Review: HAIRSPRAY at Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre

Playing now through October 28!

By: Sep. 24, 2023
Review: HAIRSPRAY at Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre

Prather Productions is embarking on a national tour of HAIRSPRAY, and Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre is the first stop for this talented cast. The award-winning musical tells the beloved story of Tracy Turnblad as she fights for what she believes in.

Tracy is played by Caroline Eiseman, who truly brought the character to life. Eiseman sang, danced, and brought a lot of personality to the role. She did a fabulous job and was a joy to watch. Her best friend, Penny Pingleton, is played by Scarlett Jacques. Jacques was also excellent, and the perfect fit for Penny. I really enjoyed their friendship. Tracy's love interest, Link Larkin, is played by Skyler Shields. They had great on-stage chemistry, and Shields is a wonderful singer and dancer as well. Josiah Rogers plays Seaweed, Penny's love interest, and I think he was perfect for this role. He brought a lot of charisma to the character, and his dancing was fun to watch.

Tracy's parents, Edna and Wilbur, are played by Greg Kalafatas and Ralph Prentice Daniel, respectively. Edna and Wilbur have a very sweet relationship, and they both did a great job portraying such. Kalafatas was a fabulous Edna, and was absolutely hilarious. 

The rest of the cast includes Andrew Scoggin as Corny Collins, Caroline Portner as Amber Von Tussle, Sarah Hayes as Velma Von Tussle, Deidre Lang as Motormouth Maybelle, and many, many more. Each cast member had a shining moment in the production, and it was fun to see. They all were great singers, dancers, and actors, and did a terrific job bringing this well-known show to life. 

This production was directed by Matt Lenz with choreography by Robbie Roby, alongside scenic design by David Rockwell, costume design by William Ivey Long, lighting design by Russell A. Thompson, sound design by Abbey Dillard, video adaptations by Chris McCleary, wig and hair design by Paul Huntley and Bernie Ardia, orchestrations by Harold Wheeler, music supervision by Keith Thompson, musical coordination by JP Meyer, musical direction by Lizzie Webb, and much more. This show is a big undertaking, and this team did a great job with it. I appreciated how colorful everything was. 

Hairspray is playing at Broadway Palm now through October 28. I recommend checking out this fun, fabulous production if you are in the area before it hits the road. It is a joyful show that tells a great message of equality. From "Good Morning Baltimore" to "You Can't Stop the Beat," you'll be dancing in your seat and cheering Tracy and her friends along.

It is also worth noting that opening night of HAIRSPRAY was also Broadway Palm's belated 30th Anniversary celebration, which was postponed because of Hurricane Ian last year. There was a lot of joy, energy, and support in the room, which made the show even better. There were some technical issues during the show, but they were handled with professionalism and were fixed quickly. Overall, it was a great night out.

For more information and to buy tickets, follow the link below.


BroadwayWorld Awards Voting

RELATED STORIES - Ft. Myers/Naples

1
BroadwayWorld Ft. Myers/Naples Awards December 5th Standings; ROCK OF AGES Leads Best Musi Photo
BroadwayWorld Ft. Myers/Naples Awards December 5th Standings; ROCK OF AGES Leads Best Musical!

It's December, and the first standings of the month have been announced as of Tuesday, December 5th for the 2023 BroadwayWorld Ft. Myers/Naples Awards! Don't miss out on making sure that your favorite theatres, stars, and shows get the recognition they deserve!

2
Gulfshore Playhouse to Present World Premiere Of THE REFUGEES Photo
Gulfshore Playhouse to Present World Premiere Of THE REFUGEES

Gulfshore Playhouse has unveiled the talented ensemble cast for the world premiere of The Refugees, a daring new comedy that explores the impact of a civil war in the United States on a once well-to-do Connecticut family.

3
KEVIN HART: BRAND NEW MATERIAL Comes to Coral Springs Center for the Arts Photo
KEVIN HART: BRAND NEW MATERIAL Comes to Coral Springs Center for the Arts

The Coral Springs Center for the Arts announced today that world famous and legendary comedian KEVIN HART will perform live on stage at the Center on Saturday, January 6, 2024, at 8 pm.  

4
Opera Naples Unveils 2023/2024 Season Featuring IOIANTHE, CARMEN & More Photo
Opera Naples Unveils 2023/2024 Season Featuring IOIANTHE, CARMEN & More

Opera Naples Announces Exciting 2023/2024 Season with diverse performances and collaborations. Don't miss the Opera Naples Festival Under the Stars and the Winter Dreams Gala. Get your tickets now!

From This Author - Elizabeth James

Elizabeth has always been a fan of the arts. She took dance classes when she was younger, and now she enjoys watching and supporting all the talented theatre performers in Southwest Flo... Elizabeth James">(read more about this author)

Videos


Hadestown in Ft. Myers/Naples Hadestown
Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Center (1/23-1/28)
Elf the Musical in Ft. Myers/Naples Elf the Musical
Fort Myers Theatre (12/14-12/31)
Private Lives in Ft. Myers/Naples Private Lives
Arts Center Theatre (1/03-1/21)
White Christmas in Ft. Myers/Naples White Christmas
Arts Center Theatre (12/13-12/17)
Rodgers & Hammerstein - A Grand Night for Singing in Ft. Myers/Naples Rodgers & Hammerstein - A Grand Night for Singing
Music & Arts Community Center (1/18-2/03)
The Queen of Bingo in Ft. Myers/Naples The Queen of Bingo
Arts Center Theatre (2/07-2/25)
The Producers in Ft. Myers/Naples The Producers
The Naples Players (3/13-4/07)
It's a Wonderful Life (Live Radio Play) in Ft. Myers/Naples It's a Wonderful Life (Live Radio Play)
The Naples Players (12/08-12/09)
Sunday Chamber Music: Beaux Arts Trio in Ft. Myers/Naples Sunday Chamber Music: Beaux Arts Trio
Music & Arts Community Center (1/28-1/28)
Jazz at the MACC: Music of Duke Ellington in Ft. Myers/Naples Jazz at the MACC: Music of Duke Ellington
Music & Arts Community Center (2/15-2/15)
VIEW ALL SHOWS  ADD A SHOW  

Recommended For You