James Royce Edwards Heads to Hairspray for 2 Weeks in April as Sketch

James Royce Edwards (www.jamesroyceedwards.com) , who recently starred as Matthew in the Off-Broadway show Altar Boyz, will take over the role of Sketch in the Broadway hit - Hairspray - from April 18 - 30 at the Neil Simon Theatre.

Edwards played Sketch and understudied - and went on - as Link in the First National Tour of Hairspray. Even though he has done the show before, this performance will mark Edwards Broadway debut.

"I am thrilled to be a part of the Broadway cast," says Edwards. "I have a lot of friends who are in this production and it will be great to be doing such a fun show with them again."

Born and raised in San Diego, CA, Edwards had worked with and became friends with legendary lyricist Sheldon Harnick while working on The Umbrellas of Cherbourg at the Sundance Theatre. It was through Sheldon that he received his first Equity job as Jean Vlajean in Theatreworks' production of Les Miserables, from Sheldon's brother Jay.

For the last couple of years Edwards was on tour with the national companies of Mamma Mia! and Hairspray. Regionally Edwards was seen in Children of Eden and The Scarlet Pimpernel at the Musical Theatre West in Long Beach, Sound of Music and Miss Saigon at the American Musical Theatre of San Jose, Footloose and Sound of Music at the Sacramento Music Circus, and an 8-month run with San Diego's resident company of Forever PlaiD. Edwards not only holds a B.F.A in Music, Dance & Theatre and a minor in Spanish from Brigham Young University. He is also an A.C.E. certified personal trainer and has contributed fitness stories to Maximum Fitness magazine and will be featured in the August issue of Men's Workout.