Hairspray to Play Final Las Vegas Performance June 11

According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Hairspray will play its final performance at the Luxor Las Vegas on Sunday, June 11th.

Cast members were told of the show's closing yesterday, 30 minutes before the show. "As a production we couldn't be happier, but we just never found the audience. It's very sad," stated Myron Martin, who co-produces with Michael Gill. As of closing, Hairspray--which is condensed from the Broadway version--will have played 148 performances in Las Vegas.

Hairspray began performances at the Luxor Las Vegas on February 6th before opening on February 15th. Original Tony Award-winning stars Harvey Fierstein and Dick Latessa respectively played hefty hausfrau Edna Turnblad and meek husband Wilbur before both departed on April 30th. Those roles are now filled by Paul Vogt ("MADtv") and Tony-nominee Eddie Mekka (Lieutenant).

The show also features Susan Anton (The Will Rogers Follies, Hurlyburly) as the villainous Velma Von Tussle, Katrina Dideriksen as spirited heroine Tracy Turnblad, Austin Miller as heartthrob Link Larkin, Kevin Spirtas as Corny Collins, Terry L. Daniels as Seaweed, Fran Jaye as Motormouth Maybelle, Chandra Lee Schwartz as Penny Pingleton, Katharine Leonard as Amber Von Tussle, Ed Romanoff as Male Authority Figure (and understudy for Edna and Wilbur), Susan Mosher as Female Authority Figure, and Carla Duren as Inez. The original Broadway creative team returned for the Las Vegas production, which clocks in at 90 minutes without an intermission.

Hairspray tells of overweight teenager Tracy Turnblad's ascent into love, happiness and stardom on a 60's dance show, which she helps to racially integrate. The Broadway show was itself based on John Waters' 1988 film. It opened in August of 2002 and garnered 8 Tonys, including Best Musical, Best Original Score for Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, Best Book of a Musical for Mark O'Donnell and Thomas Meehan, Best Direction of a Musical for Jack O'Brien, Best Actor in a Musical for Fierstein and Best Actress in a Musical for Marissa Jaret Winokur. Jerry Mitchell received a Tony nomination for his choreography.

The Las Vegas production of Hairspray once again features costumes by William Ivey Long, lighting by Kenneth Posner, sets by David Rockwell, sound by Steve Kennedy, and hair and wigs by Paul Huntley. Lon Hoyt is the music supervisor, while Gill and Martin are the Las Vegas producers, Elayne Herrick, John Halle, Mike Tricarichi, Pat Caddick and Neil Miller are the executive producers and David Caldwell is the associate producer.

A film version is in the works, with John Travolta (as Edna), Billy Crystal (as Wilbur), Queen Latifah (as Motormouth Maybelle) and Amanda Bynes (as Penny) cast thus far.

The show plays eight performances a week. Tickets for regular performances are $85 (main floor) and $65 (for mezzanine), plus tax and handling fees. Call (800) 557-7428 or (702) 262-4444 or visit www.luxor.com for tickets. For group sales, call (702) 262-4525.

To hear "The Strip"'s podcast report on the Hairspray closing, visit this link.

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