With a cast of 50 young people, the BLTEENS production of “Hairspray, Jr.” is a tour de force you do not want to miss. Catchy songs and a great story are brought to life in this adaptation of the Tony Award-winning musical.

Set in 1962 Baltimore, the story is about Tracy, a teenaged girl who desperately wants to appear on the afternoon TV dance show, “The Corny Collins Show.” There are a number of obstacles she has to negotiate including her family, peers and discrimination. “Hairspray,Jr.” addresses the social changes of the 1960s in an amusing way that makes a point without hitting you over the head.

You will recognize a number of the characters in the play: the Dick Clark-like character Corny Collins played by Daniel Clark, a recent Brookhaven High School graduate; the girls trio dressed in pink and black polka dotted dresses reminiscent of the Supremes and the “mean girls.” And the meanest girl of all, Amber, is brilliantly played by Brookhaven Little Theatre veteran Reagan Whittington.

There are a number of ensemble numbers in the show including “Mama,” “I’m a Big Girl Now” and “Welcome to the Sixties.” I fear that choreographer Laura McDaniel had a bit of a struggle getting all those actors to move together on a stage the size of the one at The Haven, but pull it off she did. The steps, while for the most part were simple and basic, beautifully fit the high-energy songs and complemented the beat.

There are several outstanding performances in the cast including Dakota Gray as the budding rock star Link Larkin, Shannon Pendleton as Inez Stubbs, Monte Washington as Seaweed J Stubbs, Johanna Russell as Penny and BLT favorite Austin Showers as the irrepressible DJ Motormouth Maybelle.

But the show belongs to 14-year-old Lucy Donegan as the teen with stars in her eyes, Tracy Turnblad.

Singing and dancing her way through nearly every song, she brings talent, ability, believability and an abundance of teenage energy to this role.

The set is simple and creative lighting helps direct the audiences attention to the scene on stage. However, there is one brilliant set piece, obviously designed by metal artist and BLT board chairman, James Minter, that will blow you away. I’ll not spoil it by telling you here but you will see what I mean.

No review of “Hairspray, Jr.” is complete without mentioning the crazy beehive hairdos and outrageous costumes of the 1960s. How did women get in and out of cars with hair that high?

The show is directed by Jana Fulda Russell. Joe Elliot and Denise Riley served as the music directors and Laura McDaniel is choreographer.

All in all, “Hairspray, Jr.” is another hit for BLTeens and they should be commended for tackling such an ambitious project in only four weeks. From the opening number to the grand finale, once “Hairspray, Jr.” gets rolling, you can’t stop the beat.