Hairspray
Tracy Turnblad is a plus-size teen with plus-size hair, and she has one big plus-size dream – to dance her way onto Baltimore’s smash hit TV show, “The Corny Collins Show.” Every day after school, she and best friend Penny bee-line home to watch the cool kids shake the rafters to the hottest tunes on Collins’ program.
When a dance slot opens on the show, Tracy gets help from her friend Seaweed, who puts enough groove in her step to win that dream role – and life is never the same again. But Tracy doesn’t rest on her stardom, instead she uses her new celebrity to racially integrate the TV show and change the lives of Baltimore folks forever.
Based on the John Waters hit movie, Hairspray is a high-octane ride with thrilling choreography, rockin’ tunes and explosively colorful costumes – plus some really cool hairdos. More importantly, under all the glitz, Hairspray reminds us of the importance of individuality and the acceptance of one another: a wonderful message to share with everyone.
PREMIUM GUEST EXPERIENCE
Upgrade your night out with the Premium Guest Experience. Enjoy open bar, hors d’oeuvres and desserts before the show and during intermission in an exclusive private area. CLICK HERE to learn more.
BROADWAY MERCHANDISE
Bring home a piece of Paramount’s biggest season yet. From t-shirts to magnets to mugs and more, we’ve got something for everyone. Be sure to visit any of the Broadway Merchandise stations in the Grand Gallery during intermission, before or after any Broadway performance.
SIGN INTERPRETED PERFORMANCE
There will be two certified sign interpreters translating all dialogue and lyrics into American Sign Language at Hairspray on Thursday, February 18 at 7 p.m. To reserve your tickets, call 630.896.6666 or email boxoffice@paramountarts.com with subject line: Sign Interpreted Performance.
DID YOU KNOW?
The Paramount Theatre is a charitable, non-profit organization. CLICK HERE to show your support.
Book by Mark O’Donnell & Thomas Meehan
Music by Marc Shaiman
Lyrics by Scott Wittman & Marc Shaiman
Based on the New Line Cinema film directed & written by John Waters
Directed by Amber Mak
Opening Night
Meet the Team
Amelia Jo Parish
Tracy Turnblad
making Paramount Theatre debut
Michael Kingston
Edna Turnblad
previously in Cinderella, Hairspray, and Groundhog Day
E. Faye Butler *
Motormouth Maybelle
making Paramount Theatre debut
Devin DeSantis *
Corny Collins
previously in Into the Woods, Kinky Boots, The Little Mermaid, Hairspray, Les Misérables and The Who’s Tommy
Gilbert Domally *
Seaweed J. Stubbs
previously in Legally Blonde, Hairspray, The Little Mermaid, Jesus Christ Superstar, Elf and Cabaret
Michael Ehlers *
Wilber Turnblad
previously in Legally Blonde, Elf, The Little Mermaid, Hairspray, Newsies, and Rock of Ages
Landree Fleming *
Penny Pingleton
previously in Hairspray
Henry McGinniss *
Link Larkin
making Paramount Theatre debut
Samantha Pauly *
Amber Von Tussle
previously in Hairspray
Heather Townsend *
Velma Von Tussle
making Paramount Theatre debut
Ariana Burks
Little Inez
Previously in Hairspray.
David Davis
Stooie
making Paramount Theatre debut
Annie Jo Ermel
Tammy, u/s Penny Pingleton
making Paramount Theatre debut
Adam Fane *
IQ, u/s Link Larkin
previously in Into the Woods, The Sound of Music, The Producers, The Little Mermaid, Mamma Mia, Hairspray and Mary Poppins
Megan E. Farley *
Brenda, u/s Female Authority Figure
Allyson Graves *
Lou Ann/Ensemble
previously in The Wizard of Oz, Elf, The Little Mermaid, Mamma Mia!, West Side Story, Hairspray, Oklahoma! and Mary Poppins
Allie Jae
Kamilah, Dynamite
making Paramount Theatre debut
Danielle Jackman
Lorraine, Ensemble, u/s Dynamites, u/s Little Inez
making Paramount Theatre debut
Alex John Johnson
Sketch
making Paramount Theatre debut
Reneisha J Jenkins *
Shayna, Dynamite, u/s Motormouth Maybelle
making Paramount Theatre debut
George Keating *
Male Authority Figure, u/s Edna Turnblad, u/s Wilbur Turnblad
previously in Beauty and the Beast, Elf, The Little Mermaid, Hairspray, Les Misérables, Cats and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
James Lee *
Fender, u/s Male Authority Figure, u/s Corny Collins
previously in My Fair Lady
Mallory Maedke
Cindy, u/s Tracy Turnblad
previously in Hairspray, Mamma Mia! and The Little Mermaid
Ericka Mac *
Female Authority Figure, u/s Velma Von Tussle, Dance Captain
previously in CATS
John Marshall Jr.
Brad
making Paramount Theatre debut
Brian A. Nelson Jr.
Thad
Paramount Theatre debut
Mollyanne Nunn
Shelley, u/s Amber Von Tussle
making Paramount Theatre debut
Jaymes Osborne
Gilbert, u/s Seaweed J. Stubbs
making Paramount Theatre debut
Carlita Victoria *
Judine, Dynamite
making Paramount Theatre debut
Phil Young
Duane
Paramount Theatre Debut
* indicates member of Actors’ Equity Association (AEA)
† indicates member of United Scenic Artists (USA)
‡ indicates member of Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC)
The critics are raving about this plus-size hit!
“so much fun…pure energy…must-see…Dean’s List ‘A’”
Highly Recommended
Dean Richards, WGN-TV & Radio
“infectious beat…Broadway-size spectacle…worth the trip? Absolutely”
Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune
“larger-than-life…an engine of motion”
Highly Recommended
Hedy Weiss, Chicago Sun-Times
“Dynamite! This production shines”
Alan Bresloff, Around The Town Chicago
“dazzling production…Paramount’s “Hairspray” resiliently holds up the Aurora theater’s proud reputation for stellar homegrown Broadway shows”
Scott C. Morgan, Daily Herald
“splendid production…reaches even beyond the stage”
Barry Reszel, Chicagoland Musical Theatre
“truly contagious energy…this fun and flashy show is sure to make you smile”
Highly Recommended
Sally Jo Osborne, Chicago Critic
In 1962, the cost of gas was 27 cents per gallon. The mashed potato was a food and a popular dance. The sweet smell of hairspray filled the air, and on your living room TV, smiling white teens danced the jitterbug and cha-cha to the latest tunes. The influence and power of television was strong as people watched the square box to find the latest trends in products, fashion, hair, music, and dances. TV networks and advertisers were hard at work creating the image of the “American dream” on the set. However, the world outside the black and white box was changing quickly as the fight for human rights and equality had begun, and the picture was developing into a full, Technicolor world.
We began working on Hairspray in the spring of 2015, as Baltimore was headlining the news every day with stories of racial discrimination and police brutality. As I dove into the script, I was entranced by Tracy, this girl who wouldn’t accept the world as it was and did something about it. The world needs many Tracy Turnblads as we continue to break down prejudice of all kinds, systemic privilege, and barriers created by stereotypes. Tracy sees people as individuals and truly believes in a better world. Some people call that naïveté; others call it hope.
I invite you to watch this show and enjoy the nostalgia of the fashions, the pastiches of music, the dancing, and to take a step back in time to a different era. But I also hope you take a bit of Tracy Turnblad with you when you leave the theatre and turn to the person next to you, look them in the eye, and dance. Together we can do so much more to overcome what has divided us in the past. Enjoy the show and don’t forget – you’ve gotta dream big to be big!
—Amber Mak, Director of Hairspray
