Wilbur News

GOOD MORNING, LAGUNA BEACH!  Laguna Playhouse is thrilled to announce the first show in the Laguna Playhouse 2017-2018 and 98th season with the effervescent musical, HAIRSPRAY, book by Thomas Meehan and Mark O'Donnell, music by Marc Shaiman, lyrics by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, musical direction by Michael Ferrara and directed and choreographed by Paula Hammons Sloan. 'We are opening our season with just the perfect show for a Laguna Beach Summer,' comments Laguna Playhouse Executive Director Ellen Richard.  Adds Artistic Director Ann E. Wareham 'We welcome Paula Hammons Sloan and the 'nicest kids in town' back to our stage for this nostalgic musical confection. Talent abounds on our stage this Summer!'  HAIRSPRAY will begin previews on Wednesday, July 5; will open on Sunday, July 9 at 5:30pm and will run through Sunday, July 30, 2017 at the Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road in Laguna Beach.

Among the potential EMMY nominees this year may be HAIRSPRAY LIVE! standouts Kristin Chenoweth, who took on the role of Velma Von Tussle in the NBC live broadcast, and Jennifer Hudson, who portrayed Motormouth Maybelle.

The stars and creative team of 'HAIRSPRAY LIVE!' reunited for a panel discussion and special performances on Friday, June 9, 2017 at the Saban Media Center at the Television Academy, North Hollywood.

Jennifer Hudson is once again taking the world by storm as she blows the roof off of venues with her rendition of 'I Know Where I've Been,' which she first performed as part of NBC's 'Hairspray Live!' This time she took the stage at an FYC event at the Television Academy, check out the video below!

Continuing its acclaimed 55th season, The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey will begin performances of The Bungler on July 5. Translated by Richard Wilbur, Moliere's giddy, side-splitting romp will be directed by STNJ's Brian B. Crowe. The play highlights Moliere at his frothiest and silliest as it follows the hilarious adventures of a clueless young lover and his clever servant attempting to help him win the heart and hand of a beautiful gypsy girl.

Ahead of this Friday's self-titled debut album release (June 9 worldwide via Eagle Rock Entertainment), THE MAGPIE SALUTE have announced an additional 20 dates this fall including a two-night stand at Irving Plaza in NYC on November 15 and 16.

Norman Pace (ITV1's The Hale and Pace Show) will play Wilbur Turnblad when the smash-hit musical, Hairspray arrives in Glasgow this October as part of a major UK tour.

Ford's Theatre Society honored the legacy of President Abraham Lincoln at its Annual Gala on Sunday evening, June 4, 2017, at Ford's Theatre (511 10th Street NW). For more than 40 years, the Society has hosted this bi-partisan event, which provides crucial support to the non-profit's theatrical and education programs.

Greenville Little Theatre delivers great music, fabulous dancing and a still relevant message with their colorful new production of the musical Hairspray.

An incredible year of entertainment at The Epstein Theatre shows no signs of slowing down with a whole host of brand new shows for all the family coming to Liverpool this June!

Norman Pace (ITV1's The Hale and Pace Show) will play Wilbur Turnblad in the major UK tour of the smash hit musical Hairspray, opening at Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff this summer.

Moon Hooch have announced Fall 2017 tour dates. The 18-show headline run will make stops throughout the Midwest and Rocky Mountains, including their biggest performances yet in Chicago, Minneapolis and Denver. The Brooklyn-based double sax and drums trio, who Brooklyn Vegan declared 'bring the party to wherever they play,' conclude the trek in the Southeast with two nights in Atlanta and Jacksonville. Tickets for all shows go on sale Friday, June 2 at 1PM ET.

THE MAGPIE SALUTE--the new 10-piece band that brings together Rich Robinson, Marc Ford and Sven Pipien of The Black Crowes with other dynamic musicians and co-ed singers from around the world--yesterday (5/30)partnered with THE INDEPENDENT (U.K.), ROLLING STONE (Germany) and OUI FM (France) to premiere their music video for 'Omission,' the lead single off the band's self-titled debut album (out worldwide June 9 via Eagle Rock Entertainment).

American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) just announced its 2017/18 season, which draws inspiration from pop art to a landmark alt-rock album, from poetry to classic literature. Scroll down for details!

Just a few months ago, Kristin Chenoweth was complaining about the new girl and singing about her time as Miss Baltimore Crabs as Velma Von Tussle in NBC's HAIRSPRAY LIVE! Now she has joined producer Neil Meron to reminisce about the experience with BroadwayWorld and SAG-AFTRA Foundation. Check out the full interview below!

The first emotion audiences will see in the award-winning musical "Hairspray" at the SCERA Shell Outdoor Theatre is unabashed joy. Lovable plus size teen Tracy Turnblad begins the show with an enthusiastic love song to Baltimore as she dances and sings while wearing the signature mile-high bouffant hairdo sported by teen girls everywhere in 1962 America.

Artistic Producer Arkady Spivak announced today the 2017-2018 season. It will feature a forgotten musical theatre masterpiece, a world premiere of a new Canadian play, a re-imagining of a 20th century theatre classic and a site-specific production of a play written, directed and starring Indigenous Canadians.

LA's Center Theatre Group celebrated its 50th Anniversary with a plethora of performance stars including Jennifer Hudson who took the stage at the gala event and performed one of her most show-stopping numbers from Hairspray Live, 'I Know Where I've Been.'

Jennifer Hudson recently sat down with GoldDerby to have a conversation about what it was like taking on the iconic role of Motormouth Maybelle in NBC's Hairspray Live. Hudson describes the role as deeply empowering and very relevant to times today. She also touches on the difficulties in taking on a role that so many greats have played before her and how she brought her own experiences into the character. Check out the full interview for more.