The Broadway musical “Hairspray” will begin its run at The Lewis & Shirley White Theatre at The J on Saturday, Feb. 1.
The show runs for 11 public performances and two school matinees on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays through Feb. 23.
The production is co-produced with The Black Repertory Theatre of Kansas City, the fourth such partnership between the two groups, and major funding is provided by presenting sponsor, the Mark Edelman Theater Fund at the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Kansas City.
Tickets are available at TheWhiteTheatre.org. Performance dates and times include Wednesdays, Feb. 5 and 12 at 9:30 a.m. (student matinee performances; tickets must be purchased through the box office directly.); Thursdays: Feb. 6, 13 and 20 at 7:30 p.m.; Saturdays, Feb. 1, 8, 15 and 22 at 7:30 p.m.; and Sundays, Feb. 2, 9, 16 and 23 at 2 p.m.
“Hairspray,” winner of eight Tony Awards – including Best Musical – is a family-friendly musical set in Baltimore in 1962. “Hairspray” tells the story of Tracy Turnblad and her desire to dance on the popular “Corny Collins Show.” When her dream comes true, Tracy is transformed from social outcast to sudden star. She must use her newfound power to dethrone the reigning Teen Queen, win the affections of heartthrob, Link Larkin, and integrate a TV network.
Guy Gardner, actor and current associate artistic director at Theatre in the Park, is no stranger to The White Theatre stage, having performed in “Spamalot,” “Anything Goes,” “Something Rotten” and “Kinky Boots,” and having directed and choreographed “The Little Mermaid” and “The Addams Family.” In “Hairspray,” Gardner takes on the role of Edna Turnblad, Tracy’s mother, who struggles with her own insecurities and nerves while trying to best support her daughter. The role is well-known for being portrayed by a man in drag, which was an opportunity Gardner didn’t want to pass up.
“It’s not very often a tall male who sings most comfortably in the bass range gets to take on an iconic matron role,” Gardner said. “The opportunity to get to be funny, portray a strong woman and perform on stage with amazing performers is one I couldn’t pass up… I get to be a little sassy, a little insecure, a little cute and a whole lot of funny. I think anyone would be a fool to pass up on an opportunity to play a woman of such stature.”
The cast is composed of actors both returning and new to The White Theatre stage. Newcomer Olivia Hollan takes on the role of Tracy Turnblad with Gardner (Edna) and Mike Saxton (Wilbur) playing her parents.
David Thompson, a theatre veteran who performed in The White Theatre’s first-ever production of “A Chorus Line” in 2005, plays Corny Collins, while Zane Champie, who starred as Prince Eric “The Little Mermaid” and Charlie Price in “Kinky Boots,” returns to play teen heartthrob Link Larkin. Leading the charge with Tracy to spur change is Motormouth Maybelle, played by Brietta Goodman. “Little Mermaid” star Lacy Goettling returns to play Tracy’s friend and supporter, Penny Pingleton, while Lucas Lowry plays Penny’s love interest, Seaweed J. Stubbs. Jenny Hines also returns to play Prudy, Penny’s mother. In her first professional show, Sophia Carey plays Little Inez, Seaweed’s younger sister. Liz Golson plays Velma Von Tussle, and MaryAnn Traxler Rosinski plays daughter Amber, the major antagonists of the musical.
Catherine Stagner, Emy Blake, Ellery Bailey, Katelynn Quick, Cody Kreutzer, Tristan Jacobson, Henry Morgan and Wyman Wheeler complete The Nicest Kids, while Aggie Williams, Lauren Thompson and Pancha Brown take on the roles of The Dynamites. Completing the cast in the adult ensemble, and assisting as understudies are Tony Francisco, Topher Michael, Taylor Williams (Dynamites U/S), and Joy Arrington (Motormouth Maybelle U/S).
The White Theatre continues its 2024-25 season with “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time;” “West Side Story,” co-produced with the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Greater Kansas City; and “Stuff of Dreams,” a new musical. For more information, visit thewhitetheatre.org.
Auditions for musicals and plays produced at The White Theatre are announced online and on Facebook.
