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The Center For Performing Arts
(Center for Performing Arts Website)
Governors State University
One University Parkway
University Park, IL 60466
708.235.2222
And
NETworks Presentations, LLC
Present
HAIRSPRAY
March 13 – 14, 2009
Book: Mark O’Donnell, Thomas Meehan
Music: Marc Shaiman
Lyrics: Scott Wittman, Marc Shaiman
Based on the NewLine Cinema film written
Directed by John Waters
(John Waters Bio)
Scenery: David Rockwell
Costumes: William Ivey Long
Tour Lighting: Paul Miller based on Broadway Design by Kenneth Posner
Sound: Shannon Slaton
Wigs & Hair: Paul Huntley
Casting: GCP Casting, Bob Cline Casting
Orchestration: Harold Wheeler
Music Supervision: Lon Hoyt
Musical Coordination: John Mezzio
Musical Direction/Conducting: Ross Scott Rawlings
Orchestra:
Joe Ryan Joseph, Chad Stearns, Joshua Johnson,
Ryan Redden, Daniel Weber, Kris Rogers, Greg Gascon, Jamie Podojil
General Management: Gregory Vander Ploeg, Gentry & Associates
Production Management: Brad Korff
Tour Press & Marketing: Allied Live
Production Stage Management: Seth F. Barker
Technical Direction: Elan Bustin
Company Management: Susan L. Brumley
Executive Producer: Seth Wenig
Choreography Recreated: Danny James Austin
Choreography: Jerry Mitchell
Direction: Matt Lenz
Original Direction: Jack O’Brien
Media Representation:
Carol Fox & Associates, Inc./Matt Miller
With:
Ken Arpino, Daniel Bentley, Angela Birchett, Marsena Eunice Bowers,
Lindsey Clayton, Ryan Cowles, Drew Davidson, John Edwards, Kate Feerick,
Stephanie Feigen, Tracie Franklin, Shelese Franklin, Patricia Gibson,
Evie Hutton, Anthony Johnson, Holly Laurent, Kimberly Marable, Matt Nolan,
Jerry O’Boyle, Ariel Tyler Page, Brooklynn Pulver, Matthew Ragas,
Amber Rees, Charles R. Sarkioglu, III, Donald C. Shorter, Jr.,
Erin Sullivan, Chelsea Swanderski, Zach Trimmer, Christian White,
Sean Zimmerman
Susan Weinrebe
March 13, 2009
It’s not just denatured alcohol hair product that’s in the air aplenty with the touring company of Hairspray, it’s enough teen spirit and fun to energize an auditorium. The story of Tracy Turnblad, a plump teen who yearns to be on the local teen dance TV show, chains one singable melody to another and ties them up with a plot that brings all the outsiders to center stage.
To begin with, it’s 1962 and the Civil Rights Movement hasn’t quite dented segregation in Baltimore. The popular Corny Collins Show featuring teens performing the latest dances, is all white…except for one special program designated “Negro Day.”
Despite what most adolescents would consider insurmountable odds: not fitting in with the popular crowd, being overweight, an outlandishly teased hairstyle that keeps landing her in detention and even into learning disabled classes, a full-bodied, unstylish mom who takes in laundry, hasn’t left the house in years and is, by the way, played by a man, and a totally out-of-touch father who runs a gag shop (Ouch!), Tracy’s upbeat personality and color-blind attitude make her a winner in the end.
The characters, really cartoons (and that is meant in the nicest possible way), are delicious. Tracy, played by Brooklynn Pulver, with near constant singing, dancing and marching for equality with her new friends, the Negro kids from detention, keeps the momentum going. Matthew Ragas, as heartthrob Link Larkin, leading-man tall and handsome, sweetly makes Link’s attraction to Tracy believable. The conniving mother and daughter, Erin Sullivan as Amber Von Tussle and Ariel Tyler Page as her mother Velma, are juicy in their meanness. Costumed as golden girls, from their blond hairdos to their canary yellow dresses, they are really rotten at heart, and they vamp and slink and parody their way through roles that make the audience love to hate them.
But of course, even in a show where each part is as broadly drawn as these, there are some that top the top. Jerry O’Boyle, playing Tracy’s mother, wrings every moment on stage for what it’s worth. His duet You’re Timeless To Me, with Drew Davidson, Edna’s husband, may have set a record for time paused to let performers hold on to their characters and regain self-control. The scripted hilarity of the moment: large man in drag being reassured by the husband character, that she is still attractive and loved, brought the house down, as O’Boyle fought to keep the bass out of his voice and rein in his own laughter.
The biggest voice of the show belongs to Angela Birchett, playing Motormouth Maybelle, mother of one of the teens and MC on Negro Day on the Corny Collins Show. Birchett is a woman of goddess proportions who unleashed her vocal power whenever she sang. “Big Blonde Beautiful” let her strut her stuff and that she did, selling a knockout of a number.
Hairspray is a little naughty, a lot nice, and a show that entertains from start to end. And, the obvious tie-in with a local salon let the audience take home a little bit of the night’s magic: a mini-bottle of hairspray!
The cast of the national tour of "Hairspray"
Courtesy of Chris Bennion
Jerry O'Boyle and Brooklynn Pulver
with cast members of "Hairspray"
Courtesy of Phil Martin
Finale of "Hairspray"
Courtesy of Jun Wadja
Tom, Jenni and Danielle of the
Lisa Thomas Salon At "Hairspray"
Courtesy of Susan Weinrebe
Three Teens Who Enjoyed "Hairspray"
Courtesy of Susan Weinrebe
Matthew Ragas (Link) And Fan At "Hairspray"
Courtesy of Susan Weinrebe
Erin Sullivan (Amber) And Fan At "Hairspray"
Courtesy of Susan Weinrebe
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