The choreography is intricate, the sets grandiose (including challenging outdoor scenes), and the story evolving at a breakneck pace, leaving you with the desire to watch it again to make sure you don't miss anything. Those surrounding her seem to be angling to outdo one another with exceptional performances, leaving the audience hard-pressed to identify a favorite. Baillio more than holds her own among a cast of A-listers, belting out solos with confidence that belie her inexperience on a big stage. This is an impressive, jubilant production of a story that's rich in messages about diversity, inclusion, and loving yourself. Also expect some language ('damn,' 'ass,' and 'hell') and incorporated advertising for sponsors. Frequent sexual innuendo likely will go over young kids' heads, but tweens and definitely teens will pick up on allusions to concepts such as sleeping your way to success (a woman mentions screwing the judges to win a pageant, for instance), teen pregnancy, and going 'all the way,' as well as some physical contact among teens. Plus-size Tracy Turnblad also is the subject of quips from judgmental teens and adults, but it plays to her favor because of her ability to turn a blind eye to such unwarranted criticism and only see the best in herself and in her friends on both sides of the color divide. As such, there is a fair amount of stereotyping for most of the story and a wonderful message of inclusion by the end. The story is set in early 1960s Baltimore, with racial segregation the law of the land until a valiant group of teens stands up against the status quo. Parents need to know that Hairspray Live! is a star-studded TV production of the popular Broadway show Hairspray.

Hairspray live online