Possum Point Players Presents HAIRSPRAY

Possum Point Players present a family-friendly and fun musical that has some endearing underlying messages when they perform "Hairspray" Oct. 2, 3, 4, 9, 10 and 11. Friday and Saturday shows are at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday matinees are at 2 p.m. The winner of eight TONY awards, including Best Musical, the light-hearted show also teaches a sweet lesson of tolerance. Possum Hall is located at 441 Old Laurel Rd. Georgetown. Tickets are $23, adults, and $22 for students and seniors; they may be purchased at www.possumpointplayers.org or at the ticketline, 856-4560.

Even though the music is upbeat and definitely dance-able and many of the characters are over-the-top outrageous, "Hairspray" takes shots at serious attitudes about skin color, body image and perceived social standing or lack thereof. However, plus-size teenager, Tracy Turnblad doesn't let attitudes and judgement stand in her way as she greets every morning feeling the day is "...pulling me out to the smiles and the streets that I love. Good morning, Baltimore, every day's like an open door." Dover resident Lorraine Steinhoff portrays Tracy, a saucy teen who only wants to be accepted and allowed to share her love of song and dance with the world.

The center of Baltimore teens' world is the Corny Collins Show that will have some harkening back to the iconic Bandstand. As Corny Collins, Mike Mahafee of Lewes, holds court over "The Nicest Kids in Town," he acknowledges that these kids "...can't tell a verb from a noun...They'll never get to college, but they sure look cool."

While Corny is content with the slender white upper class kids most of the month, he welcomes those of color once a month on "Negro Day."

Little does he know a revolution is building as Tracy learns to boogie with the best of them as she and a few other "cool" kids follow the dancing feet of a school chum into the record shop on the "other" side of town. There Motormouth Maybelle makes a living to support her children, Seaweed and Little Inez. Motormouth, played by Delcena Kemmerlin of Milford, spins the tunes that help Seaweed, J.D. Rodgers of Long Neck, and Little Inez, Geria Sturgis of Georgetown, learn they can lead the dancers when they put their best feet forward and teach their high school friends some new steps.

Slightly euphoric from some encouraging attention from her dream dance and all-around romance partner, Link, Tracy begins to get big ideas for bringing racial harmony and the latest and greatest dance crazes to Baltimore. Link, Alex Ferree of Bridgeville, is a young crooner who is aiming to get his big break toward stardom with his appearances on the Corny Collins Show.

Even when Tracy proclaims every day on Corny's show should be Negro Day, her devoted parents support her, even if it means going to jail or squaring off against the biggest snobs in town. Lewes resident Jerry Birl plays a larger than life Edna Turnblad who folds up her ironing board and convinces herself that she is big, blonde (ish) and beautiful as she marches off to support Tracy. John Zinzi of Milton sees a perfect daddy's girl in the bouffant and bubbly Tracy as she sets out to make a difference in the world. Well, at least the world of Baltimore.

Whether it's for the prissy, preppy council members of Corny's show or for the hyper hip-hoppers of Motormouth's record shop, "Hairspray choreographer Deni Robinson of Lewes is busy trying to stay one step ahead in creating and teaching dances to the large cast.

Michael Murnin, Lewes, is director and Melanie Bradly, also of Lewes, is music director.

Possum Point Players is supported, in part, by grants from the Delaware Division of the Arts, a state agency dedicated to nurturing and supporting the arts in Delaware, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts.