On the set of Hairspray Live!, which transforms California鈥檚 Universal Studio lot into 1962 Baltimore, Easter eggs are strewn throughout the street that Maddie Baillio鈥檚 Tracy Turnblad will walk down as she sings the show鈥檚 opening number, 鈥淕ood Morning Baltimore.鈥�
While on set in Los Angeles, CA, Harvey Fierstein (the musical鈥檚 Tony-winning original star and the television broadcast鈥檚 screenwriter and star) took us through the secret references embedded in Derek McLane鈥檚 set. Below, he explains the inspiration behind each building.
The Baltimore Oriental: Baltimore Oriental was the last one I named. I wanted to call it something else. I wanted to call it The Pussycat, but I came up with it, and I just said, 鈥淟et鈥檚 go generic.鈥�
Hefty Hideaway: Obviously, Hefty Hideaway is from the show.
O鈥橠onnell鈥檚 Gems: Mark O鈥橠onnell was the original book writer of Hairspray, so that鈥檚 named for him.
Bud鈥檚 Duds: Bud鈥檚 Duds is [after] Buddy Deane鈥檚 show. The Corny Collins Show, the real show [that it is based on] was called the Buddy Deane Show. That鈥檚 for him.
Divine Pet Food: Divine with the dog poop鈥� That鈥檚 why there鈥檚 a pink flamingo on there. [Divine, who starred as Edna Turnblad in the original Hairspray film, also starred in the John Waters film Pink Flamingos, in which her character, Babs Johnson, ate dog feces in the infamous final scene.]
Bud鈥檚 Duds: Bud鈥檚 Duds is [after] Buddy Deane鈥檚 show. The Corny Collins Show, the real show [that it is based on] was called the Buddy Deane Show. That鈥檚 for him.
Divine Pet Food: Divine with the dog poop鈥� That鈥檚 why there鈥檚 a pink flamingo on there. [Divine, who starred as Edna Turnblad in the original Hairspray film, also starred in the John Waters film Pink Flamingos, in which her character, Babs Johnson, ate dog feces in the infamous final scene.]
Greenblatt鈥檚 Baltimore Crabs: Greenblatt鈥檚 is for Bob Greenblatt, [chairman of NBC Entertainment].
Ruth鈥檚 Place: Ruth Brown played Motormouth in the original John Waters movie [Hairspray], and she also used to hang out with us, especially when we were in Las Vegas [doing Hairspray]. She used to hang out backstage. But in the show Black and Blue, she鈥檇 go, 鈥淭his ain鈥檛 Saint Vincent de Paul鈥檚. This is Ruth鈥檚 Place,鈥� so I gave her Ruth鈥檚 Place.
Ruth鈥檚 Place: Ruth Brown played Motormouth in the original John Waters movie [Hairspray], and she also used to hang out with us, especially when we were in Las Vegas [doing Hairspray]. She used to hang out backstage. But in the show Black and Blue, she鈥檇 go, 鈥淭his ain鈥檛 Saint Vincent de Paul鈥檚. This is Ruth鈥檚 Place,鈥� so I gave her Ruth鈥檚 Place.
Baltimore Bail Bonds: Baltimore jail鈥攖here鈥檚 no story there!
Baltimore Bail Bonds: Baltimore jail鈥攖here鈥檚 no story there!
Crazy Dickie鈥檚: The next one is Crazy Dickie鈥檚 because Dick Latessa played my husband [Wilbur Turnblad] originally, so that鈥檚 for him.
Edies Farm Fresh Eggs & Dairy: The very last one, set designer [Derek McLane] named that himself, and I don鈥檛 know who it鈥檚 for. Now you鈥檝e got the story!
