HAIRSPRAY Set: 1960s Baltimore, America. In the middle of the racial segregation. Tracy Turnblad: A bubbly, vibrant young girl who loves to sing and dance and wishes to be accepted for who she is despite the way she looks. Edna Turnblad: Tracy’s mother, nervous and very self conscious of her looks but has a very good relationship with her daughter, Tracy. Penny Pingleton: A shy, quirky young girl who looks up to her best friend Tracy and wishes to escape from her over-bearing mother. Prudy Pingleton: Penny’s mother, very strict and religious, she doesn’t allow Penny to have fun. Amber Von Tussle: Star of ‘The Corny Collins Show’, very confident and selfish, follows in her mother’s footsteps. Velma Von Tussle: Amber’s mother, pushes her into show business, is very rude and selfish.

Scene 1: Turnblad House (Tracy & Penny rush home from school to watch ‘The Corny Collins Show’. Edna Turnblad is ironing at home, expecting the arrival of Prudy Pingleton.) Tracy: Hurry Penny, we’re missing it! Penny: I know, but my Mom says I’m not allowed to perspire! Tracy: Quicker! Penny: I know, I am, I am! Edna: Tracy Turnblad, you know better than to run around in this house! Slow down! Tracy: But we’re going to miss it, Mom! Edna: Miss what? Penny: The Corny Collins Show, Mrs T! It’s the greatest, coolest, most amazing show on TV! Edna: Well, it’s going to turn your brains into mud. How am I supposed to iron and negotiate my pleats with that racket on? Tracy: It’s not racket, Ma! They’re the Nicest Kids in Town! With the sweetest new dance moves… Penny: Yeah, like ‘The Stricken Chicken’ and ‘The Pony Step’. (Tracy and Penny dance the steps in front of Edna.) Edna: Hmm, well, I’m not sure all this exposure to chickens and ponies is good for young ladies like you! Prudy (off stage)Edna! Edna: I’m in here, Prudy. (Hearing Prudy’s voice, Penny tries to hide behind Tracy. Prudy enters, completely ignoring Tracy.) Prudy: Edna, is my laundry ready? Edna: Yep, that’ll be $3.00, hon. Prudy: That’s pretty pricey for a pair of petty pants. Edna: Well, I’m sorry Prudy, but some of those stains required poundin’ with a rock! Prudy: I’m sure I don’t know what you mean. (Sees Tracy dancing, not noticing Penny hiding.) You’re not letting Tracy watch those silly TV shows again, are you? My Penny spends every day after school at the Stamp and Coin Club. Edna: Oh, really? Well, your daughter happ… (Interrupted by Tracy waving at her to be quiet.) Oh, what is this? ‘The Wavin’ Raven’? (Tracy mouths ‘Don’t tell, Prudy’ to Edna and indicates to Penny behind her. Prudy misses all of this.) Edna: Tracy Turnblad, are you trying to tell me that Penny didn’t get permission from her mother to be here? Prudy: What? Penny! (Penny reveals herself in front of Prudy and Edna. Prudy goes over and grabs Penny’s hand.) You are banned from this house. You will never watch that show again! Penny: Without that show I have nothing! Prudy: Having nothing builds character! Toodle-oo, Edna. (Prudy and Penny leave the house.) Edna: Tut tut, Tracy Turnblad. You should know better. I think it’s time that we turned that show off. Tracy: Oh Mom, please. Just five more minutes! (Edna watches the television screen for a moment.) Edna: Hmm, she’s awful pretty. What’s her name? Tracy: That’s Amber Von Tussle. She’s won ‘Miss Teenage Hairspray’ five times running! I wish I could be as pretty as her and perform on The Corny Collins Show every single day! Edna: Oh Tracy, you don’t wanna be like her. You’re perfect and wonderful the way you are. And going to school is far better than being on some crazy TV show. Tracy: Well, actually, Ma. I wanted to ask you something. The Corny Collins Show is holding open auditions for a new dancer and I really want to go and try… Edna (interrupting) Nope, stop right there, young lady! No one is auditioning for anything in this household. Tracy: But why not? Edna: I don’t want to hear another word about it, Tracy. Tracy: Mom, come on! Edna: Not another word, you hear? (Tracy storms off in a huff.)

Scene 2: Pingleton House (Prudy has sat Penny down on a chair and is walking round her.) Prudy: Penny Lou Pingleton, you are absolutely, positively, permanently punished. Penny: I’m sorry, Mother. Prudy: Oh, it’s too late for that. You will never see that Tracy Turnblad again, unless it’s with my say-so. Penny: Mother, why are you so mean? Prudy: It’s for your own good, Penny. There are evil people out there. Penny: Tracy isn’t evil. You’re crazy. Just…just… (Tracy, Edna, Amber and Velma come on stage.) Prudy: What, young lady? ‘Mama, I’m a Big Girl Now’ Scene 3: WYZT Television Studios (Velma and Amber are having a conversation, when Tracy, Edna, Penny and Prudy enter the Television Studios. They watch the group from afar and laugh to each other.) Tracy: Oh my Gosh, Penny, there’s Link! I don’t believe it! Pinch me. (Penny pinches her.) Owww! Penny: Sorry, but you did tell me to! Tracy: I can’t believe I’m really here auditioning! Edna: Now, Tracy, get a hold of yourself. You need to be professional and mature. Prudy: Mature? Oh please, some of these kids look fresh out of diapers! Penny: Mother, you promised you wouldn’t say anything mean. This is Tracy’s big chance! (Amber walks over.) Amber: Good morning, ladies. I trust you’re not all here to audition? Tracy: No, just me. Hi, I’m Tracy Turnblad. It’s so nice to meet you and… Amber (interrupting) Yes, well, we don’t really have time for all that, Miss. So, can you dance? Penny: Oh, Tracy is the best dancer at our school! And she watches The Corny Collins Show every single day! Edna (proud) It’s true. She prances around our house doing ‘The Finger Lickin’ Chicken’ and ‘The Cute Newt’ and whatever else you do on your show! Tracy (embarrassed) It’s ‘The Stricken Chicken’, Mom. And there’s no such thing as ‘The Cute Newt’. Prudy: Well, I think it all sounds preposterous. Creating dance moves from the names of animals? Why, it’s animal cruelty! Penny: Mother! Shut up! (Amber walks towards Tracy.) Amber: Well, we’d be more than happy for you to audition. But unfortunately, our show isn’t broadcast in Cinemascope! Tracy: Excuse me? Amber: But I’m sure the camera guy will manage just fine. Edna: He shouldn’t have to ‘manage’ at all! Come on, Tracy. You don’t need this. Penny: Yeah, Tracy, your Mom’s right. You’re better than all this. Prudy: I quite agree. Amber: Well, thank you for showing up, Tracy. I’m sure there will be room for you some other time. Tracy: Thanks. You’re too kind. Oh, and Amber? Your hair looks a little flat! Amber (shocked) What?! Tracy: Bye! (Tracy, Penny, Edna and Prudy all begin to exit, giggling at Amber.) Amber (fuming) Argh! Edna: Oh, calm down, dear. Nothing a little hairspray won’t fix. (Amber exist on the opposite side.)