Fierstein, Latessa and Anton Among Stars of Las Vegas Hairspray, Opening Feb. 15

Hairspray, which will begin its run at the Luxor Las Vegas on February 6th and open on February 15th, is now filled with cast members to give in to its bright '60s beats.

Harvey Fierstein, who created the role of hefty hausfrau Edna Turnblad in the Broadway production, will reprise the part in Las Vegas while his co-star Dick Latessa will once again play husband Wilbur. Fierstein and Latessa are contracted to star in the show for its first dozen weeks. Both stars will also play 10 performances a week, as Hairspray will be presented on Thursday through Tuesday at 7 PM and will play extra shows at 10 PM on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.

Hairspray will also feature Susan Anton (The Will Rogers Follies, Hurlyburly) as the villainous Velma Von Tussle, Katrina Dideriksen as spirited heroine Tracy Turnblad, Austin Miller as heartthrob Link Larkin, Kevin Spirtas as Corny Collins, Terry L. Daniels as Seaweed, Fran Jaye as Motormouth Maybelle, Chandra Lee Schwartz as Penny Pingleton, Katharine Leonard as Amber Von Tussle, Ed Romanoff as Male Authority Figure (and understudy for Edna and Wilbur), Susan Mosher as Female Authority Figure, and Carla Duren as Inez. Tara Siesener will be the standby for Tracy and Robert Machray will do the same for Edna, Wilbur and Male Authority Figure. The ensemble has yet to be announced.

The Las Vegas production will be shorter than the Broadway staging; it will clock in at 90 minutes without an intermission. Velma's number "Miss Baltimore Crabs" has also been cut. Hairspray will be brought to life in Las Vegas by its original Broadway creative and design team, as well.

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 ' 1988 film. It opened in August of 2002 and garnered 8 Tonys, including Best Musical, Best Original Score for Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman , Best Book of a Musical for Mark O'Donnell and Thomas Meehan, Best Direction of a Musical for Jack O'Brien, Best Actor in a Musical for Fierstein and Best Actress in a Musical for Marissa Jaret Winokur. Jerry Mitchell received a Tony nomination for his choreography.

The Las Vegas production of Hairspray will once again feature costumes by William Ivey Long, lighting by Kenneth Posner, sets by David Rockwell, sound by Steve Kennedy, and hair and wigs by Paul Huntley. Lon Hoyt is the music supervisor, while Michael Gill and Myron Martin are the Las Vegas producers, Elayne Herrick, John Halle, Mike Tricarichi, Pat Caddick and Neil Miller are the executive producers and David Caldwell is the associate producer.

Before the regular performance schedule goes into effect, preview performances will play Thursday through Tuesday at 7 PM with additional shows at 10 PM on Saturday and Sunday. Tickets for preview performances are $50 plus tax and handling fees, while tickets for regular performances are $85 (main floor) and $65 (for mezzanine), plus tax and handling fees. Call (800) 557-7428 or (702) 262-4444 or visit www.luxor.com for tickets. For group sales, call (702) 262-4525.

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