New York, NY (Top40 Charts/ Baltimore Symphony Orchestra) Marking the 25th anniversary of the John Waters' original film, Principal Pops Conductor Jack Everly brings together an all-star cast of Broadway, film and TV stars for the full symphonic production of the Broadway musical, Hairspray. Hairspray: In Concert! will premiere with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra (ISO) on January 11-13, 2013, and with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (BSO) on January 24-27, 2013. The BSO has also just added a matinee performance on Saturday, January 25, 2013 at 3 p.m. due to popular demand. Please see below for complete concert details.
Hairspray: In Concert! stars noted filmmaker, writer and artist John Waters (Narrator), who created and directed Hairspray, the popular cult comedy hit film in 1988, which was adapted into a Tony Award-winning Broadway musical in 2002; Micky Dolenz (Wilbur Turnblad), best known as the drummer and lead vocalist of the 1960s made-for-television band The Monkees; Broadway star Beth Leavel (Velma Von Tussle), who earned a Tony Award for The Drowsy Chaperone and a nomination for her role in Baby, It's You; and Paul Vogt (Edna Turnblad), who played the role of Edna in Hairspray on Broadway and whose television and film credits include MADtv, Grey's Anatomy, Glee and The Rerun Show.
Also starring in Hairspray: In Concert! are Nick Adams (Link Larkin), who recently appeared on Broadway in A Chorus Line and
Chicago and was the winner of two Broadway.com Audience Choice Awards for his role in Priscilla,
Queen of the Desert; Marissa Perry (Tracy Turnblad), currently of Broadway's Sister Act and previously the role of Tracy in Hairspray on Broadway; NaTasha Yvette Williams (Motormouth Maybelle), currently starring on Broadway in Gershwins' Porgy and Bess; Alix Korey (Prudy Pingleton), whose Broadway credits include Hello, Dolly! and The
Pirates of Penzance;
Julie Kavanagh (Penny Pingleton), who recently appeared in the national tour of La Cage Aux Folles; Rhiannon Hansen (Amber Von Tussle), a finalist for MTV's reality series, Legally Blonde The Musical: The Search for Elle Woods; Bret Shuford (Corny Collins); whose Broadway credits include Chitty Chitty
Bang Bang and Disney's Beauty and the Beast and The
Little Mermaid; Marcus Terrell (Seaweed J. Stubbs) from FOX's American Idol (finalist, seasons three and four) and from NBC's America's Got Talent (semi-finalist, season three); John Phillips (Mr. Pinky), a popular actor with extensive credits within central Indiana's theater community; and the Divas of Song (Dynamites), led by
Natalie Perkins, who appeared in the national Broadway tour of Hairspray.
"If there's ever a time to do a concert production of this classic story and musical, it's now," said Jack Everly, who serves as Principal Pops Conductor for both the Baltimore and Indianapolis symphony orchestras. "All of the stars are aligned: We have the original filmmaker John Waters, a superior cast of actors, singers and Broadway stars, many of whom have performed in previous Hairspray productions, the epitome of 1960s pop culture with musician Micky Dolenz and two major orchestras collaborating in this significant full symphonic production," he added.
Set in the 1960s in his hometown of Baltimore, John Waters wrote Hairspray, the story of the misadventures of "pleasantly plump" Tracy Turnblad, whose aspirations of fame lead her to find celebrity on a locally-produced dance program. Her dreams for stardom are quickly traded for more important dreams: integrating the show in the racially divided city of Baltimore. The Broadway adaptation of the film won eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical in 2003.
Hairspray: In Concert! is produced by Ty Johnson, Senior Pops Producer at the ISO, and Matthew Spivey, Vice President of Artistic Operations at the BSO, and is directed by
David Levy. Staging and choreography is directed by Jennifer Ladner and costuming is by Clare Henkel.
