April 11-26, 2026
When the film Hairspray hit the movie theaters in 1988 it catapulted avant-garde film director John Waters, previously known for his low budget cult hits Pink Flamingos and Female Trouble, to instant stardom in the mainstream entertainment world. In Hairspray, Waters managed to achieve the unimaginable—a pointed social commentary set in Baltimore during the turbulent 1960’s about race relations and the civil rights movement all wrapped up neatly in a JCPenney housecoat and pink fluffy slippers. Hairspray paved Waters’ road to success and he subsequently went on to deliver other notable star-studded hits like Cry Baby (Johnny Depp) and Serial Mom (Kathleen Turner).
Then in 2002 Broadway came calling and, thanks to composer and lyricist Marc Shaimen and lyricist Scott Whittman, delivered a super-sized Broadway hit!
Now it’s our very own treasured Slow Burn Theatre Company’s turn to say, “Good Morning Baltimore” and introduce Broward audiences to “The Nicest Kids In Town.” Under the innovative direction of Slow Burn’s artistic director, Patrick Fitzwater, Tracy Turnblad, Edna Turnblad, Link Larkin and the rest of the Corny Collins gang are ready to twist and monkey across the Amaturo stage.
Featured in the plum role of Edna Turnblad, Tracy’s perennially dieting mom, is local favorite Eric Swanson, also known to his adoring Wilton Manors fans as Miss Bouvèé. I asked Eric how it feels to be stepping into Edna’s fluffy slippers. “Playing Edna is to play a historic icon. From Divine to Harvey Fierstein to Bruce Vilanch, to me it is a way of carrying on an important theoretical torch.”
And as to whether Hairspray’s hopeful message of a truly colorblind and unified world will resonate with audiences in 2026, the answer is most decidedly yes. Eric agrees. “Hairspray is being presented at a timely position in our history. The brilliance of this show is that it tackles big-ticket issues like body shaming, racial segregation, interracial love, socioeconomic hurdles, and pop culture all through the humor of the show. A laugh can heal the world; I really believe that.”
So, if you’re a Hairspray newbie or have seen it twelve times and want to make it a baker’s dozen, get your seats today. The musical runs from April 11 to 26, 2026 at the Amaturo Theater at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets available at www.SlowBurnTheatre.org.
