You Can't Stop The Beat! The Berman to Present HAIRSPRAY This Month

There's no stopping the beat in this big and bold musical about one girl's inspiring dream to dance. Performed by the JCC's very first cast of PAIJ (Performing Arts In the JCC) Players, "Hairspray" will delight audiences with its infectious melodies and fantastical dance numbers.

By combining the experience and expertise of the professional directors and designers of The Berman with the enthusiasm and talent of actors from the community, the PAIJ Players is a whole new breed of community theatre.

Winner of eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical and Best Original Score, "Hairspray," with its joyful story of triumph over high school bullies, racism and celebration of big girls with bigger hair, propels the PAIJ Players onto the local stage. With music by Marc Shaiman, lyrics by Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman, book by Mark O'Donnell and Thomas Meehan, and based on the New Line Cinema film written and directed by John Waters, "Hairspray" will leave audiences of all ages laughing and clapping to the beat as they enjoy hits like "Good Morning, Baltimore" and "You Can't Stop The Beat." "Hairspray" is big, big fun for the whole family.

Tickets are now on sale for the following performances: Wednesday, February 15 at 7:30 p.m.; Thursday, February 16 at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, February 18 at 8 p.m.; Sunday, February 19 at 2 p.m.; and Sunday, February 19 at 6 p.m.

To purchase tickets, call 248.661.1900 Monday-Friday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., or visit www.theberman.org. For group sales (10+), please call Jessica Bryer for special pricing at 248.432.5570 or email jbryer@jccdet.org.

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The Berman Center for the Performing Arts is located at the Jewish Community Center of Metropolitan Detroit, D. Dan & Betty Kahn Building | Eugene & Marcia Applebaum Jewish Community Campus at 6600 W. Maple Rd., West Bloomfield, MI 48322.

PRODUCTION TEAM:

The Berman's production team members are working professionals in Michigan regional theatres and have been through university-based training programs. Areas of focus for core faculty are fundamentals of acting, voice training, improvisation, dance and musical theatre.

CO-DIRECTOR: Elaine (Hendriks) Smith

Elaine (Hendriks) Smith has been a part of The Berman since its opening in March 2011. Prior to The Berman, Elaine was the Artistic Director of The Historic Gem & Century Theatres (Detroit, MI), Deputy Director of Matrix Theatre Company (Detroit, MI), the Production Manager of Commotion Entertainment and has more than 20 years of experience as a theatrical manager, designer and presenter nationwide on such production as: "Say Goodnight, Gracie" (Lighting Designer, Stage Manager, Production Manager), Altar Boyz (Production Stage Manager), The Second City, Detroit (Stage Manager & Designer) and Trinity Irish Dance Company (Lighting Designer).

CO-DIRECTOR: Mitch Master

Mitch Master is the Director of the Performing and Visual Arts Department at the Frankel Jewish Academy Metropolitan Detroit. He has a B.S. in advertising and public relations and a minor in theatre from Grand Valley State University. Master has directed more than 75 musical/drama youth theatre productions and performed in more than 35 stage productions. He studied at The New Actor's Workshop in New York and spent two years gaining invaluable experience in film/TV in Los Angeles. Master has taught and directed youth theatre programs such as the Bloomfield Players, Birmingham Community House, Cranbrook Theatre School, Detroit Country Day School, Seaholm High School, and more.

CAST:

Sketch: Azriel Apap, Huntington Woods

Link Larkin: Nicholas Asciutto, Farmington Hills

IQ/Newscaster: Andrew Blaise

Ensemble: Chloe Bowyer, West Bloomfield

Tammy: Olivia Bowyer, West Bloomfield

Amber VonTussle: Meagan Cahill, Livonia

Ensemble: Kara Downey, Novi

Ensemble: Jade Downey, Novi

Ensemble: Alexis Forman, West Bloomfield

Motormouth Mabel Stubbs: Randi Gary, Redford

Mr. Pinky/Ensemble: Jeremy Goldman, West Bloomfield

Seaweed Stubbs: Manning Goldman

Shelly: Sydney Gringorten

Ensemble: Sydney Harker

Ensemble: Charlie Herz, Farmington Hills

Ensemble: Kadie Hollander, Farmington Hills

Dynamite/Ensemble: Daisha Johnson, West Bloomfield

Dynamite/Ensemble: Faith Johnson, West Bloomfield

Brenda/Ensemble: Ruby Kellman, West Bloomfield

Ensemble: Benny Kirshner, Farmington Hills

Ensemble: Madilyn Lajoice, Farmington Hills

Penny Lou Pingleton: Isabelle Lundin, Wixom

Ensemble: Alexis McCallion, West Bloomfield

Corny Collins: Mike McKiddy

Wilbur Turnblad: Lawrence Miller, Bloomfield Hills

Velma Von Tussle: Leigh Moss, Bloomfield Township

Beatnik Chick/Ensemble: Estee Moss

Brad: Joshua Mostyn, West Bloomfield

Ensemble: Ally Nathan, Farmington Hills

Cindy Watkins/Dynamite/Ensemble: Brooklyn Oates

Prisoner/Ensemble: Yolanda Phillips

Ensemble: Rashid Phillips

Matron/Principal/Ensemble: Jeanne Pruett, Canton

Ensemble: Joey Rankin, Bloomfield Hills

Little Inez Stubbs: Jaanaki Radhakrishnan

Gym Teacher/Guard/Ensemble: Stephany Renwick, Northville

Ensemble: Connor Robinson, Detroit

Ensemble: Hannah Schreiber, Farmington Hills

Prudy Pingleton: Sheri Shapiro, Farmington Hills

Tracy Turnblad: Erin Smith, Waterford

Edna Turnblad: Tagg Smith

Ensemble: Shelby Smith

Lou Ann: Leah Sugarman, Huntington Woods

Harriman F. Spritzer: Daniel Woitulewicz, Detroit