Is the musical Hairspray based on a true story?

The musical Hairspray is based on the 1988 John Waters film of the same name. The musical's plot is largely based on the true story of Tracy Turnblad, a teenager from Baltimore who auditions for a local dance show in 1962. The show's premise is based on the real-life integration of the Corny Collins Show in Baltimore, a popular dance show that was previously segregated. Tracy's quest to become a dancer on the show and fight against segregation is loosely based on the real-life experiences of Tracy Turnblad's character in the film, which was based on Waters' interactions with his peers as a young man in Baltimore in the 1960s.