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After "Chicago" won the 2002 Best Picture Oscar, many thought that it might signal a return to the days of movie musicals, when Gene Kelly was "singin' and dancin' in the rain." But skies were less sunny for other Broadway transfers, including "The Phantom of the Opera," "The Producers" and "Rent."

The scene brightened again with "Dreamgirls," a box office success, and among those awaiting their fates are "Sweeney Todd," starring Johnny Depp, whose Caribbean-pirate derring-do has given him a sure hand for the demon barber's swift blade strokes, and Meryl Streep in "Mamma Mia!" (which could be nicknamed "The Devil Sings ABBA").

First, however, comes "Hairspray," which its creative team hopes will be a big hit. I attended a recent screening, witnessing a cinematic evolvement from Brooklyn's Tony Manero ("Saturday Night Fever") into Baltimore's Edna Turnblad (Saturday hot flashes). Is John Travolta divine? After creating a sensation 30 years ago, dancing in a white suit, he now kicks up his heels in a red dress (plus fat suit and wig).

Also starring are Amanda Bynes (Penny), Christopher Walken (Wilbur), Zac Efron (Link), Elijah Kelley (Seaweed), Queen Latifah (Maybelle), Michelle Pfeiffer (Velma von Tussel), Brittany Snow (Amber), James Marsden (Corny), Allison Janney (Prudy Pingleton), Taylor Parks (Little Inez), Jesse Weafer (IQ), Paul Dooley (Spritzer), and Jerry Stiller (Mr. Pinky). Stiller, by the way, originated the role of Wilbur Turnblad, opposite Divine, in John Waters' 1988 film (that inspired the stage musical). Based on Mark O'Donnell and Thomas Meehan's Tony-winning libretto, Leslie Dixon wrote the screenplay, which was shot in Toronto.

There are three new songs by Tony winners Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman: "Ladies' Choice" sung by Efron, who played Troy Bolton in "High School Musical" (2006), and "High School Musical 2" (2007); "New Girl in Town" (done during the montage as Tracy becomes popular; it was originally cut from the musical pre-Broadway); and "Come So Far" (sung during the end credits by Blonsky, Efron, Latifah, and Kelley). The song "The Big Dollhouse" was replaced by "I Can Wait," but the jailhouse scenes were removed from the movie (and, along with them, the song). If you can wait, it will be on the DVD.

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Neil Meron and Craig Zadan say that, following "Chicago," they "wanted to do something completely different." They chose "Hairspray" because "it was so full of fun."

Zadan: "Chicago," which we cherish, was very contained. "Hairspray" was a much bigger film to make — enormous in terms of scope and size, with very big musical numbers.

Meron: John Travolta was our first and only choice to play Edna. He's probably the most exciting musical star of our generation.

Zadan: I've known John since he was on Broadway in Over Here. Neil and I offered him the role of Billy Flynn in "Chicago," and he turned it down. After he saw the movie, he was very upset. He didn't really understand what the role in the film was going to be; he hadn't met with [director] Rob Marshall. With "Hairspray," we said, "Remember, you turned down "Chicago," so consider this very carefully. He took one year and two months. Some thought the reason was that he was concerned about playing a woman. That was never a concern. He wanted to make sure that it was the right part [for a return to musicals, following "Fever" and "Grease"].

Meron: Nikki Blonsky told us that she had to play Tracy, because literally she is Tracy. Adam Shankman was the first person who [championed] her.

Zadan: We saw thousands of girls. Travolta saw her audition [tape], and said that she had an early-Streisand vibe.

Meron: She has star quality and an electric smile.

Zadan: John Travolta wanted Chris Walken to play Wilbur. We had met with a number of agents. Variety announced that Jim Broadbent was going to play the role. We had spoken to his agent, but an offer was never made.

Meron: Same thing happened with Aretha Franklin. We never even considered her [to play Maybelle], but it ended up in the papers.

Zadan: Upcoming [among several projects], we have "The Bucket List," starring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman, and directed by Rob Reiner [a fall release], and [for ABC-TV, in early 2008] "A Raisin in the Sun" [with its 2004 Broadway cast]. "Raisin" will make [director] Kenny Leon a major filmmaker.

Meron: For television, we're doing a new version of the "Peter Pan" musical [that starred Mary Martin]. And we're preparing a new Broadway musical, but it's too soon to talk about that.

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Congratulating Adam Shankman on the fast pace of his first movie musical, he acknowledges, "I was relentless about that."

Having choreographed several films, he's delighted to have had the opportunity to direct his own dances. "I got to shoot 'Hairspray' the way I wanted. [Laughs] But it's never good enough."

Asking how Blonsky, a Long Island student, graduated to a Hollywood musical star, he observes, "With great care. Hers was one of about eleven-hundred auditions. She had such purity and honesty; she seemed to love her body and to be comfortable with herself. She was unapologetic, brash, and confident. I called everyone right away: 'I think we have our girl.' At that point, she was working as an ice-cream scooper [at a Great Neck store]."

When he got the movie assignment, states Shankman, "I felt like I knew exactly what to do. I've been friends with Marc [Shaiman] and Scott [Wittman] for 20 years, and they approved all of my ideas.

"Things that make you smile in a play would make you retch in a movie." He cites examples: "Having every principle character somehow manage to get to Maybelle's [in the play]; how the detention kids suddenly get police uniforms; and the way Link gets Tracy out of jail — he would never have gotten past the front desk. I had to change all of that."

"I've been involved in many, many movies, and 'Hairspray' has the most consistent [favorable] reaction of any. People come out [from screenings] wanting more, with insane smiles on their faces. It's like movie-crack."

Next for Shankman are two movie projects: "Bedtime Stories" ("a giant effects-laden family comedy, starring Adam Sandler") and a remake of "Topper," with Steve Martin in the title role ("it's in development").

Concludes Shankman, "I don't think anything will ever reach the [same] heights emotionally as ‘Hairspray.' I got to return to my roots [as a dancer/choreographer]. I was working with two best friends [Shaiman and Wittman]. I'll never, ever have the same kind of emotional experience. ‘Hairspray' was great fun!"

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