Hairspray opens in June 1962, as plus-sized teenager Tracy Turnblad wakes up
ready for another day
(“Good Morning, Baltimore”). After school, she and her best
friend, Penny Pingleton, watch The Corny Collins Show, starring “The Nicest
Kids in Town”. While Tracy and Penny sigh over handsome Link Larkin, Tracy’s
mother, Edna, slaves away at her ironing board. Penny’s mother, Prudy
Pingleton, expresses her disapproval of teenagers dancing to “coloured
music”. Edna points out that it “ain’t coloured. The TV’s black and white.”
In the studio, show producer, Velma Von Tussle, instructs
her teen-queen daughter and Link’s girlfriend, Amber, to hog the camera,
while berating Corny, the host, about including songs with “that Detroit
sound”. She reminds him that they have to steer the kids “in the white
direction”. On air, Corny announces auditions for an opening on the show, as
well as the national broadcast of the forthcoming “Miss Teenage Hairspray
1962” contest.
Tracy wants to audition for the show. Edna is skeptical,
fearing Tracy’s size will lead to rejection, but her father, Wilbur (owner
of the Har-de-Har Hut Joke Shop), tells Tracy to follow her dream.
While Edna tells Tracy to forget about going to the
audition, Velma and Prudy argue with their daughters, Amber and Penny. The
girls stubbornly resist their mothers, declaring “Mama, I’m a Big Girl Now”.
Making their own decision, Tracy and Penny race into the
WZZT studios just as the auditions are ending. Tracy sees Link and swoons “I
Can Hear the Bells.” Velma rejects Tracy, sneering at her weight and
lamenting that times certainly have changed since she was crowned “Miss
Baltimore Crabs”.
At school, Tracy’s hairdo lands her in detention, where she
befriends Seaweed J. Stubbs, the son of Motormouth Maybelle (the host of
once-a-month “Negro Day” on The Corny Collins Show.) At a school dance,
Tracy catches Corny’s eye while doing steps she learned from Seaweed.
The next day, an astonished Edna and Wilbur see Tracy on TV,
the newest member of the Corny Collins Council. Link sings the latest hit,
“It Takes Two”, dedicating it to Tracy, now an overnight sensation. After
her mother forgives her, Tracy takes Edna out on the town for a fashion
makeover (“Welcome to the ’60s”).
During a rough scatter dodgeball game, Amber knocks out her
rival, Tracy. To cheer her up, Seaweed invites Tracy, Link and Penny (who
has an immediate crush on him) to his mother’s record shop (“Run and Tell
That”). Motormouth Maybelle welcomes them warmly; Tracy wonders why they
can’t all dance together on the show and plans to lead a protest during
“Mother-Daughter Day.” Link rejects the idea, fearing it will hurt his
chance to be on national TV. He leaves a heartbroken Tracy to go back to
Amber. Edna is dubious about joining the protest. She is self-conscious
about her weight, but Motormouth persuades her to accept herself — after
all, they’re both “Big, Blonde & Beautiful”. The demonstration turns into a
riot; the police arrive and drag Tracy and all the women off to jail.
Act Two opens in the women’s house of detention, “The Big
Dollhouse”. Everyone is released on bail, except Tracy, who is moved to
solitary confinement. Wilbur comforts a downcast Edna (“Timeless to Me”).
Meanwhile, Link realises his love for Tracy and breaks her out of jail
(using a blowtorch improvised with a lighter and a can of hairspray), and
Seaweed rescues Penny from her mother’s clutches (“Without Love”).
The four flee to Motormouth’s record shop. She reminds them
that the fight against injustice is neverending (“I Know Where I’ve Been”).
The next day, Corny’s prime-time show is in full swing and ready to announce
the winner of “Miss Teenage Hairspray 1962” (“Hairspray”). Amber and Tracy
are finalists for the title of “Miss Teenage Hairspray 1962”. Amber performs
a dance she dedicates to the absent Tracy (“Cooties”). Just as it looks like
Amber has won the crown, Tracy bursts in from the audience to claim victory
and perform a dance that’s dedicated to everyone. They all dance together;
black and white, fat and thin, young and old, as Tracy leads the company in
declaring “You Can’t Stop the Beat.”
