Hairspray Film Holds Nationwide Open Casting Search for Tracy, Seaweed and Little Inez

By: Jan. 21, 2006
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Producers of the upcoming film version of Hairspray are on the lookout for actors to play Tracy Turnblad, Seaweed and Little Inez; a casting notice for those three lead characters was recently posted on the movie's website.

They have posted the following character descriptions for their nationwide casting search:

"Tracy Turnblad: (Starring role, female, Caucasian, age 16-21 to play 16. Extremely overweight high school 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: Male, African-American, age 16-21 to play 16. Charming, handsome, excellent dancer and singer. Dynamic.

Little Inez: Female, African-American, 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."

Those who are interested and who meet character descriptions should send a recent picture (snapshots okay) and resume by mail or e-mail. They should visit www.hairspraymovie.com to download the audition application form.

Directed by Adam Shankman (Cheaper by the Dozen 2), with an adapted screenplay by Leslie Dixon (based on the libretto by Thomas Meehan and Mark O'Donnell), music by composer Marc Shaiman and lyrics by Marc Shaiman, and Scott Wittman, the Hairspray film will be released by New Line Cinema. A summer 2007 release is anticipated, with filming to begin in Baltimore soon after the film is cast. Craig Zadan and Neil Meron (of the Chicago film and numerous TV musical adaptations) will be the producers.

No casting has been announced yet, but a few months ago, John Travolta was announced as a strong candidate for the role of hefty hausfrau Edna Turnblad. 

Hairspray tells of overweight teenager Tracy Turnblad's ascent into love, happiness and stardom on a 60's dance show, which she helps to racially integrate. The Broadway show was itself based on John Waters' 1988 film. It opened in August of 2002 and garnered 8 Tonys, including Best Musical, Best Original Score for Shaiman and Wittman, Best Book of a Musical for O'Donnell and Meehan, Best Direction of a Musical for Jack O'Brien, Best Actor in a Musical for Harvey Fierstein and Best Actress in a Musical for Marissa Jaret Winokur.

The Broadway production of Hairspray features Shannon Durig as Tracy, John Pinette as Edna, Stephen DeRosa as Wilbur, Andrew Rannells as Link, Tevin Campbell as Seaweed, Becky Gulsvig as Amber, Tracey Miller as Penny (with "American Idol"'s Diana DeGarmo soon to succeed her), Darlene Love as Motormouth Maybelle and Leah Hocking as Velma. A condensed Las Vegas production is also in the works; it will feature original stars Fierstein and Dick Latessa when it opens on February 15th.



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