End of an era: Michael Ball left the show last year
The musical Hairspray is to get the chop in London after reaching the end of its “natural life”.
The award-winning production will come to a close on March 28 after a run of two and a half years.
Hairspray, which will now embark on a national tour, opened to critical acclaim with Michael Ball, Mel Smith and a then unknown Leanne Jones at the Shaftesbury Theatre on October 30, 2007.
Bill Taylor, chief executive officer of Stage Entertainment UK, which produces the musical, said: “After two and a half wonderful years, many awards and hundreds of thousands of happy Hairspray audience members, we have decided to bring the production to a close at the Shaftesbury Theatre on Sunday 28 March prior to a UK tour.
“Every show, even a big, glorious hit show like this one, has a natural life and for now it’s time for Hairspray to leave London.”
Among its many awards, Hairspray won the Laurence Olivier gong for Best Musical, Best Actor in a Musical (Ball), and Best Actress in a Musical (Jones) in 2008.
It has grossed more than
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