Arkansas Rep Presents HAIRSPRAY, 4/8-5/8

Hairspray, one of Broadway's most beloved musicals and winner of eight Tony® Awards, including Best New Musical, will have Rep audiences dancing in their seats just in time for spring!

Hairspray will feature several popular actors who are returning to The Rep from very recent shows. Lillian Castillo kept audiences in stitches as the hilarious maid in last season's Glorious, and will sing her heart out in Hairspray in the lead role of Tracy Turnblad.

Katie Emerson amazed audiences with her thrilling solo as the Mistress in this season's Evita, and will star as Tracy's loyal best friend, Penny Pingleton. Laura Medford appeared as the memorable Miss Shields in this season's holiday show, A Christmas Story, and will star as "mean girl" Amber
in Hairspray. And Rick Qualls, who serenaded the ladies of Evita with "A Night of a Thousand Stars," will appear as the famous Corny Collins of the Corny Collins Show.

Also appearing in Hairspray are several Young Artists from The Rep's SMTI (Summer Musical
Theatre Intensive) program: Kelsie Adkisson, Brendan Chambers, Stacy Hawking, Laura Medford,
Matthew Morley, Molly Rosenthal and Mary Katelin Ward.

Hairspray was adapted from the book by Mark O'Donnell and Thomas Meehan, with an original
score by Marc Shaiman and lyrics by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman. This new classic will have
audiences singing and dancing to hits like "Mama, I'm a Big Girl Now," "You Can't Stop the Beat"
and "Good Morning, Baltimore."

The show kicks off in 1962 with Baltimore teen Tracy Turnblad, who has only one desire: to dance
on the popular Corny Collins Show. When her dream comes true, Tracy is transformed from social
outcast to dancing queen...but she must use her newfound power to vanquish Amber, the reigning
Teen Queen, win the affections of heartthrob Link Larkin and integrate a TV network - all without
denting her ‘do! All she needs is her best friend Penny, a toe-tappin' beat and a little hairspray in
this rollicking musical comedy.

The production will open on April 8, with two public previews on April 6 and April 7, which will
include a preshow discussion with the Hairspray Director at 6:15 p.m. in the theatre.

Hairspray will run from April 8 through May 8. Tickets are available at The Rep Box Office at
(501) 378-0405 or online at tickets.therep.org.

 

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