Good morning, Baltimore!

Welcome to the '60s, Gainesville! Tracy Turnblad with all of her family, friends, and hair-raising fashions brought the comedic musical Hairspray to a packed Phillips Center last night. Set in 1962 in Baltimore, the show’s about a girl (Danielle Arci) with a big heart who just wants to dance... and end segregation.

Each number was better than the last. “I Can Hear the Bells” and “Without Love” had clever choreography and use of props. Motormouth Maybelle’s (Debra Thais Evans) “I Know Where I’ve Been” stood out in sobering, soulful sincerity from the other more playful numbers - a reminder that underneath the flashy costumes and hilarious numbers, the show’s topic of discrimination is a serious matter.

One surprise of the night was during the end of “(You’re) Timeless to Me.” Tracy’s mother Edna (Jerry O’Boyle – yes, the role is played by a man) said, “You don’t look Jewish” and Tracy’s father Wilbur (Mark Harmon) said “You can’t always tell.” Edna countered “Oh, yes you can!” The actors completely lost it - locked in an embrace, they broke out in fits of giggles. The orchestra held the note and the audience howled while the actors composed themselves for the remaining bars of the song.

The flashiest number with the brightest costumes and most difficult dance moves was the finale “You Can’t Stop the Beat.” The large, 20-something-year-old man two rows in front of me danced in his seat throughout the entire hit. As the song turned into final bows, the audience members rose from their seats for a roaring standing ovation. Well, a dancing ovation: I caught the middle age man in front of me shaking his hips and the elderly couple behind me tapping their toes.

--Bridget Higginbotham

Pump up the Volume

If you're a lover of catchy choruses and colorful costumes, get out of your house and into a seat at the Phillips Center for the Performing Arts for the Broadway musical Hairspray on Wednesday, Feb. 10 at 7:30pm.

Set in the 1962, Hairspray follows Tracy Turnblad, a vivacious high-schooler who dreams of starring on local TV. As she tries to sing and dance her way into stardom, she also fights racial segregation in her town. "It's a really fun show for someone who has never experienced a live Broadway performance," says Marilyn Patrick, marketing coordinator at the Phillips Center. "It's something that's been so successful in the past."

Part of that success comes from raking up eight Tony Awards in 2003, including Best Musical, as well as its adaptation into a major motion picture in 2007, starring John Travolta and Queen Latifah. "The story is just so uplifting," Marilyn says.

The Phillips Center is located at 315 Hull Road. Tickets start at $34, and can be purchased online or at the Phillips Center box office.