Lights! Music! Dancing! The art of the musical is one long set in history. Coming March 5-6, 2015, Desert Vista drama teachers Ms. Jennifer Miller and Mr. Ben Reinhardt will be directing a local presentation of the musical Hairspray.

Hairspray is a story set in the 1960s about a plump teenager named Tracy who wants to be a dancer on a local T.V. show called The Corny Collins Show, a  dance program based on the real-life Buddy Deane Show. The musical comments on several social injustices of society in the 60s.

“Hairspray has a lot of parts about racism, and equality in the 60s,” said freshman Samantha Maxwell, who is a part of the dance ensemble for Hairspray.

Tracy Turnblad, the lead role in Hairspray, will be played by two actors, senior Megan Fisher and sophomore Bianca Rodriguez, switching off. Other lead roles are Edna Turnblad, Tracy’ mother, played by junior Ben Miller, and Corrie Collin, the host of the Corrie Collins Show, played by senior Stephen Glass. There are roughly 60 other roles, from other important characters to background dancers.

“We have a really big cast, about 60-65 students in total. And 25 chorus students will be singing accompaniment,” said Ms. Miller, English and drama teacher.

Hairspray will premiere March 5 at 7:00 pm in the Joe McDonald Auditorium. Additional showings will take place on March 6 at 4:00 and 7:00 pm.

“It’s going to be a big thing,” said Ms. Miller.