Hairspray creators join school to produce West End-style musical in Sky One show

Published Monday 12 May 2008 at 17:05 by Matthew Hemley

The original creative team behind the London production of Hairspray are to help students from one UK school produce their own West End-quality version of the show as part of a new series on Sky One.

Hairspray The School Musical will be broadcast in the autumn and will feature students from a yet-to-be-announced school as they put on their own production.

On top of receiving support for the team responsible for Hairspray, the students will be mentored by celebrities in acting, singing and dancing.

Made by independent company Mentorn Media, the series will follow the students involved at the end of the summer term, when auditions will take place.

The selected cast will then come together for an intensive rehearsal week to put together a performance of what producers hope will be of “West End standard”.

Richard Woolfe, director of programming on Sky One, Two and Three, said: “Over the past few years Hairspray and High School Musical have brought musical theatre to new audiences worldwide. Hairspray The School Musical will show all of the emotions of the theatre - stage fright, crises in confidence, life-changing accomplishments and tears of joy - within a fantastic new TV format.”

Woolfe said Denise Van Outen had been asked to present the series, and added: “We hope to finalise negotiations shortly - she is as excited as us about the production.”

The eight-part series was commissioned by Donna Taberer, commissioning editor for entertainment on Sky One, Two and Three.