Hairspray Film Casting Seach to Head to Atlanta, NYC and Chicago

By: Jan. 26, 2006
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As part of its previously-announced nationwide casting search to fill the roles of Tracy Turnblad, Seaweed and Little Inez in the upcoming film version of Hairspray, New Line Cinema will send casting directors to Atlanta, New York and Chicago.

The casting search will begin on Feb. 4 with an open call audition in Atlanta on the campus of Georgia State University. On Feb. 11, casting agents will hold an open call in New York at the Hilton Theatre Rehearsal Studios and the search will come to Chicago on Feb. 18th at the Chicago Academy of Arts.

In addition to the open calls, interested actors can fill out an audition application by mail or email through www.hairspraymovie.com as well.

"One of the most exciting things to do as producers is be able to offer life-changing roles to new actors and Hairspray has presented us with an amazing opportunity to create new stars," stated producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron (the Chicago film).

The roles that are currently being cast include:

* Tracy Turnblad: (Starring Role) Female, Caucasian, age 16-21 to play age 16. Overweight girl with a pretty face, infectious grin and indomitable spirit. Must be a "triple threat" talent -- singer/dancer/actress with a powerful Broadway-caliber singing voice.
* Seaweed: African American male, age 16-21 to play 18. Charming, handsome, excellent singer and dancer. Dynamic.
* Li'l Inez: African American female, age 10-13. Seaweed's younger sister. Smart, strong, and the kind of girl who stands up for herself. She is one of the best dancers and singers around and she knows it.

Hairspray, which will be directed by Adam Shankman, is originally based on Waters' 1988 comedy about star-struck teenagers on a local Baltimore dance show. The new version of the film will be based on New Line's hit Broadway adaptation of the film which debuted in 2002, and went on to win eight Tony Awards including Best Musical, Best Score, Best Book and Best Director.

Many of the key contributors to the Broadway show will also be involved in the feature film adaptation. Marc Shaiman (music and co-lyricist) will serve as the film's music supervisor who will compose the score for the film as well as produce its songs. Co-lyricist Scott Wittman and Shaiman will also be the film's executive producers. The play's book writers, Thomas Meehan and Mark O'Donnell, are set to adapt the screenplay. While no casting has been announced, John Travolta was mentioned a few months ago as a likely candidate for the role of hefty hausfrau Edna Turnblad.

New Line Production President Toby Emmerich is overseeing the project along with New Line's Senior VP Mark Kaufman, and Creative Executive Michael Disco.

"Founded almost 40 years ago, New Line Cinema is the most successful independent film company in the world. Its mission is to produce innovative, popular and profitable entertainment in the best creative environment. In addition to the production, marketing and distribution of theatrical motion pictures, the fully-integrated studio has divisions devoted to home entertainment, television, music, theater, merchandising and an international unit. In 2005, New Line partnered with HBO to form Picturehouse, a new theatrical distribution company to release independent films. A pioneer in franchise filmmaking, New Line's Oscar-winning The Lord of the Rings trilogy is one of the most successful film franchises in history. New Line is a division of Time Warner, Inc. (TWX)," state press notes.


Complete details of the auditions are available at www.hairspraymovie.com.



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