Appearance
Hairspray (2007)
Directed by Adam Shankman, the 2007 version of Hairspray is a vibrant musical film based on the 2002 Broadway musical, which in turn was based on John Waters’ 1988 film. Set in 1962 Baltimore, the story follows the irrepressible Tracy Turnblad (Nikki Blonsky) as she chases her dream of dancing on The Corny Collins Show. Tracy becomes a local celebrity and uses her platform to advocate for racial integration, all while dealing with the schemes of Velma Von Tussle (Michelle Pfeiffer).
The film features an all-star cast, including John Travolta in drag as Edna Turnblad, and is celebrated for its high-energy musical numbers and bright, candy-colored production design.
Locations
While the story is famously set in Baltimore, Maryland, the 2007 production was filmed almost entirely in and around Toronto and Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, due to the city's well-preserved 1960s-era architecture.
Dundas Street West, Toronto
The opening number, "Good Morning Baltimore," was filmed along Dundas Street West (specifically between Gladstone and Lisgar). The production dressed the storefronts to look like 1962 Baltimore, including the hardware store and the "Hard-to-Find" records shop. Map Location
Queen Victoria School, Toronto
The exterior of Patterson Park High School, where Tracy and Penny attend classes, was filmed at Queen Victoria Public School in Toronto. The school's red-brick facade and classic 1950s/60s institutional look made it a perfect fit for the setting. Map Location
Lord Lansdowne Public School, Toronto
The interior school scenes, including the gym where the "Dodgeball" sequence and the "The Nicest Kids in Town" auditions were held, were filmed at Lord Lansdowne Public School. The school’s circular architecture provided a unique, retro-futuristic backdrop for the musical numbers. Map Location
King Street West, Hamilton
The climactic "Miss Teenage Hairspray" pageant and the exterior of the WYZT television studio were filmed on King Street West in Hamilton, Ontario. The crew utilized the historic Hamilton Place (now FirstOntario Concert Hall) for the theater interiors. Map Location
Showline Studios, Toronto
Most of the elaborate interior sets, including the Turnblad home, the "Hardy-Har-Hut" joke shop, and the brightly lit sets of The Corny Collins Show, were built at Showline Studios. This allowed the production to control the lighting and camera movements necessary for the complex choreography. Map Location
Director
Adam Shankman
Cast
Nikki Blonsky
John Travolta
Michelle Pfeiffer
Christopher Walken
Queen Latifah
Zac Efron
IMDB
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