As previously reported, the cast of the Tony-winning musical will be headed by Bridie Carroll, a recent graduate of the Boston Conservatory, as the outspoken Baltimore high schooler Tracy Turnblad and Paul C. Vogt, who succeeded Harvey Fierstein in the Las Vegas company of Hairspray, as Tracy's full-figured mom Edna.
Carroll and Vogt will be joined onstage by Inga Ballard (Motormouth Mabel), David Coffee (Harriman F. Spritzer, Principal, Mr. Pinky, Guard) Dick Decareau (Wilbur Turnblad), Todd Dubail (Corny Collins), Valerie Fagan (Prudy Pingleton/Gym Teacher/Matron), David Larson (Link Larkin), Deb Lyons (Velma Von Tussle), Sarah Elizabeth Nischwitz (Penny Pingleton), Dashaun Young (Seaweed) and Dana Zihlman (Amber Von Tussle).
The ensemble will comprise Jamie Buxton, Allison Blackwell, Kevin Curtis, Mike Evariste, Amy Hillner, Michael Jablonski, Lisa Kassay, Colleen Longshaw, Shua Potter, Franklyn Warfield, Kara Tameika Watkins, Steven Wenslawski and Curtiss Wesley. Three local young performers — Simone Senibaldi, of Everett, MA; Natasha Ashworth, of Rowley, MA; and Michael Taglieri of Newburyport, MA — will also be part of the company, and 7NEWS Anchor Randy Price will provide voiceovers.
Directed and choreographed by Barry Ivan, Hairspray is scheduled to play the Massachusetts venue Oct. 24-Nov. 19. The creative team will also include Dale Rieling (musical director), Howard C. Jones (scenic designer), William Ivey Long (original costume design), Jack Mehler (lighting designer), John A. Stone (sound design), Gerard Kelly (hair and wig design), Brian Cimmet (assistant musical director) and David Kaley (costume coordinator /wardrobe supervisor).
Hairspray, according to press notes, concerns Tracy Turnblad, a "big girl with big dreams and even bigger hair. She’ll do whatever it takes to claim a spot on a popular television dance show, win the heart of Link Larkin, and turns the town upside down in her efforts to racially integrate television." Hairspray, based on the 1988 John Waters film of the same name, currently plays the Neil Simon Theatre. The show won 2003 Tony Awards for Best Score (Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman), Best Book (Thomas Meehan and Mark O'Donnell), Best Actress in a Musical (Marissa Jaret Winokur), Best Actor (Harvey Fierstein), Best Featured Actor in a Musical (Dick Latessa), Best Costume Design (William Ivey Long), Best Musical and Best Direction of a Musical.
The North Shore Music Theatre is located at 62 Dunham Road in Beverly, MA. Tickets, priced $40-$75, are available by calling (978) 232-7200. Visit www.nsmt.org for more information.
