<Dd> This was...inspired by a scene late in the (1988) movie that takes place on the black side of town . It never dawned on us that a torrent of protest would follow us from almost everyone involved with the show .' It's too sad...It's too preachy...It doesn't belong...Tracy should sing the eleven o'clock number .' We simply didn't want our show to be yet another show - biz version of a civil rights story where the black characters are just background . And what could be more Tracy Turnblad - like than to give the' eleven o'clock number' to the black family at the heart of the struggle? Luckily...the audiences embraced this moment, which enriches the happy ending to follow, and it is our proudest achievement of the entire experience of writing Hairspray ." </Dd> <P> The civil rights story line is a very important aspect of the musical . This story line and the show is empowering for African Americans as it brings the audience's attention to their stories and the true events that were occurring in the 1960's, and doesn't shy away from exploring and exposing them to audiences all over the world . For example, the Corny Collins Show aspect of the musical, is based on a real show in 1960's Baltimore called The Buddy Deane Show . Therefore, viewer's can see the real socio - cultural issues that were occurring in America during this time such as segregation, and events surrounding the Buddy Deane Show, which otherwise may have been forgotten . </P> <P> After a successful tryout at Seattle's 5th Avenue Theatre, Hairspray opened on Broadway at the Neil Simon Theatre on August 15, 2002 . Jack O'Brien directed the production, which Jerry Mitchell choreographed, with set design by David Rockwell, costume design by William Ivey Long, lighting design by Kenneth Posner, sound design by Steve C. Kennedy, and the many distinctive wigs in the show by Paul Huntley . The original Broadway cast included Marissa Jaret Winokur and Harvey Fierstein in the lead roles of Tracy and Edna respectively . The cast also featured Matthew Morrison as Link, Laura Bell Bundy as Amber, Kerry Butler as Penny, Linda Hart as Velma, Mary Bond Davis as Motormouth Maybelle, Corey Reynolds as Seaweed, Jackie Hoffman as Matron, Dick Latessa as Wilbur, and Clarke Thorell as Corny Collins . Kamilah Marshall, Shayna Steele, and Judine Richard played the Dynamites . </P> <P> Hairspray received Tony Award nominations in 13 categories, winning eight, including for best musical, book, score and direction . Winokur, Fierstein and Latessa received awards for their performances . The production ran for more than six years, closing on January 4, 2009 after 2,642 performances . Thorell returned to the cast for the final ten months . Fierstein and Winokur returned to the cast for the final performances . </P>

When did hairspray first come out on broadway