Bernie Ardia News

What did our critic think of HAIRSPRAY at Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre?

Join Bernie Ardia at The Drama Bookshop on October 10 at 7:30 pm as he recounts the hilarious and outlandish escapades of friends Patrick Dennis, Walter Healy, and Robert Karr in Mexico. Get your tickets now!

HAIRSPRAY, Broadway's Tony Award-winning musical comedy phenomenon, has announced casting and the touring schedule for the 2023-2024 season. This new North American tour, helmed by original director Jack O'Brien and original choreographer Jerry Mitchell, will visit 45 cities including premiere engagements in Calgary, AB; Charlotte, NC; Cleveland, OH; Dallas, TX; Denver, CO; Edmonton, ALB; Houston, TX; Nashville, TN; Ottawa, ONT; Vancouver, BC; and many more.

As if the universe knew that our increasingly divisive country is in desperate need to revisit this hit 2002 Tony Award-winning musical again, HAIRSPRAY has now embarked on a brand new non-equity national tour starring RuPaul's Drag Race fan favorite Nina West. The show, now at Segerstrom Center for the Arts through April 30, does not disappoint.

HAIRSPRAY is a toe-tapping, dance in your seat, good time show with a message we still need to hear. With an audience who came ready for a party, the show hummed along with enthusiastic support from the crowd. With catchy tunes, over-the-top characters, and energetic dance numbers, HAIRSPRAY is a whirl of excitement. Beyond the flash, the show has a poignant message of inclusion, self-worth, and acceptance.

On May 18, 2023, Patrick Dennis - the creator of Auntie Mame - would have celebrated his 102nd birthday. What better way to mark this auspicious occasion than with the release of Robert Karr's new book At Sea with Patrick Dennis: My Madcap Mexican Adventure with the Author of Auntie Mame.

HAIRSPRAY, Broadway’s Tony Award®-winning musical comedy phenomenon returns to Seattle! This new North American tour, helmed by original director Jack O’Brien and original choreographer Jerry Mitchell, will play April 4 through 9 at Seattle’s Paramount Theatre.

HAIRSPRAY, Broadway's Tony Award-winning musical comedy phenomenon returns to Portland! This new North American tour, helmed by original director Jack O'Brien and original choreographer Jerry Mitchell, will play March 28 through April 2 at Portland's Keller Auditorium.

Tickets for HAIRSPRAY, Broadway's Tony Award-winning musical comedy phenomenon, will go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, March 3, 2023. This new North American tour, helmed by original director Jack O'Brien and original choreographer Jerry Mitchell, will play at Bass Concert Hall June 13-18, 2023 as part of Texas Performing Arts' Broadway in Austin 2022-2023 Season.

The tour of HAIRSPRAY is pure joy, lighting up Milwaukee’s Marcus Center through February 12th with exuberant dancing, glorious voices, and a bright, bubbly outlook that’s just what this Wisconsin winter needs. 

Hairspray will bring its tour to Proctors next month. This new North American tour, helmed by original director Jack O'Brien and original choreographer Jerry Mitchell, will play Tuesday, December 6 - Sunday, December 11 in Schenectady at Proctors.

HAIRSPRAY, Broadway's Tony Award-winning musical comedy phenomenon, will go on sale Friday, November 18 at 10am. This new North American tour, helmed by original director Jack O'Brien and original choreographer Jerry Mitchell, will play April 11 - 16, 2023 in Salt Lake City at the Eccles Theater. 

You Can't Stop the Beat! The Grand is proud to present the Wilmington engagement of the Tony Award-winning musical comedy phenomenon HAIRSPRAY at the historic Playhouse on Rodney Square from December 1 to December 4.

Hennepin Theatre Trust has announced that HAIRSPRAY, Broadway's Tony Award-winning musical comedy phenomenon, returns to Minneapolis next year as part of the 2022-2023 Bank of America Broadway on Hennepin season.

All new photos and video have been released of the new cast of the North American tour of Hairspray, helmed by Jack O’Brien and Jerry Mitchell. Check out the clips and photos here!

HAIRSPRAY, Broadway’s Tony Award®-winning musical comedy phenomenon, went on sale September 16, 2022 at 10 AM. This new North American tour, helmed by original director Jack O’Brien and original choreographer Jerry Mitchell, will play Friday, November 4 – Saturday, November 5, 2022 in Kalamazoo at Miller Auditorium. 

HAIRSPRAY, Broadway's Tony Award-winning musical comedy phenomenon, is on sale now! This new North American tour, helmed by original director Jack O'Brien and original choreographer Jerry Mitchell, will play November 8-13 in Columbus at the Ohio Theatre, presented by CAPA and PNC Broadway in Columbus. 

The HAIRSPRAY North American tour, helmed by Jack O'Brien and Jerry Mitchell, will kick off at The Carson Center in Paducah, KY, prior to visiting more than 55 cities in its second touring season. Get a first look inside rehearsals here!

Returning cast members Andrew Levitt aka Nina West (from “RuPaul's Drag Race”) as Edna Turnblad, Niki Metcalf as Tracy Turnblad, Sandie Lee as Motormouth Maybelle, Billy Dawson as Corny Collins, Ryahn Evers as Amber Von Tussle, Addison Garner as Velma Von Tussle, and Emery Henderson as Penny Pingleton will be joined by new principal cast members Charlie Bryant III as Seaweed J. Stubbs, Ralph Prentice Daniel as Wilbur Turnblad, Brayden Krikke as Link Larkin and Joi D. McCoy as Little Inez.

The touring production of Finding Neverland has now soared into Syracuse's Oncenter Crouse Hinds Theater as part of the Famous Artists Broadway Theatre Series. With an impressive book by James Graham and powerful music and lyrics by Gary Barlow and Elliot Kennedy, this inspiring musical is pure fun and magic on stage.