A scene from Hairspray

December 1, 2005 - On October 25, the producers of Hairspray teamed with Camp Broadway to offer a special evening on Broadway for New York City public middle school teachers, which included dinner, a ticket to the show, a question and answer session with the cast following the show, and a preview of some of the theatre workshops Camp Broadway has available for middle school students. Following the event, teachers had the opportunity to return with their students to see performances of the Broadway hit at special rates for the students.

“The opportunities that this Hairspray program makes available for Department of Education teachers and students are connected to real learning in theater, but also allow for an examination of issues related to ‘being an outsider’,” Paul King, director of theatre programs at the Department of Education said. “In hosting an event for our Middle School theater teachers, Margo Lion and Camp Broadway allowed the teachers to have access to great design, the processes of creating a new show and opportunities to connect with the Broadway cast. The real benefit to our kids is now being able to participate in Camp Broadway workshops and to attend this show with their theater teachers. And the teachers can connect this experience to the theater curriculum in their home school.”

“For young people transitioning from grade school to high school, Hairspray is the perfect fit,” producer Margo Lion said. “So many students in middle school struggle with the discomfort of feeling outsiders; in Hairspray the least likely heroine transforms her world and shares her triumph with all those who never thought it possible. One person can make all the difference...and live to celebrate it with our joyous finale of YOU CAN'T STOP THE BEAT.”

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