of the musical was released nationwide in the UK on July 20.

The musical will be produced in London by Stage Entertainment with Margo Lion, The Baruch/Viertel/ Routh/Frankel Group and New Line Cinema in association with others from the Broadway producing team. 

Performances times at the Shaftesbury Theatre will be Mondays to Saturdays at 7.30pm, with Thursday and Saturday matinees at 3.00pm. Tickets, priced from £20 - £60, are available from the Shaftesbury Theatre Box Office on 0207 379 5399 or by visiting www.hairspraythemusical.com.

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