Isle of Man Bank is to sponsor this summer's production - by the Manx Operatic Society - of the award-winning musical Hairspray which takes to the stage of the Gaiety Theatre from June 29th to July 6th.
Hairspray, the musical, represents a major coup for the Society as it has been granted the rights for the first amateur performance since the show closed in the West End two years ago. Hairspray began life on Broadway and ran for seven years and 2,500 performances before closing in January 2009. A successful run followed, in London, before the production went on a UK tour. The professional cast is currently taking it on another UK tour and there have been separate productions all over the world including America, Canada, Argentina, Australia and Germany.
Isle of Man Bank's Head of Community Investment, John Lindon, said the Bank was pleased to be part of such an innovative show. He added: 'It should not be under-estimated how much work has gone into securing the first licence for an amateur production and I look forward to seeing how the Society's cast and production team manages to transform the Gaiety stage into 1962 Baltimore.'
Hairspray is based on a book and film and is a social commentary on the injustices rampant in parts of American society in the 1960s. It tells the story of teenager Tracy Turnblad and her dream to dance on The Corny Collins Show - a local television programme based on the real-life Buddy Deane Show. She obtains a role, becomes a celebrity overnight, and Hairspray charts what happens after that.
When the original production opened in America in 2002 it won eight Tony Awards - the celebration of excellence in Broadway Theatre - while the London version was nominated for a record-breaking eleven Laurence Olivier Awards, being voted the best new musical and also winning three other categories.
Isle of Man Bank's sponsorship of the Douglas show was formalised at a photo shoot attended by Mr. Lindon, Manx Operatic Society chair Nicola Openshaw and Hairspray's male and female leads - Joe Hillard and Bethany Magee.
Dean Callow, the Society's Head of PR and Publicity, said Manx audiences were in for a real treat. Said Mr. Callow: 'Not only is this the first amateur production of Hairspray but I think it is fair to say this is the first musical of its type seen in the Island.'
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