The New York City premiere of the film Hairspray, based on the original John Waters film and the hit Broadway musical, was held on Monday night at the Ziegfeld Theater — four days before the movie’s nationwide opening in theaters. All of the musical’s major stars came out for the occasion, including John Travolta, looking far different than he does in the film as overweight Baltimore hausfrau Edna Turnblad.
Academy Award winner Christopher Walken gets to show off his timeless appeal as a singer-dancer as Edna’s loving husband, Wilbur.
Newcomer Nikki Blonsky, Disney heartthrob Zac Efron, and Nickelodeon favorite Amanda Bynes are all sensational as the effervescent Tracy Turnblad, her love interest, Link Larkin, and ditzy best friend Penny Pingleton.
The amazingly beautiful Michelle Pfeiffer practically steals the film as the evil Velma von Tussle, who has quite a case of Miss Baltimore Crabs…
…and she’s perfectly matched by the fabulous Queen Latifah as her rival, Motormouth Maybelle.
Handsome X-Men star James Marsden shows a very different side of himself — not to mention a superb singing voice — as dance show host Corny Collins.
Here are the show’s happy composer Marc Shaiman and co-lyricist Scott Wittman…
…and equally pleased producers Neil Meron (left) and Craig Zadan with good pal Liza Minnelli…
The premiere was chock full of celebrities, but none bigger than the lovely Katie Holmes, aka Mrs. Tom Cruise.
American Idol‘s Paula Abdul was on hand to judge — unofficially — the film’s merits.
Duncan Sheik has every right to look happy, since he took home two Tony Awards for Spring Awakening, which was also named Best Musical.
Tony Award winner Nathan Lane was on hand to support pals Shaiman and Wittman, who are writing his next project, the musical Catch Me If You Can, based on the Steven Spielberg film.
And here’s a trio of Broadway Hairspray stars, present, past, and future: Darlene Love, who is the current Motormouth Maybelle…
..the hilarious Linda Hart, who was the original Velma von Tussle…
