Lyric Theatre Stages HAIRSPRAY, Opens Tonight
By: BWW News Desk Jul. 05, 2011
Lyric Theatre is staging Hairspray, the fun-filled musical to the Civic Center stage on July 5 through 9. Lyric's production of Hairspray brings excitement, fabulous music and energetic dancing to the Lyric Theatre summer line-up of shows!
The 1950s are out and change is in the air with the Tony Award-winning musical, Hairspray. Watch Baltimore's new teen celebrity, Tracy Turnblad, a girl with big hair and an even bigger voice, as she wins the affections of heartthrob Link Larkin and integrates a TV network - all without denting her 'do!
This colorful musical, based on the movie by John Waters, celebrates sock-hops and teen love in early 1960s. Beneath the hoppin' and boppin' good times are themes of rebellion, discrimination and teen triumph. Enjoy hit tunes like "Mama, I'm a Big Girl Now," "Good Morning Baltimore," "You Can't Stop the Beat" and "Welcome to the ‘60s." Everything is bigger in Hairspray- the dreams, the voices, and of course, the hair. You can't stop Tracy or the beat!
This fun-filled musical is under the direction of Oklahoma's own Lyn Cramer. Cramer, who also directed and choreographed Lyric Theatre's 2010 production of 42nd Street, has been a teacher and choreographer for three decades, and also a Weitzenhoffer Endowed Professor of Musical Theatre Dance at the University of Oklahoma. She was named the 2005 Irene and Julian J. Rothbaum Presidential Professor of Excellence in the Arts for the Weitzenhoffer Family College of Fine Arts. In 2004, Cramer was also honored with the Chicago National Association of Dance Masters Artistic Achievement Award. Cramer's directing credits with Lyric include Cabaret, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Smokey Joe's Cafe, Urinetown, Aida, Five Guys Named Moe, A Chorus Line and West Side Story.
"I am so excited about our cast because we have fresh new talented faces, great veteran performers and an outstanding artistic team coming together to create an all new Hairspray," says Cramer. "Almost everyone is brand new to this show and that alone creates an energy that is second to none."
Liz Froio, playing the ever-loving Tracy Turnblad, is elated to be reprising her dream role.
"I am so excited to bring Tracy's inspiring story and infectious energy to the Lyric Stage," says Froio. "I've already begun counting down the days!"
Froio's past credits include Bare, Urinetown, All Shook Up, and the New York Premiere of Darling by Ryan Scott Oliver. Froio has received two Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Award nominations and received her BFA in Musical Theatre from Pace University.
Joining Froio on the Civic Center stage this summer as Tracy's reclusive mother, Edna, is Erick Devine. Devine has performed with Lyric Theatre since 1976 with his Lyric debut performance of Ben Franklin in 1776. Devine's other Lyric credits include Bye Bye Birdie, Anything Goes, Oklahoma!, Guys & Dolls, Gypsy, Annie Ger Your Gun and Peter Pan. Devine's Broadway credits include Ragtime, Cats and Seussical, while his National Tour credits include Me & My Girl, Grand Hotel, Big River and White Christmas.
Inga Ballard, last seen as Jewel in Lyric's 2004 production of Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, and has played Motormouth Maybelle in Hairspray numerous times. Ballard's other credits include Smokey Joe's Café and Showboat at Sacramento Music Circus. Her additional credits include Ella, Les Miserables, Nine, Crowns, All My Sons as well as Sarah's Friend in the 1st and 2nd National Tour of Ragtime.
Lyric's 2011 Season Title Sponsor is Chesapeake Energy Corporation. Presenting Sponsor is The Oklahoman.
Hairspray is sponsored by MidFirst Bank and Riggs, Abney, Neal, Turpen, Orbison, & Lewis Inc. Additional season support provided by American Airlines, Kirkpatrick Foundation, Inasmuch Foundation, Allied Arts, the Oklahoma Arts Council, and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Performances for Hairspray are on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights at 7:30pm; Friday and Saturday nights at 8:00 p.m. and Saturday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. To purchase tickets go to www.LyricTheatreOKC.com, call (405) 524-9312, come by Lyric Theatre's ticket office located on 1727 NW 16 St., Oklahoma City, Okla, or call the Civic Center Box office at (405) 297-2264 or 1-800-364-7111.
Lyric will continue its 2011 Season at the Civic Center Music Hall in downtown Oklahoma City with Ragtime and A Chorus Line, and finish up back at the Plaza Theater with Altar Boyz and Lyric's A Christmas Carol presented by Devon Energy.
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