Hairspray

Every generation gets its own Hairspray. Somehow, a musical set in 1962 Baltimore keeps finding new reasons to feel current. Maybe it's because Tracy Turnblad has always been the coolest person in the room. Or maybe it's because songs like Good Morning Baltimore and You Can't Stop the Beat are simply impossible to outgrow. San Francisco Playhouse's production leans into all of the joy, humor and heart that made the show a Broadway phenomenon, while its intimate theater keeps the audience close enough to catch every wink, every dance break and every moment of triumph. It's the rare revival that reminds you why this musical became a classic in the first place.