Cast Set for HAIRSPRAY at San Francisco Playhouse

San Francisco Playhouse will close its 2025-26 season with the musical Hairspray, winner of eight Tony Awards including Best Musical. Set in 1962, Hairspray follows Baltimore teen Tracy Turnblad, who dreams of dancing on her favorite TV show. When her wish comes true, she shakes up the system, using her platform to confront racial segregation and to inspire a movement that changes the face of television forever.

Hairspray features Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman’s upbeat R&B and Motown-infused score including “You Can’t Stop the Beat,” “Good Morning Baltimore,” “Welcome to the 60’s,” and “I Know Where I’ve Been” plus Mark O’Donnell and Thomas Meehan’s uplifting book full of humor and heart. Helmed by San Francisco Playhouse Artistic Director Bill English with Phaedra Tillery-Boughton as associate director, Dave Dobrusky as musical director and Phoenyx Rose as choreographer, Hairspray will perform July 10 – September 12, 2026 at San Francisco Playhouse.

Based on the 1988 film by John Waters, Hairspray premiered at Seattle’s The 5th Avenue Theatre before opening on Broadway, where it swept the Tony Awards and ran for more than eight years. It later opened in the West End where it won four Olivier Awards including Best New Musical. It was adapted into a film starring John Travolta, Michelle Pfeiffer, Queen Latifah, Zac Efron, and Amanda Bynes and received a live TV production by NBC starring Ariana Grande, Kristin Chenoweth, Jennifer Hudson, and Harvey Fierstein.

Ella Ruth Francis

(she/her) makes her Playhouse debut as Tracy Turnblad, a bubbly Baltimore teen who loves to dance. She won a Theatre Bay Area Award for her performance in Los Altos Stage Company’s production of Next to Normal. She has also performed at New Conservatory Theatre Center and Dacha Theatre and was a former resident artist at San Francisco Shakespeare Festival.

Trevor March

(he/him) returns to Playhouse as Link Larkin, the handsome heartthrob of The Corny Collins Show. Seen as Cinderella’s Prince and a Wolf in the Playhouse’s recent production of Into the Woods, he has also performed with San Jose Stage Company, Sierra Repertory Theatre, Pacific Conservatory Theatre, Disney Cruise Line, and Princess Cruise Line.

Jeffrey Brian Adams

(he/him) returns to the Playhouse as Corny Collins, the host of Baltimore’s popular dance TV show. Adams’ previous Playhouse performances include roles in She Loves Me; City of Angels; Dogfight; Promises, Promises; and Into the Woods (2014). He has also performed at American Conservatory Theater, TheatreWorks Silicon Valley, San Jose Stage Company, and Hillbarn Theatre. His New York credits include 59E59 Theaters, Theatre Row, and New York Fringe.

Samantha Rich

(she/her) returns to the Playhouse as Penny Pingleton, Tracy’s Best Friend. Performing as Rapunzel in this season’s production of Into the Woods, Rich has acted with Ray of Light Theatre, Woodminster Summer Musicals, Foothill Music Theatre, Altarena Playhouse, and American Conservatory’s Young Conservatory.

Jordan Covington

(he/him) returns to the Playhouse as Seaweed J. Stubs, a classmate in Tracy’s school. Seen in the Playhouse’s productions of Fat Ham, Waitress, and Nollywood Dreams, he has appeared in productions at San Francisco Opera, American Conservatory Theater, Marin Theatre, Berkeley Playhouse, PlayGround, Theatre Rhinoceros, 3Girls Theatre, and The Lower Bottom Playaz.

Jonathan Chisholm

(they/them) makes their Playhouse debut as Edna Turnblad, Tracy’s mother. They have been seen onstage at Papermill Playhouse, Forestburgh Playhouse, Area Stage Company, The Firehouse Theatre, Sierra Repertory Theatre, and Bigfork Summer Playhouse. Chisholm also performed in the original Off-Broadway production of Waiting in the Wings.

Ken Brill

(he/him) plays Wilbur Turnblad, Tracy’s father. Brill appeared onstage in the Playhouse’s Into the Woods (2025), A Christmas Story, City of Angels, and Camelot. He also served as the keyboardist/synthesist for the Playhouse’s Into the Woods (2025), Company, Sunday in the Park with George, Follies, A Chorus Line, As You Like It, Evita, and Waitress. He was the associate musical director for the Playhouse’s Follies. Other performances include roles with Ray of Light Theatre, Palo Alto Players, Broadway By the Bay, and 42nd Street Moon.

Mackenzie Macdonald

(she/her) makes her Playhouse debut as Amber Von Tussle, the lead dancer on The Corny Collins Show and Tracy’s nemesis. She has acted with Ray of Light Theatre, Foothill Music Theatre, and Hillbarn Theatre.

Alison Ewing

(she/her) returns as Velma Von Tussle, Amber’s mother who directs The Corny Collins Show. Most recently seen at the Playhouse as The Witch in this season’s production of Into the Woods, other Playhouse performances include A Chorus Line and Guys and Dolls. Ewing has been seen on Broadway in Mamma Mia! and Roundabout Theatre Company’s Cabaret. She has performed in the national tours of Anastasia, An American In Paris, Cabaret, Flashdance, and Mamma Mia!. In the Bay Area, she’s appeared onstage with TheatreWorks Silicon Valley, Marin Theatre, SFBATCO, San Jose Stage Company, San Jose Repertory Theatre, Center Repertory Company, Playhouse West, Hillbarn Theatre, Ray of Light Theatre, and Theatre On San Pedro Square. Her TV credits include “Ally McBeal” and “Six Feet Under.”

Jeannine Anderson

(she/her) makes her Playhouse debut as Motormouth Maybelle, the Guest DJ of The Corny Collins Show. Anderson has toured across the United States and Europe, performing in operas and concerts. She was seen as the titular character in Lorraine Hansberry Theatre’s World Premiere of HALIE! The Mahalia Jackson Musical as well as in Campo Santo’s the boiling and Post Pardon: The Opera at the Gordon Center for Creative and Performing Arts.

Rebecca Pingree

(she/her) makes her Playhouse debut as Penny’s mother Prudy Pingleton, the gym teacher, and the Matron. She has performed with American Conservatory Theater, Marin Theatre, Shotgun Players, Ray of Light Theatre, Panto at the Presidio, Marin Shakespeare Company, San Jose Stage Company, and Berkeley Playhouse. She co-founded San Francisco’s Analog Theatre Collective.

David Boyll

(he/him) plays boutique owner Mr. Pinky and Ultra Clutch Hairspray owner Harriman F. Spritzer. Boyll was an understudy for the Playhouse’s production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. He has acted with Palo Alto Players, Pear Theatre, Shotgun Players, and Eugene O’Neill Festival.

Sanaiya Johnson and Suleika Onia Patton

(she/her) play Little Inez, a talented young dancer. Sanaiya Johnson makes her professional debut with this production and attends Oakland School for the Arts. Suleika Onia Patton makes her professional debut with this production and has performed with Little Theater Company.

Kareem Jenkins

(he/him) plays Duane, a classmate in Tracy’s school. He was seen in the chorus of My Fair Lady and served as an understudy for the Playhouse’s productions of Fat Ham. He previously performed with Sacramento Theatre Company and was a featured singer in multiple cabarets including the Pride cabaret at the B Street Theatre.

The cast also includes Kaila Dyson (she/her), Anese Jade (she/her), and Cai Rodis (she/her) as The Dynamites and Sierra Bolar (she/her), Matt Letton (he/him), Gwen Tessman (she/her), and Hunter Yocom (he/him) as The Nicest Kids in Town. 

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