Young, Walker, Toporek and More Cast in Walnut Street Theatre's 'Hairspray'

The Walnut Street Theatre continues its landmark 200th anniversary season with HAIRSPRAY. This all-new production of the Tony Award-winning Broadway show explodes onto the Walnut stage with toe-tappin’ hits including “You Can’t Stop the Beat” and “Welcome to the 60s.” HAIRSPRAY brings big songs, big hair and even bigger dreams to life this holiday season. The production runs Nov. 4 through Jan 4. on the Walnut Street Theatre Mainstage.

Baltimore in 1962 is a town on the verge of some big changes. Tracy Turnblad (Amy Toporek) has only one passion…quot;to dance on the Corny Collins Show. Her mother, Edna (Michael Walker), forbids Tracy to audition for the show. Going against her big (hearted) mother’s wishes, she sneaks out and wins a spot on the program, and is transformed from an outsider to a teen celebrity overnight! Life at the top isn’t easy, however. Things get twisted when Tracy sets out to out-do reigning teen queen Amber Van Tussle (Liz Kimball), win the heart of Link Larkin (Josh Young), and integrate the show all at the same time! With good luck and great friends (including Joilet Harris as the unstoppable Motormouth Mabel), Tracy shows the world that with big hair and even bigger dreams, anything is possible.

HAIRSPRAY is based on the New Line Cinema film written and directed by acclaimed underground director John Waters, who served as a creative consultant during the creation of the stage production. It features a book by Mark O'Donnell and Thomas Meehan. HAIRSPRAY premiered on Broadway in 2002, featuring an original score by Academy Award-nominated Marc Shaiman (who co-wrote the music and lyrics for the acclaimed animated musical, South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut) and lyrics by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman. Hairspray went on to win eight 2003 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Book and Best Original Score. In 2007 a film version of the musical was released.

The Walnut Street Theatre’s HAIRSPRAY is directed by multiple Barrymore Award winning director Charles Abbott, who has helmed over 25 productions here, including 4 world premieres. He recently directed 42nd Street at the Walnut, and has been a part of numerous Broadway/National touring productions. Mr. Abbott is joined by Choreographer Mary Jane Houdina (42nd Street) and Music/Vocal Director Douglass G. Lutz (currently nominated for a Best Musical Direction Barrymore Award for Les Mis). The show’s whimsical world is being brought to life with a scenic design by Robert Andrew Kovach (Windy City, Peter Pan), Lighting by Paul Black (Peter Pan), Costumes by Coleen Grady (currently nominated for a Barrymore Award for her design for Les Mis) and Sound Design by Ryk Lewis.

The cast of HAIRSPRAY is an exciting blend of familiar and new faces at the Walnut, including Sean Bell, Kennen Butler, Nikki Curmaci, Ben Dibble (Corny Collins), Kate Fahrner (Amber Van Tussle), Brian Golub, Joilet Harris (Motormouth Mabel), Danielle Herbert, Joe Jackson, Regan Kays, John-Charles Kelly, Marisa Kennedy, Liz Kimball (Penny Pingleton), Kalia Lynne, Stanley Martin, Domonique Paton, Devin L. Roberts, Kerri Rose, Peter Schmitz (Wilbur Turnblad), Connie Shafer, Crystal Sha’nae, Alex Michael Stoll, Amy Toporek (Tracy Turnblad), Neil Totton (Seaweed J. Stubbs), Michael Walker (Edna Turnblad), Beth Wheeler, Denise Whelan (Velma Van Tussle) and Josh Young (Link Larkin).

Photo by Craig Brockman