Hairspray

“BETTER THAN BROADWAY?”

“A Broadway-caliber production"

“Plenty of memorable music and sensational production numbers.”

“Hairspray" makes life hard for a theater critic, for there are so many memorable characters that no newspaper has enough space to do the performers justice.”

Peter Filichia, The Star Ledger

 
“Polished and joyous"

“Incredibly entertaining.”

“The production is blessed with a uniformly strong cast that brings fresh interpretations to now iconic roles.”

“Not only can't you stop the beat, you don't want to!”

Matt Windman, THEATERMANIA

 

“The laugh-inducing vapors of Hairspray are filling the farthest reaches of the Paper Mill Playhouse these days.”
“one of the most irresistibly silly and playful musicals of our time.”

“This production is glitzy and giddy with songs and dances, a bright and lively entertainment for the whole family.”
 “How could Hairspray not lift us up higher than could any beehive.”
Simon Saltzman, Curtain Up

 

“It's time to dance.”
“A plus-size Broadway sensation.”

“ Intermission may need extending to let the audience recover after a relentlessly energetic first act.”

“Aggressively upbeat”

“Mission accomplished.”

“There are many pleasures to be had in this delightful explosion of pastel and neon, black and white and red-hot rhythms that will surely cure your blues.”

William Westhoven, The Daily Record

“Hairspray is bursting with sass and spirit.”
 
“The soul and bubblegum hits of the early 1960s”

“Funky and fun, while sneaking in a civics lesson under its outsized beehive.”

“A very funny performance”

“In choreography, costumes and sets, the Paper Mill production closely follows the Broadway original. But any dust that's accumulated since 2002, this cast blows off, decisively.”

“Unexpectedly touching”

Jim Beckerman, NORTHJERSEY.COM - The Record

“Delightful revival"

"Lifts your spirits and slaps a smile on your face.”

“The entire ensemble does spectacular work."

“I can't recommend this production enough"

“Hairspray is great fun for the whole family.”

Lynn Marie Macy, New York Theatre 

 

“A great production"

"You will have a smile on your face throughout"
“The perfect high-energy antidote to the doldrums of summer, from where we are just emerging.”

“Danelson's performance is sparky, Energizer Bunny good and is so uplifting that, when she puts out the call for Paper Mill to dance, you WANT to dance with her!”

“These are very talented people, and even if you've seen "Hairspray" on Broadway, it's time to enjoy it closer to home.”

Sherri Rase, Q on Stage

 

“Wow!”

“Wonderful!”

“A wonderful toe-taping theater event not to be missed" 

“Outstanding cast - equal to or better than Broadway.”

The Examiner

 

“Clear the calendar of obligations, Put aside the yard work, and maybe even the homework. There’s a musical to see, and it’s not going to be here for very long.”

My Verona

 

“…the Paper Mill version hits all the notes.”

“The evil are punished, the good triumph and the whole thing goes down like a tasty bit of candy.”

Baristanet 

 

“near perfection”

“A production that attempts to recreate it's Broadway counterpart and not only succeeds, but manages to exceed nearly across the board.”

“Kudos… on a job well done.”

“the cast is strong”

Broadway World

 

“A face paced, funny show that is of Broadway caliber”

Villadom Times 

 

“amazing chorus"

“electrifying choreography”

“If anyone is still wondering if Paper Mill Playhouse has gotten past its recent rough times, all they need to do is see this sensational production of Hairspray”

“Paper Mill has done more than just turn a corner -- it is back with a vengeance, and with Hairspray, it is giving audiences as much, if not more, reasons to cheer than most of the shows currently running on the other side of the Hudson.”

Musicals 101

 

“Wow!”

“Don't miss this one; it's two and a half hours of pure energetic talent like you haven't seen in many moons.”

“One huge blast of fresh air after another.”

“Laughs aplenty in a calculated, shameless effort to entertain you.”

Stuart Duncan, NEW JERSEY NEWSROOM

 

“A strong, first rate cast”

TALKIN BROADWAY

 

“While the hair on stage is stiff as a board, the audience in the seats is loose as a goose.”

“The sheer exuberance of the cast alone makes this production comparable to the 2002 Broadway show… and much, much better than the movie.”

“The cast is excellent”

Curt Schleier, Jewish Week 

 

“A blowout success”

“An absolutely unforgettable night”

“Jaw-dropping numbers”

“Hairspray grabs onto audiences of all ages”

“Each number is better than the one before it”

Judy Jansen, Millburn Patch

“Ridiculous but heartfelt, hackneyed and sincere”

“Paper Mill Playhouse demonstrates how much can be done with small budgets and lots of talent”

Paulanne Simmons, New York Theatre Wire 

 

“This fast-paced crowd-pleaser packs every ounce of its original whirlwind appeal.”

“A smart score”

“Snazzy visuals”

“Hairspray would not be nearly so much fun were it not for the spirited turns of the show’s leads and frisky ensemble”

Michael Sommers, New York Times

“A great show for your kids to see”

“The rhythms will get your toes tapping and you’ll want to get up and dance in the aisles”

“Goofy, charming and life-affirming”

“Hairspray teaches us something about the human condition”

“The show received a standing ovation… It deserved one”

NJ Arts Maven

 

“Exciting”

“Breathtaking”
“Wonderfully provoking songs”

“The colorful scenic designs and even more outrageously colorful costumes were nearly as entertaining as the production itself”

Bea Smith, Worrall Publications (ESSEX JOURNAL)