Children's Playhouse Of Maryland's Young Adult Series Presents HAIRSPRAY

Children's Playhouse of MD (CPM), in residence at CCBC Essex, presents the Tony Award winning musical Hairspray as part of its Young Adult Series. Based on Baltimore native John Waters' film, the production features 35 student actors from Baltimore City, Baltimore County, and Harford County.

Valerie Ziegler of Abingdon appears as Tracy Turnblad, with Matthew Byrd of Halethorpe playing Edna Turnblad. Also featured are Karah Campbell of Forest Hill as Velma Von Tussel, Rachel Moss of Lutherville as Penny Pingleton, and Anderson Gray of Parkville as Motormouth Maybelle.

Liz Boyer Hunnicutt directs this production, with musical direction by Charlotte Evans and choreography by Amanda Poxon.

In this Baltimore story, Tracy Turnblad, a plus-size Baltimore teen, tries to win a chance to dance on the hit TV program, The Corny Collins Show. She enlists the help of her mother Edna and "BFF" Penny, and uses her sudden fame to campaign for social justice and integration. With wonderful dancing and such memorable 60's-style tunes as Good Morning Baltimore, I can Hear The Bells, and You Can't Stop The Beat, this all-American musical is a must see.

Hairspray will be performed Friday, May 4, at 7 p.m. and May 5, 12, 13, 19, and 20 at 1 p.m. There is an additional 7 p.m. show on Saturday, May 12. The 1 p.m. show on May 12 will be sign language interpreted by students from the CCBC Interpreter Preparation program. There is no show scheduled for Sunday, May 6.

Tickets are $10 and can be purchased in advance by calling the CCBC Box Office, 443-840-ARTS (2787), Tuesday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., or online at www.cpmarts.org. Tickets may be available at the door, space permitting. Advanced ticket purchase is highly recommended. Group tickets are also available.

Performances are held in the CCBC Administration Building Lecture Hall, by Parking Lot 4, at CCBC Essex, which is a wheelchair-accessible facility. Please request accommodations at the time of ticket purchase. For more information, call the CCBC Box Office, or the CPM Administrative Office at 443-840-2426. For directions, go to www.ccbcmd.edu.

Children's Playhouse of Maryland, Inc. is a not for profit community theatre dedicated to youth performers ages 18 and under.