Hairspray! The Musical

Based on earlier movie versions of the same story, Hairspray! The Musical revolves around "pleasantly plump" teenager Tracy Turnblad and is set in racially segregated Baltimore in 1962. Despite ambiguous integration laws, the local culture sticks to a separate-but-equal mentality. We all know, however, that things are far from equal. When Tracy befriends a couple of African-American dancers and lands a spot on a TV dance show, the town turns upside down. Millennial Theatre Project presents the play tonight at 8 at the Akron Civic Theatre in a cabaret-style performance that finds the audience on stage with the performers. Tickets cost $20, and performances also take place at 8 tomorrow night and at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Saturday. There's also a performance at 6:30 on Sunday night. (Niesel)