Get your twist on as Reading’s Genesius Theatre presents the ever-popular, Tony Award-winning musical “Hairspray” August 7-16.
“Hairspray” won eight Tony awards, including Best Musical, in 2003. The show takes audiences back to 1962 Baltimore, where Tracy Turnblad, a big girl with big hair and an even bigger heart and love of dance, wins the chance to perform on the local TV teen dance program, “The Corny Collins Show.”
Tracy becomes an overnight dancing sensation, but still wonders if she can vanquish both the show’s reigning dance princess, win the love of the show’s resident heartthrob, and help integrate a television show where African American dancers are relegated to their own separate, but not quite equal show (which has better dancers and music).
Most productions of “Hairspray,” including the hit movie of 2007, have Tracy’s mother, the whacky but loving Edna Turnblad, portrayed by a man. Genesius’ production is no different, as L.J. Fecho, the theater’s artistic producer, as well as the producer of this production, portrays Edna.
What’s more, Fecho’s daughter, Simmon Gage, portrays Tracy.
“So in our ‘Hairspray’ production, we’ll have a man portraying a mother, with the man’s real daughter portraying his on-stage daughter” Fecho said. “I haven’t performed on stage in five years and so I figured doing so as Edna will ensure I come back in an appropriately big way!”
Genesius’ production of “Hairspray” opens Wednesday, Aug. 7 and runs evenings through Sunday, Aug. 16 (with the exception of Monday and Tuesday, Aug. 10 and 11). Curtain is at 7:30 p.m. each night and matinee performances are offered at 3 p.m. on two Sundays, Aug. 9 and 16.
“Hairspray” is based on the 1998 movie written and directed by John Walters, which starred Ricki Lake as Tracy and Baltimore’s own icon of bad-taste cinema, “Divine” as Edna. The 2007 film version starred John Travolta as Edna and Nikki Blonsky as Tracy.
“Hairspray is one of the country’s greatest musicals” Sperat said. “It’s going to have all the big hair and enormous up-dos of the early 1960s and is piled bouffant-high with laughter, great dancing and romance.”
Sperat added that Cindy Lightner is bringing her top wig specialist, Carmen Painter, of West Reading’s United Artist’s Salon and Spa, who’s building the entire show for Genesius as she creates the look that used to cook.
Music for “Hairspray” is by Marc Shaiman, lyrics by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman and book by Mark O’Donnell and Thomas Meehan. Based on the New Line Cinema film written and directed by John Waters. The Genesius production is directed by Christopher Sperat, with music directed by Andrew Cusano and choreographed by Amanda Guistwite.
Genesius’ production of “Hairspray” is sponsored by Dave Mattes of Remax of Reading. Genesius’ 2015 season sponsor is Sweet Street Desserts.
IF YOU GOWhat: “Hairspray” at Genesius Theatre
When: Aug. 7 – 16 at 7:30 p.m. except Aug. 10, 11. Matinees are Aug. 9, 16 at 2 p.m.
Where: Genesius Theatre, 153 North 10th Street, Reading
Tickets: $17.50 – $28.50Info: For more, check www.genesiusdifference.org or call 610-373-9500.
