CARBONDALE - The hit Broadway musical "Hairspray" will be coming to Southern Illinois University Carbondale's Shryock Auditorium in February, an event presented by Southern Lights Entertainment.

The Tony Award-winning musical comedy that inspired a major motion picture in 2007 is the first Broadway show Southern Lights Entertainment has brought to the region, SIU Event Services Director Bryan Rives said.

"It's a fantastically fun musical, which was just huge on Broadway," he said. "During Hairspray's six-plus-year Broadway run, it won eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical in 2003."

"Hairspray" is set in 1962 and tells the story of overweight Baltimore teen Tracy Turnblad, and how her passion for dancing turns her into a sensation. This production is based on Jack O'Brien's original direction and Jerry Mitchell's original choreography. It features an original score by Academy Award-nominated Marc Shaiman and lyrics by Shaiman and Scott Wittman.

Tickets for the 2 p.m. Feb. 7 performance go on sale Monday. For ticket prices and for information on the Southern Lights Entertainment Star Club, contact 618-453-6000.

Southern Lights Entertainment is a program of SIU's Department of Event Services and was created to bring high profile performers and entertainment to Southern Illinois. It is sponsored by People's National Bank with support from DiMeo and Company, River Radio, and The Southern Illinoisan.