Marquee Productions Presents HAIRSPRAY, 12/3-12

Marquee Productions presents the Broadway sensation, Hairspray, at the Montgomery Theater in downtown San Jose, December 3 - 12, 2010. Winner of eight Tony® Awards and four prestigious Laurence Olivier Awards, including "Best Musical," this smash-hit musical about a girl with big hair, a big heart and big dance numbers is piled high with bouffant laughter, romance and deliriously fun show tunes. Hairspray is directed by Children's Musical Theater San Jose's Artistic Director Kevin R. Hauge.
 
The annual Marquee Productions feature Bay Area actors, including Children's Musical Theater San Jose (CMT) alumni. The productions benefit CMT youth theater programs.
 
Opening night, Friday, December 3 at 8 p.m., is "Big Hair Night." The best 60's styles will receive a goody bag of discounts and freebies from local businesses.Opening Night: Friday, Dec. 3 at 8 p.m.                                    
 
All tickets are $25. Tickets are available at www.cmtsj.org or by calling 408-792-4111.
 
"Hairspray is a wonderful show that is joyful and spirited, a perfect diversion from the craziness of the holidays," says Hauge.  "I couldn't wait to bring it to the stage in San Jose, knowing that our audiences here would be delighted with the music, the dancing, and the messages of the play."
 
Hailed by the New York Times as "irresistible," Hairspray sweeps audiences back to 1960's Baltimore, where the 50's are out - and change is in the air. Lovable, plus-size heroine, Tracy Turnblad, has a passion for dancing and is obsessed with the local TV dance program, "The Corny Collins Show." After winning a spot on the show, Tracy finds herself instantly transformed from outsider to teen celebrity. 
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Things heat up when Tracy is pitted against the reigning, teenage queen of the show for the affections of heartthrob Link Larkin. Can a larger-than-life adolescent manage to vanquish the program's princess, integrate the television show, and find true love (singing and dancing all the while, of course!) without mussing her hair?
 
The sizzling score is a home-run homage to the 60's and will have young and old shimmying in their seats. The iconic "Good Morning, Baltimore" sets the stage for bubbly, bouncy tunes such as, "Welcome to the 60's," and "The Nicest Kids in Town." A solemn near gospel number, "I Know Where I've Been," stills the mood for temperatures to rise again with "I Can't Stop the Beat," a toe-tapping, raucous dance finale. 
 
Hairspray is based on the New Line Cinema film written and directed by John Waters, who served as a creative consultant on the musical comedy. It features a book by Mark O'Donnell and Thomas Meehan. Hairspray's original score is by Academy Award-nominated Marc Shaiman, with lyrics by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman.
 
Director Kevin R. Hauge is in his 15th season as Artistic Director of Children's Musical Theater San Jose.  Kevin has established CMT as the leading theater company for youth by taking on increasingly challenging and professional-quality productions. His innovative approach to productions, including multimedia and internet technology, has resulted in eight consecutive grant awards for organizational and artistic excellence from the National Endowment for the Arts. A recipient of the prestigious Lin Wright Special Recognition Award by the American Alliance for Theater and Education, Kevin was the guest speaker at the International Association of Theater Educators Conference and the Education and Technology Conference.
 
 Lindsey O' Connell (Tracy Turnblad) is a Bay Area stage and film actor and director. She returns to CMT after directing CMT's Once Upon a Mattress and Honk and assisting on CMT's critically acclaimed Miss Saigon. This marks her 20th season with CMT, where she has appeared in a number of productions, including Singin' in the Rain, A Chorus Line, Oliver, Peter Pan, Hello Dolly, State Fair and Crazy for You.  In 2006, Lindsey was recognized as Best Leading Actress at Loyola Marymount University, where she holds a MA in Literacy and Language Arts.  She teaches 5th grade at Saint Simon in Los Altos.
 
Doug Santana (Edna Turnblad) last appeared in a Marquee Production as Dave in The Full Monty. His professional credits include the national tours of Bye Bye Birdie and Theatreworks/USA's Lyle Lyle Crocodile. He spent a year with Repertory Theatre at Sea on Crystal Cruises and was most recently seen as Max Bialystock in The Producers at Stage 1 Theatre. He teaches drama at Archbishop Mitty High School and won Best Director from the National Youth Theatre and San Jose Top Honors for Dirty Rotten Scoundrels last spring.
 
Adrienne Eller (Penny) was last seen as Kim in CMT's Miss Saigon. She attends Archbishop Mitty High School where she performs in their theater program Exodus and on the sketch comedy team. Last year Andrienne received CMT's Frank Frye award and plans to pursue musical theater at college.
 
Joey Pisacane (Link Larkin) has appeared in a number of CMT productions. Last year he was nominated for the CMT's Brian Alfred King award for his role as Roger in RENT: The School Edition and as Tommy in The Who's Tommy.  Joey attends Bellarmine College Preparatory and plans to pursue a career in the performing arts.
 
Mark Martinez (Wilbur Turnblad) was last seen as Father in the Marquee Production of Ragtime and as Julian in Disney's When You Wish.  He has toured extensively as a cabaret act and a principle vocalist. His credits include Quasimodo in Disney's Hunchback of Notre Dame, Amos in Chicago and as Sky in Guys and Dolls. Mark most recently appeared in the successful run of Sisters of Swing at The Retrodome and is currently working on a new solo act, "Now What?"
 
Juanita Harris (Motormouth Maybelle) last appeared in the Marquee Production of Ragtime.  A Bay Area native, Juanita attended the Berklee School of Music in Boston, where she was classically trained. She has performed in numerous classical and jazz choirs, musicals and as a vocal soloist.
 
Frankie Mulcahy (Corny Collins) last appeared as Tarzan in the Marquee Production of  Disney's When You Wish.  His past CMT credits include: Thoroughly Modern Millie, Beauty and the Beast, Evita and Side Show.  Frankie most recently appeared as Matt in The Retrodome's production of The Fantastiks.
 
Mary Theresa Capriles (Velma Von Tussle) was last seen as Jane in the Marquee Production of Disney's When You Wish and as Svetlana in Chess. She has appeared in numerous CMT productions including, Disney's Beauty and the Beast, A Christmas Carol, Annie, Hello Dolly and Bye, Bye, Birdie.
 
About Marquee Productions:  Marquee Productions is a program of Children's Musical Theater San Jose that presents an opportunity for working actors to come together and provide high-caliber entertainment that benefits the youth theater programs of CMT.
 
About Children's Musical Theater San Jose:  Children's Musical Theater San Jose is one of the nation's leading youth theater organizations that trains and educates young people through musical theater to set and achieve high artistic and personal goals.  Now in its 43rd season, CMT has received eight consecutive grant awards for organizational and artistic excellence from the National Endowment for the Arts.