For a musical that’s set in 1962, “Hairspray” continues to feel as relevant as ever.
It tells the story of Tracy Turnblad, an underdog as a full-figured teen who dreams of dancing on TV’s glamorous Corny Collins Show. The producer doesn’t want to accept Tracy because she doesn’t fit the standard image of a TV dancer, but she beats the odds and makes the cast. Once on the set, though, Tracy realizes there’s another group of people who aren’t accepted on the show—and that for this group, being marginalized is based not on their body size, but on the color of their skin.
As Brookline High School prepares to stage “Hairspray” from February 4-7, dance teacher and director Christien Polos took some time to reflect on why the musical’s message continues to resonate with audiences.
“I personally feel that we still struggle with this problem—the issue of difference, of race, the us and them,” he says. “I think Brookline is an amazingly diverse community that continues the dialogue of difference and diversity. We need to recognize different people’s experiences and not only accept this but embrace it. I think the storyline of this show is still relevant—look what’s been happening in our world today.”
Addressing the theme of conformity in “Hairspray,” Polos continues, “I really believe in the message of the show—fitting in isn’t really what’s going to make you happy; to be true to yourself and the people around you is what’s going to make you happy.”
Polos is old enough to remember what race issues were like in 1962. “The story is important to me because I was raised in a period in San Francisco among a very diverse population,” he says. “When I left San Francisco and moved to the suburbs as a young teenager, I was shocked to see that race was such a dividing issue in many communities.” His experiences helped Polos relate to the theme and struggle in “Hairspray” and inspired him to explore the true voices of the characters in the show, reexamining stereotypes within the original for this fresh BHS version.
Polos wanted not only to address race and body image stereotypes of 1962, but also to attract a cast that reflects what the BHS community actually looks like. “I felt that it was important to do a show that would specifically draw a diverse population of Brookline High School students to participate.” he says. The effort was a success: the cast is a group of talented actors, singers, and dancers that reflects Brookline’s diversity.
In the show’s final number, one verse includes these lyrics: “Yesterday is history, and it’s never coming back . . . ” We may not have yet reached the point where yesterday’s troubles are overcome, but “Hairspray” is certainly a dance step in the right direction.
With its young, energetic cast; live student band; ample doses of humor, song, and dance; and important message about valuing differences of all sorts—BHS’s production of “Hairspray” will sparkle. Tickets are available online at http://www.fopabhs.org. and at the door. Performances are Wednesday, February 4 at 3:30 pm and Thursday though Saturday, February 5-7 at 7:30 pm in the Roberts/Dubbs Auditorium of Brookline High School. Tickets are $5 for students and seniors, $10 for adults, and free for all Brookline elementary school students. “Hairspray” features music by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman and a book by Mark O’Donnell and Thomas Meehan. It’s based on the acclaimed 1988 John Waters film that starred Divine and features ’60s dance numbers and Motown rhythm and blues.
Brookline High School Friends of Performing Arts (FoPA) is a parent organization supporting the school’s programs in dance, drama, music, and stagecraft.
