Broadway’s touring musical “Hairspray” is suing a production group after a broken sprinkler head allegedly ruined some of the show’s property backstage in Denver, causing cancellations, loss of income, and nearly $150,000 in water damage.
The lawsuit, filed Feb. 12 in Denver District Court, concerns the March 5-10, 2024, run of the musical, a Tony-winning dramedy based on the John Waters movie of the same name. “Hairspray” property was backstage at the Buell Theatre on March 5 while venue management group ASM Global was assisting with the equipment, according to the lawsuit.
An ASM employee “collided with a piece of unsecured railing, causing it to contact the fire suppression sprinkler head, resulting in a premature discharge of water, which resulted in the damage to Hairspray described herein,” the lawsuit reads.
The suit claims negligence on the part of ASM, which was hired to help with lighting and sets, after the March 5, 2024, incident. The failure “to keep a proper lookout and awareness of his environment and surroundings” caused water damage that prompted the show’s debut performances on March 5 and 6 to be canceled, resulting in lost revenue.
The Hanover Insurance Company, which is representing the musical’s producers, said it paid out $146,633 for the damaged property and that “Hairspray” had to pay a $36,750.96 deductible to complete the claim.
The lawsuit seeks the repayment of those damages. Hanover is represented by Texas attorneys P. Joel Radakovich and Jena M. Shillingburg of Grotefeld Hoffmann, who did not return requests for comment.
Denver Center for the Performing Arts, which produces the touring Broadway shows at the Buell Theatre, referred questions to the city’s Denver Arts & Venues agency. (That city agency owns the Denver Performing Arts Complex where the Buell is located, at 1350 Curtis St. in Denver.)
Denver Arts & Venues declined comment, citing the pending litigation. At the time of the incident in 2024, an Arts & Venues spokesperson told The Denver Post the sprinklers were shut off in a matter of minutes, preventing any major damage.
Legends Global, which represents the stagehands, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.