Hello, dear readers, and welcome to our first edition of LGBTQ+ Art! We highlight the works of LGBTQ+ creators or any movie, book, or other forms of art that has an LGBTQ+ focus. Today, we'll be focusing on one of my favorite films, Hairspray (the 2007 remake)! Hairspray was directed by Adam Shankman, who is an openly gay man. He has directed The Pacifier, Hairspray, What Men Want, and many other movies. He also plans on directing the sequel to Enchanted, which is a live-action movie produced by Walt Disney Pictures.
Adam Shankman is not only a director, but a producer, dancer, author, actor, and choreographer. He was a judge on seasons 3-10 of So You Think You Can Dance, as well as a dancer in music videos for Paula Abdul and Janet Jackson. As you can see, Adam Shankman is a very talented man, but let's explore his famous work, Hairspray.
Hairspray is a romantic musical movie based in 1962 in Baltimore, Maryland. The movie is based on the famous 2002 Broadway musical of the same name, which in turn was inspired by John Waters' 1988 film Hairspray. To keep a long story short, there are three versions of Hairspray: two movies and one Broadway musical.
The story revolves around Tracy Turnblad, a plus-sized 16-year-old girl who adores the Corny Collins Show along with her best friend Penny Pingleton. If musicals are your thing, trust me, the soundtrack is amazing. Full of wonderful songs such as Run and Tell That, Without Love, and You Can't Stop the Beat. Around every corner there's a different song to dance and sing along with. Not only that, but the message of Hairspray is a beautiful one of inclusiveness and equality, and the quality of the film makes it fun and easy to watch over and over again.
Not only is the movie amazing, but the cast and crew of Hairspray is extraordinary. Full of household names such as Queen Latifah and Zac Efron, as well as lesser-known actors, the performance is lovely, and I have never found myself to be bored or unsatisfied. It's truly an experience, and I hope all of you out there that have watched it agree with me.
If you ever want to check the film out, it is available on Prime Video for 3.99 (rent), and it's in Netflix's rotation (it's not up at the moment, but it was up months ago). If you ever get the opportunity, I recommend you give Hairspray a chance!