ROTTEN TOMATOES: Shankman Dances His Way Into "Hairspray" Gig

Shankman Dances His Way Into "Hairspray" Gig

by Scott Weinberg | September 29, 2005

Discuss Article | Blog Article | Email To A Friend

What's a dance choreographer to do after he graduates to the realm of Profitable Director? Why, he goes back to choreography again, which is precisely what Adam Shankman will be doing for New Line's "Hairspray."

Mr. Shankman, the auteur behind such seminal classics as "The Wedding Planner," "Bringing Down the House," "The Pacifier," and the impending "Cheaper By the Dozen 2," has been tapped to direct (AND choreograph) "Hairspray," which is based on a Broadway show that was based on John Waters' flick from 1988.

According to Variety, "Shankman...will begin working immediately with screenwriter Leslie Dixon and lyricist-composers Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, the Tony-winning team that wrote the "Hairspray" score. Production will begin early next year in Baltimore, for a summer 2007 release.

Casting will now begin in earnest. John Travolta is expected to play Edna Turnblad, the role Harvey Fierstein originated onstage. The involvement of Shankman, who directed "Bringing Down the House," makes Queen Latifah an instant front-runner for the role of Motormouth Maybelle.

Shankman fills a vacancy created when original choreographer Jerry Mitchell and stage director Jack O'Brien bowed out as the pic's co-directors."

Related Items

Celeb:	Adam Shankman
	Queen Latifah
	Harvey Fierstein
	John Waters
	Leslie Dixon
	John Travolta
	Marc Shaiman
Movie:	Hairspray

	The Pacifier
	Bringing Down the House
	The Wedding Planner

(1-9 of 9 posts) | Reply

pota1967 writes:
on Sep 29 2005 07:28 AM

Sounds Yucky

(Reply to this)

puablo writes:
on Sep 29 2005 08:06 AM

So first we have The Producers, a movie, then musical, then movie based on the musical. Now we have Hairspray, a movie, then musical, then movie based on the musical. That's just weird. But really, not a bad idea (since people like that sort of thing)... until you read that John Travolta will be Edna Turnblad. Wow is that scary.

(Reply to this)

mbx writes:
on Sep 29 2005 08:21 AM

[b]this can't be good[/b]
Shankman to direct the film? come on first we had Schumacher screwing The phantom and now this? why are they picking the worst directors to make musicals? I still hope that Columbus had made a good job with Rent

(Reply to this)

Ashron writes:
on Sep 29 2005 10:24 AM

I don't mind Schenkman directing, because he's okay and I think it would be tough to screw up a great musical like Hairspray, but they're starting to try by hiring Travolta. Why not just get Harvey to do it?

(Reply to this)

skletonkee writes:
on Sep 29 2005 03:01 PM

[b]aretha!!![/b]
last i heard they were gunning for Aretha to play motermouth..just cause a director worked w/ someone in the past doesnt mean they jump to "frontrunner" status...

tis all speculation man!!

(Reply to this)

phantomsgirl writes:
on Sep 29 2005 04:16 PM

[b]ACK![/b]
NOT TRAVOLTA! not in drag...he's not even fat enough!

~Axe

(Reply to this)

PungentAroma writes:
on Sep 29 2005 04:52 PM

[b]not greased lightnin'....[/b]
why did they cast john travolta?
can anybody tell me?
PUT IN HARVEY!
He's the best one for the job.

post-script - john travolta is an awful actor

(Reply to this)

Aftermath_1551 writes:
on Sep 30 2005 07:05 AM

post post script - no he isnt

(Reply to this)

HoneycombSAFARI writes:
on Sep 30 2005 11:26 PM

I love adam shankman!
he has made some of the campiest classics of recent memory, and any doubt of his choriographing skills should be dispelled if one simply watches his work on Buffy- "once more with feeling". He is the perfect choice for hairspray

(Reply to this)