The North American tour of Hairspray will resume performances September 1 at The Carson Center in Paducah, Kentucky, where the non-Equity production, which uses Jack O'Brien's original direction and Jerry Mitchell's choreography, will welcome several new faces.
Charlie Bryant III steps into the role of Seaweed J. Stubbs, Ralph Prentice Daniel is Wilbur Turnblad, Nick Cortazzo is Link Larkin, and Joi D. McCoy is Little Inez.
Returning cast members include Andrew Levitt aka Nina West (RuPaul’s Drag Race) as Edna Turnblad, Niki Metcalf as Tracy Turnblad, Sandie Lee as Motormouth Maybelle, Billy Dawson as Corny Collins, Ryahn Evers as Amber Von Tussle, Addison Garner as Velma Von Tussle, and Emery Henderson as Penny Pingleton.
The ensemble consists of Sydney Archibald, Kelly Barberito, Tommy Betz, Helene Britany, Caroline Eiseman, Melanie Puente Ervin, Craig First, Alex Fullerton, Annie Gagen, Carly Haig, Lauren Johnson, Sabrina Joseph, Greg Kalafatas, Kyle Kavully, Matthew J. Kelly, McLaine Meachem, Faith Northcutt, Nicholas Dion Reese, Sage, Micah Sauvageau, Clint Maddox Thompson, Jade Turner, Mickey White, and Emmanuelle Zeesman.
During its first touring season—November 12, 2021-July 3, 2022—the production played 210 performances in 61 cities in 30 states. Following Kentucky, the tour will now visit more than 55 cities. For the current itinerary, click here.
This production also has tour direction by Matt Lenz, tour choreography by Robbie Roby, set design by David Rockwell, lighting design by Kenneth Posner, tour lighting design by Paul Miller, costume design by William Ivey Long, hair and wig design by Paul Huntley, Richard Mawbey, and Bernie Ardia, sound design by Shannon Slaton, music supervision by Keith Thompson, and casting by Stewart/Whitley.
Hairspray premiered at Seattle’s 5th Avenue Theater in June 2002. The Broadway production won eight 2003 Tony Awards, including Best Musical.
Based on the New Line Cinema film written and directed by John Waters, Hairspray features a book by Mark O’Donnell and Thomas Meehan and an original score by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman.
The tour is produced by NETworks Presentations.
Take a peek inside the rehearsal room:
Company and Creative Team of the The North American Tour of Hairspray
Director Jack O’Brien with Andrew Levitt (aka Nina West) and Niki Metcalf
Niki Metcalf and Nick Cortazzo
Joi D. McCoy, Sandie Lee and Charlie Bryant III
Ralph Prentice Daniel, Niki Metcalf and Andrew Levitt (aka Nina West)
Charlie Bryant III and Emery Henderson
Billy Dawson and Ryahn Evers
Sydney Archibald, Melanie Puente Ervin, and Jade Turner
