By Priscilla Arvizu |Staff Writer|

Get ready students, Tracy Turnbald’s biggest dreams are about to hit our campus!

Hairspray the musical will be on stage at CSUSB beginning May 31 until June 9.

Hairspray is based on a book by Mark O’Donnell and Thomas Meehan, which the Theater Arts Department has adapted for the stage.

This adaption’s music is produced by Marc Shaiman, lyrics by Marc Shaiman and Scott Whittman, and directed by Margaret A. Perry.

The stage will be filled with songs taking Tracy from the sound stage of a 60s-style dance show to the streets of Baltimore, to a downtown rhythm and blues record shop!

Student Briana Pena plays Tracy Turnblad, a large girl with big hair, a kind heart, and even bigger dreams.

“A lot of imagination has gone into the Hairspray Musical. The whole crew and cast has been working really hard at making this a success,” said Scott Kruger, Public Affairs Specialist from the Theater Department.

Hairspray was inspired by the Theater Arts Department as a fun ambient that could awaken senses such as happiness and motivation to students.

“Theater inspirations pretty much happen when the entire crew gets together putting in ideas in an unorganized way and we come up with something so great,” said light and sound director Brandon.

“Set up for Hairspray has been built from the ground up. Students interested in participating in plays are encouraged to be majoring in tech or acting. It’s a broad field believe it or not,” said Brandon.

It’s suddenly 1962 in the city of Baltimore where Hairspray takes place.

Tracy has only one strong passion she wishes to purse–to dance.

Tracy attains a hit role on the local TV dance program, “The Corny Collins Show” and instantly gets changed into a teen celebrity.

She then successfully conquers the program’s ruling princess, wins the heart of the gorgeous Link Larkin and racially desegregates the television show.

Her unbelievable fame unites other teens together; they begin fighting for the right to dance, by desegregating the TV network finding true love.

This hysterical musical is coming to campus to remind us that no matter how many lemons life throws at you, “You can’t stop the beat!”

“The audience should expect many amazing things out of this Musical. I have been working fourteen hours per week with the stage crew in building the stage– it’s looking so great thus far. Very bright and colorful atmosphere in Baltimore,” said student Rachel Davenport.

In Hairspray, the 50s are out to create a strong ambiance for all of Baltimore and students.

Come watch Hairspray and find out if Tracy the trendsetter in dance and fashion defeats the program’s ruling princess, win the heart of handsome Link Larkin, and integrate a television show without messing up her big hair ‘do? Only in Hairspray!

“I watched the Hairspray rehearsal last night I was on campus and I must say that I was impressed! The cast and crews did so good and this was only rehearsal I can’t imagine how great the real play will be,” said student Shannon Walter

Students make sure to buy your tickets at the box office located in the Theater Arts Department or online at the CSUSB Theater Arts webpage. Prices range from $6 to $12 dollars per person.