Players Club of Swarthmore's HAIRSPRAY to Open 4/22

The Players Club of Swarthmore will present the musical comedy Hairspray, April 22 to May 7 for ten performances at The Players Club of Swarthmore, 614 Fairview Ave. in Swarthmore. Buy tickets online at www.pcstheater.org

In Hairspray, it's 1962 and change is in the air. Baltimore's Tracy Turnblad (Rachel Medori), a big girl with big hair and an even bigger heart, has only one passion - to dance. She wins a spot on the local TV dance program, The Corny Collins Show, and is transformed overnight into a teen celebrity. But can Tracy vanquish the program's reigning dance princess Amber Von Tussle (Liz Iannacci), win the heart of heartthrob Link Larkin (Ronnie Keller), and dance her way to success? Only in Hairspray! Audiences of all ages will be tapping their feet to the beat as they enjoy hit favorites such as "Good Morning Baltimore," "You Can't Stop the Beat, " and "Welcome to the Sixties."

Winner of eight Tony Awards including Best Musical and Best Original Score, Hairspray features music by Marc Shaiman, lyrics by Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman, and a book by Mark O'Donnell and Thomas Meehan. The show is directed by Brian Walsh, with musical direction by Eric Thompson, choreography by Maria Byers, and an orchestra led by Raquel Garcia.

In addition to Medori, Iannucci and Keller, Walsh has assembled a talented cast of regional actors including Patrick O'Hara (Edna Turnblad), Tim Whelan (Wilbur Turnblad), Ali Caiazzo (Penny Pingleton), Nicodemus Williams-Snow (Seaweed), Mikyah Mott (Little Inez), Jared Paxson (Corny Collins), Donna Dougherty (Velma Von Tussle), and Tiara Greene (Motormouth Maybelle). Rounding out the cast are Ann Ramsey, Anthony SanFillippo, Joe Tabasco, Anna Ferrigno, Jazon Buzzell, Ryan Stone, Amanda Panrock, Mike Marci, Jess Nichter, Danny Walsh, Danielle Agan, Hannah McGrath, Patrick Gaughan, Sarah Kent, Kyra Phllips, Kyle McLemore, Alfred Lance, Aubrey McKinney, Xavier Gray, Adara Blake, Jasmine Bryan, Tristan Horan, and Rose Scott.

Hairspray runs from Friday, April 22 through Saturday, May 7. Thursday performances are at 7:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday performances are at 8 p.m. and Sunday matinees are at 2 p.m. Audiences can meet the artists in a talkback discussion after the May 1 performance. Buy tickets either online at www.pcstheater.org, by calling OvationTix at 866-811-4111, or at the door. For more information about PCS - including upcoming events, shows, ticketing and directions, visit www.pcstheater.org.