Bright colors, infectious rhythms, and joyful choreography filled The Plaza Arts Center last weekend as “Hairspray, The Musical” entertained and enthralled near-sold-out crowds.
The production, led by fledgling director Michael A. Blackmon, will return for four more shows this weekend at the unique, historic venue near downtown Eatonton.
Blackmon, 51, who also serves as co-choreographer alongside Akeem Edwards, stepped into the director’s role shortly after joining the production as assistant director. He had served as director just once before, nearly 17 years ago in his St. Louis hometown.
“Hairspray” blends spectacle with substance, reflecting both creative intensity and powerful themes in a production that tells a story far deeper and more substantial than its upbeat exterior might initially suggest — one rooted in American history, racist attitudes, civil rights, and cultural change.
Work on the local production began early in December, giving the creative team a tight schedule to cast and build a relatively large musical-theater ensemble of about two dozen performers, plus to create unique sets and secure period-correct costumes. Actors initially auditioned online before attending in-person callbacks that combined acting, singing, and dancing performances.
“Akeem and I did the dance calls, and people had to read from the script and do the songs. Then decisions were made about which roles people would play,” Blackmon explained after Friday night’s show.
“Hairspray, The Musical” premiered on Broadway in 2002 after being adapted from Jon Waters’ 1988 film. The stage version was written by Mark O’Donnell and Thomas Meehan, with music by Marc Shaiman and lyrics by Shaiman and Scott Wittman.
Set in 1962 Baltimore, the story follows Tracy Turnblad, a local teenager who rises to fame on a local TV dance show while simultaneously challenging racial segregation, prejudice, and rigid beauty standards.
Following its live debut, “Hairspray” won eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical. Meanwhile, it became widely recognized for helping to introduce several serious social themes across generations. Similarly, Blackmon said maintaining a balance between joy and history is central to the success of “Hairspray” as a live production.
“It is a history piece, based on real-life experiences of segregation, body image, and police brutality,” he said. “But the greatest thing is that music and dance have always brought people together to overcome strife in their lives.”
Putting the show together required considerable precision and patience, Blackmon added.
“With dance numbers that incorporate dialogue, scene changes, and ensemble movement, rehearsals involve layering each element gradually,” he said.
“Even in the dance numbers, there’s dialogue going on, so we’ll work on a section, add the scene, then bring it all together, clean it up, and run through it again. It’s a discovery. You just keep adding layers and layers on that process, which is deeply collaborative,” he said. “It’s a huge challenge, but it’s a lot of fun, too.”
“Hairspray, The Musical” will wrap up its Eatonton run with 7 p.m. shows Thursday through Saturday night, plus a 3 p.m. Sunday matinee.
Reserved tickets for all shows are $25 each and available at plazacenter.org.