Broadway at the Marcus Center presents: HAIRSPRAY

"You Can't Stop The Beat" - Niki Metcalf (center) as Tracy Turnblad and the 2023 North American Touring Company of HAIRSPRAY. Photo by Jeremy Daniel.

By Mary Boyle

The eight-time Tony Award-winning Broadway musical Hairspray is unusual in that it was inspired by a movie, and not the other way around.  John Water’s 1988 film of the same name had quite the cast, including Ricki Lake, Divine, Debbie Harry, Sonny Bono, and Jerry Stiller, and was one of those 80’s films that wasn’t a big hit when it came out, but became a cult classic into the 90’s.  The musical, which debuted on Broadway in 2002, fared far better than the film and, interestingly, went on to inspire a film of the musical starring John Travolta, Christopher Walken, Queen Latifah, Zac Effron, and Michelle Pfeiffer, among others.  In 2016, NBC aired Hairspray Live!, which also attracted an A List cast, including Jennifer Hudson, Harvey Fierstein, Martin Short, Kristin Chenoweth, Ariana Grande, and Rosie O'Donnell, and that is just a fraction of the star-attracting power of this instant classic, which has seen productions all over the world and even at sea.  Luckily for Milwaukee audiences, the new North American Tour of HAIRSPRAY is making a stop at the Marcus Performing Arts Center as part of the 2022/2023 Johnson Financial Group Broadway at the Marcus Center Season February 7-12!

With music by Marc Shaiman, book by Mark O'Donnel and Thomas Meehan, and lyrics by Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman, Hairspray is set in Baltimore in 1962 during a time of continued segregation.  Highschooler Tracy Turnblad (Niki Metcalf), an overweight teen who dreams of being on the Corny Collins Show (think Dick Clark's American Bandstand with teenagers) is determined to get a spot when she learns the show has an opening.  With her best friend Penny Pingleton (Emery Henderson) in tow, she heads to the studio to audition only to be ridiculed by the show's producer, Velma Von Tussle (Addison Garner),  and her snooty daughter, Amber (Ryahn Evers).  None of it matters when the show's male star and Amber's boyfriend, Link Larkin (Nick Cortazzo), bumps into Tracy and captures her heart, but thanks to Corny Collins (Billy Dawson), himself, Tracy is given a role on the show.  While her parents, Edna (Andrew Levitt) and Wilbur (Ralph Prentice Daniel),  share in her new celebrity status, they soon learn that acceptance is an uphill climb, not just of Tracy’s weight, but her determination to help desegregate the show for her friend, Seaweed (Charlie Bryant III), his mother, Motormouth Maybelle (Sandie Lee), and Seaweed's little sister, Inez (Joi D. McCoy), along with the whole of the black community in Baltimore and beyond.

Although Tracy is the main character of the story, it’s Tracy’s mother, Edna, traditionally played by a man, who always steals the show, and this tour is no different.  Andrew Levitt, who appeared in the 11th season of RuPaul’s Drag Race as Nina West and who can also be seen as Divine alongside Daniel Radcliffe in Weird: The Al Yankovic Story, is simply brilliant as Edna.  Milwaukee audiences will appreciate the local references Edna throws into the production, as well as the chemistry between Edna and her husband, Wilbur.  Another favorite in the show is Motormouth Maybelle’s song, “I Know Where I’ve Been,” and Sandie Lee delivers a soul-rousing rendition.  I particularly enjoyed Emery Henderson’s hysterical performance as Tracy’s meek and scrawny best friend, Penny.  Overall, this North American Tour, directed by Matt Lenz and choreographed by Robbie Roby, hits all the marks.
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Though segregation may be a thing of the past, the strive to fully accept and love ourselves and each other is the work of everyone’s lifetime, and celebrating that journey is at the very heart of Hairspray.  What makes this production so popular, I believe, is that we all wish we were a little more like Tracy: seeing all of the hope, beauty, and possibility in ourselves and everywhere.  This girl is living her life fully and enjoying the ride, and audiences can’t help but be swept up into the fun.  No matter how many times, or ways, you’ve seen it, Hairspray is worth seeing again, if only to remind ourselves that we are here to love each other, but we must begin by loving ourselves.
 
HAIRSPRAY runs through February 12th, 2023, at the Marcus Performing Arts Center’s Uihlein Hall, located at 929 N. Water Street in downtown Milwaukee.  Tickets may be purchased at www.MarcusCenter.org, by calling 414-273-7206, or visit the Marcus Center Box Office. Single ticket prices start at $40 and are subject to change. Six-show subscriptions are still on sale for the 2022/2023 Johnson Financial Group Broadway at the Marcus Center Season.  Groups of 10 or more can secure their seats by calling 414-273-7207. HAIRSPRAY last played the Marcus Performing Arts Center in the 2004/2005 season. Learn more about the new touring production at www.hairspraytour.com.
 
About Marcus Performing Arts Center
The Marcus Performing Arts Center (MPAC) serves as a performing arts community gathering space in Southeastern Wisconsin, bringing high-quality arts and cultural programming to the region for over 50 years. As a mission-based non-profit organization located in downtown Milwaukee, MPAC strives to act as an energizing force that connects the community to the world through collaboration, innovation, social engagement, and the transformative power of performing arts. Through multiple performance series and community events, MPAC brings a diverse range of performing arts to the region. Presented series include Johnson Financial Group Broadway at the Marcus Center, MPAC Presents, Dance, Jazz, National Geographic Live, Rainbow Summer, and additional special performances from internationally renowned artists. MPAC's education, community engagement, and inclusion initiatives provide free experiences that annually engage students and life-long learners in Milwaukee. MPAC is proud to be a dedicated War Memorial facility, honoring those who bravely served our country. For more information, visit www.marcuscenter.org.

Johnson Financial Group, with offices in Wisconsin and Minnesota, is a privately owned financial services company offering banking, wealth and insurance solutions through its subsidiaries, Johnson Bank, Johnson Wealth, and Johnson Insurance Services. For more information visit johnsonfinancialgroup.com.

Broadway Across America(BAA) is part of the John Gore Organization family of companies, which includes Broadway.com, The Broadway Channel, BroadwayBox.com, Group Sales Box Office and Broadway Brands. Led by 18-time Tony-winning theater producer John Gore (Owner & CEO), BAA is the foremost presenter of first-class touring productions in North America, operating in 48 markets with over 400,000 subscribers. Presentations include Disney’s The Lion King, Wicked, The Book of Mormon and Hamilton. Current and past productions include Ain’t Too Proud, Beautiful, Cats, Chicago, Dear Evan Hansen, Mean Girls, Moulin Rouge! and To Kill A Mockingbird.