hair the musical tour 2023 usa

Signature Theatre

Signature theatre.

4200 Campbell Ave. Arlington, Virginia 22206 On Google Maps View full contact details

Box Office 703 820 9771 Administration 571 527 1860 Development 571 527 1828

Specialty Nights

• Discussion Nights May 8 & June 11, 2024
• Pride Night June 7, 2024
• Masks Required April 28, 2PM, June 11, 7:30PM & June 20, 8PM
• ASL Interpreted May 18, 2024 2PM
• Audio Described May 14, 2024
• Seating Chart

April 16 – July 7, 2024

The sensational, groundbreaking rock musical bursts with the jubilant spirit, raging rebellion and psychedelic color of the 1960s.

A company of long-haired bohemian hippies on the cusp of adulthood champion freedom, pacifism, and joy, but confront a world thrown into chaos when one of their own receives a draft notice for the Vietnam War.

With chart-topping hits such as “Aquarius,” “Let the Sunshine In,” and “Good Morning, Starshine,”  HAIR ’s vibrant, groovy celebration of peace, love and life changed Broadway forever and still resonates today.

“I dare anyone with a pulse to see HAIR and not want to get up and dance, sing, clap hands, or kiss your neighbor. The hypnotic energy on stage and in the aisles is impossible to resist.” –  WASHINGTONIAN

Flip through the HAIR Program

Click the arrows to turn the pages, and click the box in the bottom right corner to view in full screen.

Running time is approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes, including one 15-minute intermission.

This show is recommended for ages 17 and up, it has nudity, sexual content, depictions of drug use, adult language, racial slurs and will use strobes and lighting effects, herbal cigarettes, gunshot and explosive sounds and theatrical haze Click here for more detailed content warnings.

ASL Interpreted Performance on May 18: Click here to see a seat map highlighting recommended seats

SPONSORED BY

DOTTIE BENNETT & RICHARD MORTON

CHRISTOPHER MCMACKIN & DAVID SVATOS LIGHTING SPONSORED BY AN ANONYMOUS DONOR

Show art does not necessarily reflect production casting. Photo by Francisco Martins. Model: Paulo Pascoal

Media Gallery

Photos and videos, switch gallery:.

I was BLOWN away. Incredible energy, passion, and talent from start to finish. @christopherbistline8003

Superbly cast, impeccably staged, and gloriously sung. This is one stunning night at the theatre. @DPPJ

Cast Members

Savannah Blackwell

Patrick Leonardo Casimir

Alex De Bard

Garvey X. Dobbins

Jordan Dobson

Jamie Goodson

Suzzanah/Mother

Caroline Graham

Noah Israel

Lily Gilan James

Keenan McCarter

Steve/Father

Nia-Aiyana Meeks

Nolan Montgomery

Jonathan/Margaret Mead

Solomon Parker III

Olivia Puckett

Mason Reeves

Ethan Turbyfill

Gregory Twomey

Paul/Hubert

Creative Team

Book and lyrics by.

Gerome Ragni and James Rado

Galt MacDermot

Directed by

Matthew Gardiner

Choreographed by

Ashleigh King

Music Directed by

Angie Benson

Scenic Design by

Paige Hathaway

Costume Design by

Kathleen Geldard

Lighting Design by

Jason Lyons

Sound Design by

Eric Norris

Video Design by

Patrick W. Lord

Wig Design by

Anne Nesmith

Resident Intimacy Consultant and Choreographer

Chelsea Pace

Fight Choreographer

Casey Kaleba

Orchestrator

Sinai Tabak

Copyist and Keyboard Programmer

Alexander Greenberg

Jorge Acevedo

New York Casting by

Whitley Theatrical

Production Stage Manager

Kerry Epstein

Assistant Stage Manager

Julia Singer

Production Assistant

Genevieve Dornemann

Associate Director

Clancey Yovanovich

Associate Choreographer

Jenelle Figgins

Associate Music Director

Refiye Tappan

Assistant Lighting Designer

Elijah Thomas

Associate Video Designer

Clara Ashe-Moore

Assistant Video Designer

Brian Staton

Assistant Wig Designer

Ali Pohanka

Inside Signature with Ashleigh King

May 2, 2024 1 – 2PM The Mead Lobby and Streaming Online FREE , No reservation required

HAIR and Ragtime choreographer Ashleigh King sits down with Education Director David Zobell to talk about her past career as an actor, her work as a director, and how she uses movement to tell the story.

Sept 14th- 24th 2023| Charles Farnsworth Ampitheatre | Altadena, CA

A Journey to the Age of Aquarius

Step into the heart of the '60s with our immersive production of "Hair", the legendary American Tribal Love-Rock Musical. With its iconic Grammy Award-winning score and poignant messages about peace, love, and rebellion, "Hair" is more than a musical—it's an experience

PRODUCER|Sarah Azcarate

DIRECTOR|Oliver Azcarate

CHOREOGRAPHER|Melissa Schade

MUSIC DIRECTION|Chris Wade

View our full cast here.

''evident love and dedication to the art form shine through, polishing every aspect of the company and creating resonant art that rivals even the largest professional theaters in Los Angeles"

[THEATRE SOURCE LA]

'Well worth another trip to the magical mountains of Altadena"

[LA THEATRE BITES]

'This is an exceptional group of talented actors, singers, and dancers that engage the audience in a magical night und er the stars in the historic Charles S. Farnsworth Park.'

[GLAMGICAL -REVIEW]

HAIR RETURNS

[BROADWAYWORLD.COM ]

HAIR BRINGS THE 60's BACK TO ALTADENA A

[THE PASADENA NOW]

Sept 14th- 24th 2023| Charles Farnsworth Ampitheatre | Altadena, California

Special Thanks To Our Supporters:

“If life were everything it should be, it would be more like  HAIRSPRAY . It’s irresistible!” — The New York Times

You Can’t Stop the Beat!  HAIRSPRAY , Broadway’s Tony Award winning musical comedy phenomenon is back on tour! Join 16-year-old Tracy Turnblad in 1960s Baltimore as she sets out to dance her way onto TV’s most popular show. Can a girl with big dreams (and even bigger hair) change the world?

Featuring the beloved score of hit songs including “Welcome to the ‘60s,” “Good Morning Baltimore,” and “You Can’t Stop the Beat,”  HAIRSPRAY  is “fresh, winning, and deliriously tuneful!” ( The New York Times ).

This all-new touring production reunites Broadway’s award-winning creative team led by Director Jack O’Brien and Choreographer Jerry Mitchell to bring  HAIRSPRAY  to a new generation of theater audiences.

Don’t miss this “exhilaratingly funny and warm-hearted musical comedy” ( The New Yorker ).

Photos by Jeremy Daniel.

Accessibility

Sign Language Interpretation & Audio Description

Available for the first Sunday matinee of Broadway performances when requested.

Open Captioning

Available on the first Thursday evening of Broadway performances.

View full list of accessibility services

Engagement Events

After chats

Join conversations with artists inside the theatre immediately following the first Thursday Broadway performance.

Wharton Center does not guarantee any specific artist or company member’s participation.

Age and Content Warnings

Recommended for ages 8 and up.

Haze, fog, live flame, and flashing lights are used in this production.

Confetti streamers shot into the audience.

Jackson Donor Lounge

Welcome to the Jackson Donor Lounge.

The lounge is open one hour prior to the performance and during intermission with a full cash bar service and a selection of complimentary snacks.

Single-use lounge passes issued to our Bronze, Silver, and Gold Circle members will be collected at the door. Self-scanning entry to the lounge is available for all Platinum circle donors (and circle levels above). Please scan your card for each member of your party. Staff will be on hand to assist you.

Please contact the Development Office at (517) 353-4640 or [email protected] with any questions.

We appreciate your support and look forward to hosting you.  

Run time is approximately 2 hours 15 with a 20 minute intermission.

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Reviews 233

Wonderful experience.

Hairspray was FANTASTIC! And the cast was tremendous, not a weak performance in the bunch. Such a fun evening!

What an incredible show with a Broadway-level cast

From the first sound of the orchestra to the final bows, this show kept us entertained and laughing out of our seats. From the Chorus to the each of the leads, there were no weak parts. I would go see this cast and performance of Hairspray again and again! Absolute 10/10!

The entire show from start to finish was amazing. The sounding was perfect, seating was perfect the staff friendly very comfortable setting. Performers were amazing as well I will return! Money well spent!

Hairspray Ocean City MD

Was blown away! 1st time at the OC Center for Performing Arts...was not aware such an impressive place existed...I had heard about it but never in my wildest imagination would thought it to be so beautiful and state of the art...The OC production of Hairspray was simply AMAZING! I had seen it originally on Broadway and compared the talent to that...AWESOME!

Hairspray was a BLAST!

We had so much fun watching this play! The actors/actresses were awesome! The actress who played Tracy was absolutely fantastic and if I didn't know better, she was the one in the movie with John Travolta! All the actors knocked our socks off... and don't get me started on the GREAT music! This is a MUST see!

Thought it was excellent. My husband and I enjoyed every minute of it. Was impressed with the talent and the staging.*****

Great show!!!

My husband and I enjoyed the show and we can't wait for the next one. The dancing is always my favorite and Hairspray didn't disappoint. All the colors of the costumes and sets were so lovely to look at and the constant motion was breathtaking. It was a great story and the actors did an incredible job. We loved the show!!!

Better than the Ocean Spray

So entertaining. Superb singing and dancing. Mesmerizing! And my wife is still talking about it!!!

I loved the music and dancing, BUT the orchestra played way toooooo loud. You couldn't hear what the people were saying and when they sang songs they overpowered them especially with the drum and horns. It was extremely annoying. I probably missed 3/4 of the show because of the loud music. We are not attending a concert so lower the music.

The cast was wonderful and gave a stellar performance.

Hair Tickets

With a score including enduring musical numbers like "Let the Sun Shine In," "Aquarius," "Hair" and "Good Morning Starshine," Hair depicts the birth of a cultural movement in the '60s as told through a tribe of hopeful hippies living in New York City while war rages in Vietnam.

This show is closed.

Performances ended on Sep. 10, 2011.

News & Features

About hair on broadway, video & photos.

Set in an East Village park in 1967, Hair is the musical story of a group of hippies who celebrate peace and love in the shadow of the Vietnam War. The loose plotline centers on Berger, the charismatic leader of the “tribe,” and Claude, a sweet-natured guy from Queens who’s about to be drafted. Other memorable characters include Berger’s war protester girlfriend Sheila, lovable flower child Crissy, Mick Jagger fan Woof, Claude’s straight-laced parents and many more. But the real star of Hair is the rocking score, which includes such classic hits as “Let the Sun Shine In,” “Aquarius” and “Good Morning Starshine.”

"Thrilling! This emotionally rich revival delivers what Broadway otherwise hasn't felt this season: intense, unadulturated job. Cuddly, sweet, madcap and ecstatic, the young cast members are tearing down the house, and any theatergoer with a pulse will find it hard to resist their invitation to join the demolition crew." The New York Times Ben Brantley

"Triumphant, glorious and breathtaking! Hair is a musical for the ages because it's a musical for the now."" New York Post Elisabeth Vincentelli

"A celebration of life and freedom, and a good high time!" New York Daily News Joe Dziemianowicz

"Raucous, powerful, exuberant and achingly timely, Hair finds a modern pulse of fury and hope." Newsday Linda Winer

"****! Tune in, turn on and be prepared for an exhilarating ride. Hair is transcendent, with a scrumptious rock-candy score and a flawless cast!" USA Today Elysa Gardner

"This radiant production will leave you on a serious high!" Entertainment Weekly Melissa Rose Bernardo

"****! The most exciting new show in town - not so much a breath of spring air as a jolt of adrenaline! Hair feels utterly of the moment in its exuberance, its power to involve and, in Diane Paulus' entrancing production, to move us. There's nothing like Hair!" Bloomberg Jeremy Gerard

Cast & Creative

Steel Burkhardt began a four-year journey with Hair as a Tribe member in the 2007 Central Park concerts, followed by the 2008 full production in the park, the 2009 Broadway revival and 2010 London transfer. He moved up to the leading role of Berger in the show’s national tour and returned to Broadway in the summer of 2011. Burkhardt’s stage credits also include Jesus Christ Superstar and Kiss Me, Kate .

 To come.

Film/TV: 30 Rock, Inside Amy Schumer, The Good Fight  and Deadbeat . Broadway/tours:  Groundhog Day, Finding Neverland,   Elf, Hair, Wicked . Shakespeare in the Park:  Into the Woods . Off-Broadway:  A New Brain,   Little Miss Sunshine, February House  and  Little Me ! Co-writer of upcoming musical  Bloody Bloody Jessica Fletcher . 

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Hair Tickets and Show Experience

So you want to see Hair?

Good news: We've got you covered.

Hair has become one of the top acts in the 2024 Musical world, delighting fans with a one-of-a-kind show. And Vivid Seats will help get you there.

Shop with confidence thanks to the Vivid Seats 100% Buyer Guarantee.

Additionally, Vivid Seats was named No. 1 in the ticketing category on Newsweek's list of Best Customer Service in both 2020 and 2021.

We're your companion for live events. We'll help get you there, and give you peace of mind. So that when the lights go down and the Hair show starts, the only thing on your mind will be the amazing memories you're about to make.

Frequently Asked Questions About Hair Ticket Prices and Show Information

How much are hair tickets, how to buy cheap hair tickets, what is the hair 2024-2025 tour schedule, how to buy hair floor seats, how long is a hair performance.

Hair Tour Dates and Ticket Prices

Hair Tour Dates will be displayed below for any announced 2024 Hair tour dates. For all available tickets and to find shows near you, scroll to the listings at the top of this page.

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Event Times

• Tue  |  Dec 05, 2023 7:30 PM
• Wed  |  Dec 06, 2023 7:30 PM
• Thu  |  Dec 07, 2023 7:30 PM
• Fri  |  Dec 08, 2023 7:30 PM
• Sat  |  Dec 09, 2023 1:30 PM
• Sat  |  Dec 09, 2023 7:30 PM
• Sun  |  Dec 10, 2023 1:00 PM
• Sun  |  Dec 10, 2023 6:30 PM

Event Description

You Can’t Stop the Beat! HAIRSPRAY, Broadway’s Tony Award-winning musical comedy phenomenon is back on tour! Join 16-year-old Tracy Turnblad in 1960sBaltimore as she sets out to dance her way onto TV’s most popular show. Can a girl with big dreams (and even bigger hair) change the world?  

Featuring the beloved score of hit songs including “Welcome to the‘60s,” “Good Morning Baltimore” and “You Can’t Stop the Beat, ”HAIRSPRAY is “fresh, winning, and deliriously tuneful!” (The New York Times). 

This all-new touring production reunites Broadway’s award-winning creative team led by Director Jack O’Brien and Choreographer Jerry Mitchell to bring HAIRSPRAY to a new generation of theater audiences.  

Don’t miss this “exhilaratingly funny and warm-hearted musical comedy” (The New Yorker). www.hairspraytour.com 

Hair Verified

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concerts and tour dates

• Appropriate
• An Enemy of the People
• The Notebook
• The Outsiders
• Water For Elephants
• Feel Good Friday: The Hairspray Tour Gets Their 1st Official Playbill
• 'You Can't Stop the Beat': Check Out Photos From Hairspray Tour
• Cast and Itinerary Announced for Hairspray 's 2023-2024 Touring Season
• Photos: Marissa Jaret Winokur Visits Nina West and Cast of Hairspray Tour
• Watch Highlights From North American Tour of Hairspray, Starring RuPaul’s Drag Race 's Nina West

Can you hear the bells? A new North American tour of Hairspray will launch in Fall 2021. The cast will be lead by Andrew Levitt (aka Nina West) as Edna Turnblad, Niki Metcalf as Tracy Turnblad, and NBC's The Voice 's Toneisha Harris as Motormouth Maybelle. Additional casting will be announced later. Watch the three actors meet for the first time and talk about their roles in the video above.

The non-equity touring production, which is helmed by Jack O’Brien and Jerry Mitchell, will begin performances November 12 at The Capitol Theatre in Yakima, Washington, ahead of the official tour opening night November 17 at Broadway San Diego’s Civic Theatre. The Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman Tony-winning musical will visit more than 60 cities in its first touring season.

Shaiman and Wittman’s score includes “Good Morning, Baltimore,” “Big, Blonde, and Beautiful,” and “You Can’t Stop the Beat.” The musical features a book by Thomas Meehan and Mark O'Donnell.

Additional creative team for Hairspray includes tour director Matt Lenz, tour choreographer Michelle Lynch, set designer David Rockwell, lighting designer Kenneth Posner, tour lighting designer Paul Miller, costume designer William Ivey Long, hair and wig designer Paul Huntley and Richard Mawbey, sound designer Steve Kennedy, tour sound designer Andrew Keister, musical supervisor Lon Hoyt, and casting by Stewart/Whitley.

The original New York production of Hairspray won eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical. The North American Tour of Hairspray is produced by NETworks Presentations.

Meet the Cast of the North American Tour of Hairspray

Photography by Marc J. Franklin | Fashion Styling by Jake Sokoloff | Make Up by Nicholas Lujan | Hair Styling by Rachel Auguste and Ana Maldonado.

Niki Metcalf in Eloquii Dress, Betsey Johnson Shoes | Toneisha Harris in Eloquii Dress, Steve Madden Shoes | Andrew Levitt in INC Shirt, Jacket, and Pants.

Matthew Gardiner directs the production of the '60s rock musical at the D.C.-area theatre.

The Olivier winner stopped by Live With Kelly and Mark to talk about starring in the new Broadway revival of the Kander and Ebb musical.

Composer Ingrid Michaelson also chats with host Clarkson about the new Broadway musical.

A track from the upcoming cast album, releasing May 17, is out.

The song will be heard in Peacock's upcoming event series The Tattooist of Auschwitz.

Lissa deGuzman, who understudies the role of Elphaba, also belted out "The Wizard and I" at the Broadway Celebrates Earth Day concert.

The three actors, plus club, set, and costume designer Tom Scutt discussed the Cabaret revival on CBS Sunday Morning April 21.

Performances of the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, based on the Billy Wilder film, begin in May.

The mononymic star is currently promoting her newest film Challengers , where she stars opposite Tony nominee Mike Faist.

The production is currently running in Washington, D.C. and will also receive a series of cinema screenings.

Alongside her daughter, Emma Walton Hamilton, Andrews is revisiting her life on the stage.

The musical adaptation of Nicholas Sparks' novel plays the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre.

Transferring from London's West End, the production opens April 21 at Broadway's Kit Kat Club (née August Wilson Theatre).

The new musical tells the story of the early life of Albert Einstein and his first wife, Mileva Marić.

The musical adaptation of the hit film at the Winter Garden Theatre stars Casey Likes and Roger Bart.

Zoe Sarnak and Rachel Bonds' new musical will begin performances Off-Broadway April 27.

The biomusical following the life of the artist and exiled aristocrat comes to Broadway from Williamstown Theatre Festival and La Jolla Playhouse.

The stage and screen star belts out the Alan Jay Lerner-Burton Lane tune.

Olivia Puckett, Mason Reeves, and more star in the Matthew Gardiner-directed production of the '60s rock musical at the D.C.-area theatre.

Kate Prince has taken the musician's songs and turned them into a dance-theatre piece, currently on a North American tour.

The Huey Lewis jukebox musical follows Bobby, a Chicagoan whose failed band leads him to return to corporate America.

Suffs opens on Broadway at the Music Box Theatre this week.

Can Annie Londonderry ride a bicycle around the world? She intends to find out in this new musical.

Featuring Victoria Detres, Nicole D'Angelo, PJ Ju, and November Christine, the talk covers access, community, and the future of the American theatre.

The Broadway-bound minimalist revival of Sunset Boulevard was the top winner at London's theatre honors April 14.

Schreiber stars as Father Flynn in the Roundabout Theatre Company production, now running through April 21.

The work begins performances April 24, transferring from its Off-Broadway premiere at Park Avenue Armory.

The hit revival, also co-starring Jonathan Groff and Lindsay Mendez, continues on Broadway at the Hudson Theatre.

Alicia Keys' musical love letter to New York City officially opens April 20 at the Shubert Theatre.

Stevie Walker-Webb directs with choreography by Tiffany Rea-Fisher.

The Pose and Loot star teased a second go at Audrey in the Howard Ashman-Alan Menken musical after celebrating the Off-Broadway revival's current star, Jinkx Monsoon.

The film will be helmed by Todd Phillips, who produced A Star Is Born .

The Harry Potter star shares on Late Night With Seth Meyers how his Broadway co-star likes to mess with him moments before a dramatic scene.

The film star plays a mother caring her for sick child in the Amy Herzog play.

The Emmy winners went on the late night talk show circuit to promote the Paula Vogel play, which began performances April 3.

Jessica Lange, Celia Keenan-Bolger, and Jim Parsons play characters based on Vogel's family.

The March 11 concert evening benefited Broadway Cares and the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center.

Greywoode presented material from three of his musicals, ranging from an ancestral lament to an meditative ode to hope.

Written and directed by Pulitzer Prize winner Baker, the cast features Julianne Nicholson, Zoe Ziegler, Elias Koteas, Will Patton, and Sophie Okonedo.

Edelman's Broadway show Just For Us will air on HBO later this month.

Briones and his daughter, Isa Briones, joined the cast of the Tony-winning musical March 19.

Playbill readers, you've been training for this moment for years, and now is your time to shine.

The new play by David Adjmi, with music by Arcade Fire's Will Butler, played its first performance at the Golden April 2.

Lincoln Center Theater's production of the Anton Chekhov play began Broadway previews April 3.

Also, Ryan Vasquez preserves Ingrid Michaelson's "Leave the Light On" in the recording studio.

The production's star wasn't upset at being interrupted.

The Jonathan Larson musical played one night at the Rose Theatre as part of the American Songbook season.

Find out how the Tony winner says her current gig is changing lives.

The new musical opens April 22.

The new musical explores the Women's Suffrage movement's victories and failures with a book, music, and lyrics by Shaina Taub.

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Stage and Cinema

Arts and Entertainment Reviews

Theater Review: HAIRSPRAY (National Tour)

by William C. on April 17, 2023

in Theater-Regional , Tours

THIS HEAVYWEIGHT TAKES THE PRIZE

Can you ask for a more perfect pairing than a drag queen and the high camp of musical theater? In this national tour production of Hairspray , Tracy Turnblad and friends turn up the heat with their dance movies on the stage of Segerstrom Hall. The band is tight, the movements are swell, and the jokes are non-stop. And, if you are one of those theater snobs like yours truly that care about craft and storytelling, it is there too. This is a show that takes wrapping the medicine with a shit-ton of sugar seriously.

On the surface, this is a good ”ugly duckling” story mixed in with a little Cinderella. Literally, Tracy ( Nicki Metcalf ), our heroine, dances with rats at her feet in the opening number “Good Morning Baltimore.” She is a big girl with a big personality and an even bigger dream. Her BFF Penny Pingleton ( Emery Henderson ) is always at her side to play along with her fantasies, as and break out into spontaneous bursts of song and dance.

Cinderella had her evil stepmother and sisters, Tracy has the mother-daughter local television royalty, Amber and Velma Von Tussle ( Ryahn Evers and Addison Garner ). They are the skinny blonde queen bees of their kingdom, and are both fat-phobic and racist. Link, the prince charming of our story, played by a very easy on the eyes Nick Cortazzo , is a local teenage celebrity on the Corny Collins show. So, when a free-wheeling teenager takes an unexpected maternity leave from the show, the dream spot opens for all the teenage girls of Baltimore to try out. Tracy, our heroine, is hellbent on attending the audition to realize her dream to be on TV.

A more serious subplot is beneath Tracy’s arc. The racial tensions of 1950s America played out to the hilt in Baltimore. The progressive TV host Corny Collins ( Billy Dawson ) aims to integrate black talent into his show. And, you betcha, this goal is met with fierce protest and anger from the TV producers and the Ultra-Clutch Hairspray sponsor which just created a brand marketed to African Americans. The irony is not subtle. The entertainment industry is portrayed as only too happy to steal profit, dance moves, and music from the black community and concurrently uphold Jim-Crow era racist segregation. Perhaps perfectly captured by Miss Baltimore Crab, Velma Von Tussle, in one of her not-so-subtle rebuttals against Corny, ”We must guide our kids in the White direction.”

I can not love this cast enough. Boy, they all can sing! Metcalf’s voice is rich, powerful, and jovial. Her dance moves are filled with spunk. Cortazzo’s Link is sexy and gives a little Freddie Mercury vibe. Andrew Levitt as Nina West is a triumph in the role of Tracy’s mom Edna Turnblad. This queen is more than just funny. She carries each scene with grace, gravitas, and, yes, emotion. Sandie Lee’s powerhouse vocals as Black activist Motormouth Maybelle in “I Know Where I’ve Been” is sensationally emotional.

The evening’s most stunning, shining jewels are the Dynamite ladies: Jade Turner, Melanie Puente Ervin, and Sydney Archbald . The hall was lit with electric energy when they broke into their individual solos. Their voices were so bright and sonorous.

Shannon Slaton’s sound design is superb. The ensemble mixing is absolutely perfect. There were some hiccups made by the sound-op, but the balance of the ensemble is tuned as close to perfection as live theater gets. As the band was also not mixed too loudly, you could understand the lyrics perfectly. William Ivey Long , Paul Huntley , and Bernie Ardia’s wig and costume designs are tremendous fun. They are so campy, and they made Nina West look terrific.

I wish more musical theater were like this. It is filled with fun and talent of all shapes, sizes, and races that come together to tell the story of our country’s history. To be sure, it is not without inaccuracies because it is theater, not a scholarly textbook. However, it helps us think about the world differently. Perhaps, if we all had a little of Tracy’s can-do attitude, we might get through life together as a community.

Go watch this. Hell, take your grandmother, your racist uncle, your conspiracy theorist mother-in-law, your plants and your pets. Miracles can result from a shift in perception.

photos by Jeremy Daniel

Hairspray national tour reviewed at Segerstrom (ends April 29) tour continues: for tickets, dates and cities, visit Hairspray Tour

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GREG KALAFATAS

Edna turnblad.

GREG KALAFATAS ( Edna Turnblad ). Greg is beyond excited to be touring the country performing a dream role in this dream of a show! A native of Massachusetts, Greg has had the privilege to travel around the country and the world, performing on land and the high seas. Previous national tours include: Something Rotten (Nostradamus), Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story (The Big Bopper), and The Drowsy Chaperone . Endless thanks to family, friends and the entire Hairspray team for making this dream come true. gregkalafatas.com, @gregkala

CAROLINE EISEMAN

Tracy turnblad.

Caroline Eiseman (Tracy Turnblad) Caroline is honored to be back on the road with Hairspray and in Tracy’s shoes! Regional: The Muny, Stages St. Louis, Studio Tenn. Proud Belmont University Musical Theatre Alum. Love and gratitude to the Hairspray team, Eddie and Take 3 Talent, BUMT, and her incredible family and support system. This dream wouldn’t be possible without them! For Patti and Rick, always. @caroline.eiseman

DEIDRE LANG

Motormouth maybelle.

Deidre Lang (Motormouth Maybelle) Originally from New Jersey, but now based in Las Vegas, Deidre has had an extensive career performing on Broadway and TV. She was originally a Dynamite in the first national tour! Her Broadway credits include Ragtime , The Lion King and Tommy . National Tours: The Lion King , Tommy , School of Rock and The Australian tour of Smokey Joe’s Cafe . Regional credits: Dreamgirls , Ain’t Misbehavin , and The Lion King and Rock of Ages in Las Vegas. She was also an original FlyGirl on Fox TV’S In Living Color .   Deidre dedicates this performance to her daughters, Tyler and Jordan. Let’s Go!

JOSIAH ROGERS

Seaweed j. stubbs.

JOSIAH ROGERS ( Seaweed J. Stubbs). Josiah Rogers, originally from Cleveland, OH,   found his love for performing at twenty one when he was accepted into the world renowned music group, Up With People, with which he traveled the world performing. He went on to study music and traveled across the U.S., Japan and Europe with, The Young Americans College based in Corona, CA.   He is excited to bring his contagious energy everywhere he goes! He would like to thank everyone who has helped him get to were he is now and he is forever grateful for this opportunity. “Performing is what I do! It makes me feel Alive!” IG: @therealjosiahrogers/ TikTok @therealjosiahrogers

SKYLER SHIELDS

Link larkin.

SKYLER SHIELDS (Link Larkin) is thrilled to be returning to Baltimore as the ever sparklin’ Sir Link Larkin! Selected credits include Riff in West Side Story (Florida Rep.), Double J/Tony Cover in Saturday Night Fever (Royal Caribbean) and Conrad Birdie in Bye, Bye, Birdie (The Palace Theater). A huge thank you to Brian K. Herrick and HKA through whom all things are possible and to my friends and family for their love and support! Special thanks EG & KF @skylercshields

RALPH PRENTICE DANIEL

Wilbur turnblad.

RALPH PRENTICE DANIEL (Wilbur Turnblad)- is thrilled to return to the national tour of Hairspray .   Prior to Hairspray, Ralph was living in Beijing China where he was apart of the opening cast of Universal Studios Beijing.   Regional credits: Oliver (Fagan) Mary Poppins (George Banks) Footloose (Rev. Shaw) St. Luke’s Theatre, Assassins (Guiteau) It Shoulda Been You (Albert) The Studio Theatre Tierra Del Sol, Tuck Everlasting (Man in Yellow) Elf (Walter Hobbs) Newsies (Pulitzer) Orlando Repertory Theatre.   Many thanks to friends, family, and Brian at The Hell’s Kitchen Agency.   Follow me on Instagram @ rprenticed

ANDREW SCOGGIN

Corny collins.

ANDREW SCOGGIN (Corny Collins) is thrilled to bring that Baltimore sound to Hairspray ! National Tour: Annie (Bert Healy, Rooster understudy). Cruise: Grease (Vince Fontaine/Teen Angel). Regional: Ragtime , Evita , Three Musketeers (PA Shakes), Annie , I Love A Piano (Maples Rep), Rock of Ages (Theater Workshop of Nantucket), A Bronx Tale and Mamma Mia! (Prather Productions). Andrew is from Philadelphia and a graduate of DeSales University. Andrew would like to thank Brian, and the Hell’s Kitchen Agency team for all of their support. All of my love to Elizabeth. MDCBP @scoggsmagoggs

CAROLINE PORTNER

Amber von tussle.

CAROLINE PORTNER (Amber Von Tussle). (she/her) is so excited to be making her national tour debut with Hairspray ! Off Broadway: Friends, The Musical Parody (Jerry Orbach Theater). Regional: Mamma Mia! (Circa ’21 Dinner Playhouse), White Christmas (Circa ’21 Dinner Playhouse), Amadeus (Syracuse Stage), Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (Syracuse Stage), Echoes in the Garden (Chain Theatre), What a Wonderful World (Timberlake Playhouse). BFA Syracuse University. For Mom, Dad, Chelsea and Olivia. IG: @carolineportner.

SARAH HAYES

Velma von tussle.

SARAH HAYES (Velma Von Tossle) is beyond thrilled to be making her national tour debut in Hairspray ! Favorite regional credits: Moon Over Buffalo (Charlotte Hay), White Christmas (Martha Watson), We Will Rock You (Killer Queen), Rocky Horror Show (Riff Raff), Oliver! (Nancy) and Julius Caesar (Cassius). Many thanks to her incredible family and friends for being a constant source of strength, laughter and dog videos!

SCARLETT JACQUES

Penny pingleton.

SCARLETT JACQUES ( Penny Pingleton ) is a proud New Zealander, thrilled to be making her US professional debut! Professional Theatre (NZ) credits include: Billy Elliot (Margaret Gormley) and Annie (Kate). Other significant credits include Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (Belle), Frozen JR – NZ premiere (Anna), The Sound of Music (Maria). Huge thank you to Broadway Dreams, The New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts, Cherie Moore and everyone who has supported and believed in me. Much love to Mum and Devan. @scarlettjacques

KAILA SYMONE CROWDER

Little inez.

Kaila Symone Crowder (Little Inez/Dynamite Understudy) originates from Monroe, North Carolina. She’s a proud alum of North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University, “Aggie Pride”! Performing is my “woosah” moment from life. I strive to be great within each aspect of my craft, but not perfect. I just love sharing the gift that God gave me! Recent credits include; Legoland: New York Resorts as a (Dancer/Tumbler).

MICAH SAUVAGEAU

Male authority figure.

MICAH Sauvageau (Harriman F. Spritzer, Mr. Pinky, Principal, Guard/Edna Understudy) . An Alaska native originally from Chugiak. Thrilled to be returning for another season of Hairspray ! Credits: The Mystery of Edwin Drood (Chairman), Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (Cogsworth), Saucy Jack and the Space Vixens (Booby), Guys and Dolls (Nicely Nicely). Thank you to the cast, crew, creatives, production team, and the audience for bringing joy back to the theater! Instagram: @taletreading

EMMANUELLE ZEESMAN

Female authority figure.

Emmanuelle Zeesman (Prudy Pingleton, Gym Teacher, Matron) is a proud Canadian and is tickled pink to bring this magical show home!National Tours/ Off-Broadway: DuMaurier in Finding Neverland , Aunt Em us/Wicked Witch in The Wizard of Oz , Adelaide in Guys and Dolls , Fosca in Passion , five seasons with Symphony Orchestras across four continents and Mrs. Johnstone in Blood Brothers (CCC Best Actress Award). Thanks to the creative and casting teams! Love to my Canadian, American and Mexican families! @emmanuellezeesman

ABIGAIL BENSMAN

Abigail Bensman (Brenda, Tracy Understudy) (she/her) is elated to be making her national tour debut! Select credits include: Newsies (Katherine Plumber), Bring It On (Eva), Sweeney Todd (Johanna), Ride the Cyclone (Ocean) and Grease (Jan). Forever grateful to the entire Hairspray team. So much love to Brian and her family for their endless support – especially her theatre-loving momma! Follow Abigail’s theatre shenanigans on TikTok and IG @abigail_bens

CONNOR BUONACCORSI

Connor Buonaccorsi (Swing/Edna, Male Authority Figure Understudy) . (he/him) is thrilled to be making his national tour debut in Hairspray . Favorite credits include: A Chorus Line (Mark), Shrek the Musical (Pinocchio), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Dan), Kinky Boots (Angel), Speech & Debate (Howie) and Heathers the Musical (Kurt). Proud recent graduate of the Boston Conservatory at Berklee! Much love and gratitude to family, friends, mentors, Boco, and Avalon Artists Group! IG: @connorbuonaccorsi

ASHIA COLLINS

ASHIA COLLINS (Dynamite/Little Inez Understudy) is so grateful to be part of the cast of Hairspray ! Born in Poughkeepsie NY, Ashia began pursuing her passion at Western Connecticut State University with amazing professors and continued her training with the LINK program. She began her career at the Broadway Palm Theatre and has also worked with RWS and Disney Cruise Line. She would like to thank her family and God for everything.

JOSHUA JAMES CRAWFORD

Joshua James Crawford (Swing) holds a degree in Theatre Performance from Virginia Commonwealth University and has been blessed to work professionally since 2016. Some of his other credits include TJ in Sister Act, The Musical , Jamal in Escape to Margaritaville , Schroeder in You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown , and being a swing in Signature Theatre DC’s production of The Scottsboro Boys . He wishes you many blessing and hopes you enjoy the show! Social media: @joshuajamescrawford

SCOOB DECKER

SCOOB DECKER (Male Authority Figure Understudy/Wilbur Understudy) is thrilled for his eighth tour ( The Wizard of Oz (National & International)/ Anastasia / Moulin Rouge! ) and couldn’t be more excited to help bring Hairspray to life. With a Master’s degree in Integrated Arts and Education (University of Montana), Scoob hosts Pique My Interest, a podcast about creativity and is currently writing an original musical. Recent credits include Truchbull in Matilda , The Little Mermaid , and Murder on the Orient Express . All the love and thanks to Lizzie, Murph and his folks!

AUDREY TAYLOR FLOYD

AUDREY TAYLOR FLOYD (Swing/ Little Inez Understudy) . (she/her/hers) is a New Jersey/Philly based singer, dancer and actor. She is so excited to make her national tour debut with the cast of Hairspray , which happens to be her very first show when she was 11! Some of her previous credits include Disney’s The Little Mermaid (Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre), Footloose (Prather Productions), Elf The Musical (Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre) Spring Awakening (The Grand Theatre). She gives endless love to her loved ones for always supporting her and her dreams! @audrey_floyd

GAVIN GUTHRIE

Gavin Guthrie (IQ). (he/him). National tour debut! Regional: The Prom , Head Over Heels , Titanic and Newsies (Lyric Theatre of OK); Matilda and Frank-N-Friend (Casa Mañana); La Cage aux Folles , Newsies , and Showboat (Interlakes Summer Theatre); Little Shop of Horrors (Tulsa Project Theatre.). Oklahoma City University Alum. Thanks to Mom and Dad, family, friends, teachers, and the cast/crew of Hairspray for their love and support! All socials: @gav_guthrie

EVAN HUSSEY

EVAN HUSSEY (Brad) is honored to be joining the Hairspray family! National Tour: Elf . Regional: A Chorus Line , Fiddler on the Roof (City Springs Theatre); Mary Poppins , Scrooge (Fireside Theatre); Elf (Arts Center of Coastal Carolina); La Cage Aux Folles , Mamma Mia , 9 to 5 (Little Theatre on the Square). Proud Marymount Manhattan Musical Theatre Alum. Special thanks to Mom, Dad, Brian at Hell’s Kitchen Agency, Wheeler, and all cast/crew/creatives involved with Hairspray ! @evanhussey

ALYSSA JACQUELINE

Alyssa Jacqueline (Shelly/Penny Pingleton Understudy). National tour debut! A New York native, Alyssa attended the University of Arizona, earning her B.F.A. in Dance and B.A. in Communications. Some favorite credits include A Chorus Line (Diana), Legally Blonde (Pilar) and Mamma Mia! (Sophie). Special thanks to HR Artists Management and the entire Hairspray team for all their support! Mom, Dad, Richie, Erica, Caitlin, Dan, Isaac, Minnie, Daisy, Jetti and Charlie – I love you endlessly. 1 Corinthians 16:14. IG:@alyssajacqueline__

LEIAH LEWIS

Pearl/dynamite.

Leiah Lewis (Pearl/Dynamite/Motormouth Maybelle Understudy) is thrilled to be making her national tour debut in the hit musical Hairspray ! Some of her favorite theatre credits include Escape to Margaritaville , Dreamgirls , Cabaret , Rock of Ages , Little Shop of Horrors , and Jesus Christ Superstar . Leiah wants to give many thanks to the creative team, cast, and all of her family and friends who are constantly supporting her on this journey. IG:@leiahlewis

CHRISTY OBERNDORF

Christy Oberndorf (Tammy/Amber Von Tussel and Penny Pingleton Understudy) is thrilled to be making her national tour debut! Recent credits include Babette in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (Arvada Center), Kate Monster in Avenue Q and Sophie in Mamma Mia! (BDT Stage)”. She’d like to thank her amazing friends and family for all the love. Incredibly special thanks to her Mom, Dad, Michelle and David for their neverending support.   @christy_oberndorf

KYNNEDI MORYAE PORTER

Cindy/dynamite.

KYNNEDI MORYAÉ PORTER (Cindy/Dynamite) is a graduate of The University of Alabama and is thrilled to be making her national tour debut with Hairspray, the Musical ! Regional: Once On This Island (Papa Ge Understudy), Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (Babette) and In the Heights (Yolanda). She would like to thank God, her family, and friends for never giving up on her.  ROLL TIDE ROLL! IG: @kynnfolk

CAROLINE PURDY

CAROLINE PURDY (Lou Ann/Amber & Velma Von Tussle Understudy) National tour debut! Raised in Jersey, Caroline graduated with a BM from Oklahoma City University and is now based in New York. Credits: Beehive (Pattie), Disenchanted! (The Little Mermaid track), Chicago (Roxie), Company (Susan), Ghost (Molly Jensen) and Crazy For You . Endless thanks to her family, friends, and “The Candle Guy” for their support, and the cast, crew, and production team for this wonderful experience! @carolinebpurdy

KALAB QUINN

KALAB QUINN (Duane/Seawood J. Stubbs Understudy) . (he, him) is so excited to be making his national tour debut with a show and role that he can now cross off of his bucket list. He is currently a senior at Valdosta State University. Some of his previous credits include TJ in Sister Act and ensemble in Spamalot at Peach State Summer Theatre. He would like to thank the company and crew for making his dreams a reality, as well as his friends and family for their love and support.

JOSIAH THOMAS RANDOLPH

Josiah Thomas Randolph (Thad/Seaweed J. Stubbs Understudy) is thrilled to be making his national tour debut. He has played various roles such as Seaweed in Hairspray , Hero in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum , Richie in A Chorus Line , C. C. in Dreamgirls and Flick in Violet . Thanks to Mom, Dad, and Sarah. IG: @josiah_randolph

AMY RODRIGUEZ

Tracy turnblad standby.

AMY RODRIGUEZ (Tracy Turnblad Standby/Female Authority Figure Understudy) National tour debut! Recent credits: Tracy Turnblad in Hairspray (Royal Caribbean), Goldilocks in Goldilocks (Chicago Kids Company), Granddaughter in And Come Apart (The Tank). BA: University of Iowa ‘21 (Go Hawks!)   All her love to her family and friends. Thanks Mom and Dad for always believing in me! @amy.rodriguez

SCOTT SILAGY

Scott Silagy (Sketch/Link Larkin Understudy) is originally from Ewing, New Jersey but is now based in NYC. Select theatre credits include Rock of Ages (Drew, Mountain Theatre Company), Catch Me If You Can (Frank Abagnale Jr., Kelsey Theatre), Head Over Heels (Dametas, Theresa Lang Theatre), and Musical of Musicals ! (Bill/Billy, Theatre at St. Jean). He is thrilled to be a part of this company and is so thankful for this opportunity. Follow along, @scottsilagy on Instagram!

CARA TORCHIA

CARA TORCHIA (Swing/Female Authority Figure Understudy) is thrilled to be making her national tour debut in Hairspray ! Regional: 42nd Street , Disney’s Beauty and the Beast , The Drowsy Chaperone , Kinky Boots , The Wizard of Oz (Music Theatre Wichita); West Side Story (South Bend Symphony). Chicago College of Performing Arts BFA ’23. LINK Class 5. Big love and gratitude to her ever-supportive Mom + Sis, family, Hudson Artists Agency, and the Hairspray team. @caratorchia

LILLIANNIE ARIE URGENT

Lilliannie Arie Urgent (Lorraine/Dynamite and Motormouth Maybelle Understudy). (she/her) is overjoyed to be taking on the role of Lorraine in this sensational production of Hairspray . Previous credits include Rusty in The Argyle Theater’s production of Footloose . She extends her deepest gratitude to her unwavering support system: her incredible friends and loving family. Catch a glimpse of her behind-the-scenes adventures, her passion for the performing arts, and her infectious zest for life on her Tik Tok: @lilliurgentsings & IG: @lillianniearie. See you in detention!

JAMES DOUGLAS VINSON

JAMES DOUGLAS VINSON (Fender/Link Larkin & Corny Collins Understudy) is an NYC based actor and is thrilled to be making his national tour debut in Hairspray ! Recent credits include Gunther in Summer: The Donna Summer Musical (NCL inaugural cast); Righteous Brother/Nick in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical ;   Doug in Descendants (Casa Mañana); Larry in A Chorus Line (Laguna Playhouse). A huge thank you to his friends and family for their endless love and support! @jaames_vinsonn

GABRIEL YARBOROUGH

Gabriel Yarborough (Gilbert) (he/him/his) is so excited to make his national tour debut with Hairspray ! He’s a Junior BFA Acting Major at University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Previous credits include TV/Film: Filthy Rich (Young Franklin/FOX and HULU), The 24th (Boy/Amazon Prime). Regional: Cabaret (Victor/GLOW Lyric Theatre). Glory to God! Rep: KUTALENT Agency. IG:@gabriel.yarborough

MARK O’DONNELL

MARK O’DONNELL (Book). Plays: That’s It, Folks! ; Fables for Friends ; The Nice and the Nasty (all produced at Playwrights Horizons), and Strangers on Earth and Vertigo Park (both produced by Zena Group Theatre). He wrote the book and lyrics for the musical Tots in Tinseltown . Mr. O’Donnell collaborated with Bill Irwin on an adaptation of Moliere’s Scapin, and he co- authored a translation of Feydeau’s A Flea in Her Ear , both for the Roundabout. For Manhattan Theatre Club, he translated Jean Claude Carriere’s La Terrasse . He has published two collections of comic stories Elementary Education and Vertigo Park and Other Tall Tales (both Knopf), as well as two recent novels, Getting Over Homer and Let Nothing You Dismay (both now in Vintage paperback). His humor, cartoons, and poetry have appeared in The New Yorker , The New York Times , The Atlantic , Spy , The New Republic , and Esquire , among many others. He has received a Guggenheim Fellowship, the Lecomte du Nuoy Prize, and the George S. Kaufman Award.

THOMAS MEEHAN

Thomas won the 2003 Tony Award for co-writing the book for Hairspray, after having won the 2001 Tony Award for co- writing the book of The Producers . In 1977, he received his first Tony Award for writing the book of Annie , which was his first Broadway show, and he has since written the books for the musicals I Remember Mama, Ain’t Broadway Grand, Annie Warbucks, Bombay Dreams, and Cry- Baby . In addition, he is a long-time contributor of humor pieces, including “Yma Dream” to The New Yorker , an Emmy Award-winning writer of television comedy, and a collaborator on a number of screenplays, including Mel Brooks’ Spaceballs , To Be or Not to Be, and the film version of The Producers . He is also the co-author for the libretto of 1984 , an opera composed by Lorin Maazel and based on George Orwell’s classic novel of the same name, which had its world premiere in the spring of 2003 at London’s Royal Opera House and was performed at La Scala in Milan. Mr. Meehan is a member of the Council of the Dramatists Guild.

MARC SHAIMAN

Music & arrangements, lyrics.

Marc is a composer/lyricist/arranger/performer working in films, television, musical theater and recordings. He has won several honors, including a Tony, an Emmy, a Grammy, plus seven Oscar nominations.

Opening this fall on Broadway is Shaiman & Wittman’s new musical Some Like It Hot , based on the iconic film. And coming in a year or so after that will be Smash , a play about a musical (based on the TV Show).

Recent projects include Rogers: The Musical for Marvel/Disney+’s Hawkeye , incidental music for the smash Broadway revival of Plaza Suite and the score for Universal’s Billy Eichner romcom Bros .

For Mary Poppins Returns he was nominated for two Oscars, a BAFTA, a Golden Globe and a Grammy. His other Oscar nominations have been for Sleepless In Seattle , Patch Adams , The First Wives Club , The American President and South Park-Bigger, Longer & Uncut .

Other film credits include Beaches , When Harry Met Sally , City Slickers , The Addams Family , Sister Act , A Few Good Men , Hocus Pocus , The Bucket List and Hairspray . He and Mariah Carey were nominated for a Golden Globe for their title song for the animated film The Star .

For Broadway, he and co-lyricist Scott Wittman have written Hairspray (Tony & Grammy Awards), Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me , Catch Me If You Can (Tony nom) and Charlie & The Chocolate Factory .

Television credits include Saturday Night Live (Emmy and Golden Globe nom), Smash (Emmy & Golden Globe nom), The Oscars with Billy Crystal (Emmy Award), Bette Midler (final guest with Johnny Carson) and countless appearances with Neil Patrick Harris, Nathan Lane, Jennifer Hudson, Jack Black & Will Ferrell, among others.

He has produced/arranged recordings and performances for Bette Midler, Harry Connick Jr., Peter Allen, Eric Clapton, Diane Keaton, Patti LuPone, Steve Martin, Barbra Streisand, Robin Williams and many more.

His online opus Prop 8 – The Musical was a Webbie Award winner.

SCOTT WITTMAN

Tony, Grammy, and Olivier Award winning lyricist, director, writer, and conceiver Scott Wittman co-wrote the lyrics for the hit musical Hairspray (Tony, Grammy, Olivier Award) with creative partner Marc Shaiman. Wittman served as an executive producer on the hit film starring John Travolta. Nominated for a Golden Globe, Grammy, and two Emmy Awards for the original songs on NBC’s musical drama Smash . Shaiman and Wittman’s original score for the Marilyn Monroe musical Bombshell was released by Sony Records. Scott and Marc’s Broadway writing credits include Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me , which Scott also directed, Catch Me If You Can (Tony nom. for Best Musical), and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory on Broadway and the West End. And the new Broadway musical of Some Like it Hot at the Schubert Theatre. Scott has created and directed concerts for Patti LuPone. He has created solo shows for Christine Ebersole and Nathan Lane, as well as writing for Bette Midler’s 2015 Divine Intervention World Tour. Off-Broadway, he conceived and directed Jukebox Jackie starring Justin Vivian Bond at La Mama, and Bridget Everett’s Rockbottom at the Public Theatre. His notorious and legendary Downtown shows are in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Marc and Scott also wrote the score to Disney’s Mary Poppins Returns starring Emily Blunt, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and Meryl Streep. The song “The Place Where Lost Things Go” was nominated for an Oscar.

JACK O’BRIEN

Original director.

JACK O’BRIEN, recently Tony nominated for his direction of the new hit musical, Shucked , has also won three Tony Awards for his direction of Hairspray , Henry IV , and The Coast of Utopia . His other recent Broadway credits include Arthur Miller’s All My Sons , Carousel , The Front Page , Charlie and the Chocolate Factory , It’s Only a Play , Macbeth , The Nance , Dead Accounts , Catch Me If You Can , Impressionism , Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Tony nom.), Imaginary Friends , The Invention of Love (Tony nomination and Drama Desk winner), The Full Monty (Tony nom.), More to Love , Getting Away with Murder , The Little Foxes , Damn Yankees , Two Shakespearean Actors (Tony nom.) and Porgy and Bess (Tony nom.). Off- Broadway credits include Tom Stoppard’s The Hard Problem , Pride’s Crossing , and Hapgood (Lucille Lortel Award). Other productions include Il Trittico at the Metropolitan Opera, Guys and Dolls at Carnegie Hall, Much Ado About Nothing for The Public’s Shakespeare in the Park, Love Never Dies and Hairspray (Olivier nom.) in London, which also saw another revival at the Coliseum in London. Mr. O’Brien was the Artistic Director of the Old Globe Theatre from 1981 till 2007. He has directed six programs for PBS’s American Playhouse. He is the author of two memoirs, Jack Be Nimble, and Jack in the Box, or How to Goddam Direct, both published by FSG. He lives in Connecticut with an exceptional Norwich terrier named Coda.

JERRY MITCHELL

Original choreographer.

For the past four decades, Jerry has created some of the most iconic musicals to play Broadway, the West End, Toronto, Australia, Korea, Japan and Germany, including the Tony Award-winning Best Musical, Kinky Boots , for which his direction was nominated and his choreography was awarded the Tony. This was his second Tony for choreography, having won previously for La Cage Aux Folles.  With over 50 productions on stages throughout the world to his credit, Jerry has also received the George Abbott Lifetime Achievement Award from the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers, joining many of his mentors as recipient. Starting as a dancer for Agnes de Mille on Broadway in Brigadoon , Jerry thereafter appeared in Woman Of The Year, Barnum, On Your Toes and A Chorus Line and became the associate to Michael Bennett, Bob Avian and Jerome Robbins on such of their shows as Jerome Robbins’ Broadway, Scandal, Chess and Jerry’s first show on the West End, Follies. Also on the West End, Jerry has been nominated four times for Best Choreography, with three of those productions winning the Olivier Award for Best Musical— Kinky Boots, Legally Blonde and Hairspray , the latter of which he choreographed with his longtime mentor and collaborator, Director Jack O’Brien. His Broadway debut as Choreographer of You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown was followed by The Full Monty (Tony nomination), The Rocky Horror Show, Hairspray (Tony nomination and the NBC live television broadcast which followed), Gypsy (starring Bernadette Peters), Never Gonna Dance (Tony nomination), Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Tony nomination), La Cage Aux Folles (Tony Award), Imaginary Friends, Legally Blonde (Tony nomination), Catch Me If You Can .  He also directed the Gloria Estefan musical, On Your Feet and directed and choreographed both Kinky Boots and most recently, Pretty Woman . Choreography for Off-Broadway includes Hedwig & The Angry Inch and Jeffrey. For film, Jerry created memorable dance sequences for Scent Of A Woman, The Object Of My Affection, In And Out and Drop Dead Gorgeous , among others. Currently Jerry is developing a new musical based on a book entitled Becoming Nancy . And most importantly, more than 30 years ago Jerry conceived and created Broadway Bares , a comedy burlesque show performed annually for the charity, Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, which has raised over $25,000,000 to date and led to satellite organizations with similar achievements, including San Francisco Bares, West End Bares and Italy Bares , helping to care for those afflicted with and affected by AIDS, for which he was awarded the Isabelle Stevenson Award and his third Tony in 2023. He continues to serve as Executive Producer of Broadway Bares and is especially proud of the celebration of life that these shows have given to the world.

Tour Director

MATT LENZ  ( Tour Director ). Broadway:  Hairspray, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Catch Me If You Can, The Velocity of Autumn  (Associate Director on original productions), Disney’s  Beauty and the Beast  (Resident Director). Off-Broadway:  Pageant: The Musical  (Drama Desk nom.),  The Irish Curse ,  Idaho! The Comedy Musical ,  The Great Daisy Theory, Fingers and Toes , and Alan Ball’s  Tense Guy . National Tours:  Charlie and the Chocolate Factory ,  The Sound of Music ,  A Christmas Story: The Musical, Cheers: Live on Stage, Catch Me If You Can ,  The Who’s Tommy,  and numerous  Hairspray companies.   International:  The Sound of Music  Global Tour (current),  Charlie  in Australia and productions of  Hairspray  in Australia, South Africa, the UK, Toronto, and Germany. Regional: Numerous plays and musicals at The Ahmanson, Paper Mill Playhouse, George Street Playhouse, the MUNY, Ogunquit Playhouse, La Mirada, Cape Playhouse, North Carolina Theatre, Maltz Jupiter Theater, Forestburgh Playhouse, Zach Theatre, Gulfshore Playhouse, Casa Manana. Matt is the Founding Artistic Director of the annual In The Works ~ In The Woods Festival of new plays and  musicals.

ROBBIE ROBY

Tour choreographer.

Robbie has been part of the Hairspray family for 18 years, originally as the dance captain for the Broadway and Las Vegas productions. Select choreography credits include: Joseph… Dreamcoat (staring David Archuleta), Sister Act (Kansas City Starlight, Pittsburgh CLO), Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (Tuacahn, Ordway Theatre, and Pittsburgh CLO), Little Shop of Horrors (Sacramento Music Circus), Disney’s The Little Mermaid (The 5th Avenue Theatre), Shrek (Walnut Street Theatre, Sacramento Music Circus), and Broadway Backwards (New Amsterdam Theatre; NYC). As a performer, Robbie was the dance captain for Broadway/Touring productions of Billy Elliot, Disney’s The Little Mermaid , and Monty Python’s Spamalot.

DAVID ROCKWELL

Scenic designer.

Broadway: Into the Woods ; Take Me Out ; Tootsie ; Kiss Me, Kate ; Lobby Hero ; She Loves Me (Tony, Drama Desk, and OCC awards); On the Twentieth Century (Tony nom.); You Can’t Take It With You (Tony nom.); Kinky Boots (Tony nom.); Lucky Guy (Tony nom.); Hairspray (Tony, Drama Desk, OCC noms.); and the upcoming production of A Beautiful Noise . Off-Broadway: Into the Woods ; Seven Deadly Sins ; Soundtrack of America ; A Bright Room Called Day ; and Shakespeare in the Park . Founder and President of Rockwell Group, an architecture and design firm based in New York with offices in Los Angeles and Madrid. He is the author of four books on architecture and design, including Drama (Phaidon 2021). Honors: AIANY President’s Award, Cooper Hewitt National Design Award, Presidential Design Award

WILLIAM IVEY LONG

Costume designer.

Credits: The Producers, Seussical, The Man Who Came to Dinner, The Music Man, Contact; Swing!, Epic Proportions, The Civil War, Annie Get Your Gun, The Mystery of Irma Vep, Cabaret, Chicago (New York, London, Melbourne, Vienna, Stockholm, Amsterdam), Steel Pier, 1776, Smokey Joe’s Cafe (New York, London, Las Vegas, tours), Crazy For You (Tony, Outer Critics Circle, Dora awards), London, Toronto (Dora Award), Tokyo; Guys and Dolls (Drama Desk Award); Madison Square Garden’s annual A Christmas Carol; Six Degrees of Separation; Assassins (1991 Obie Award for outstanding achievement); Lend Me a Tenor (Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle awards); Nine (Tony, Drama Desk, Maharam awards); Robert Wilson’s Hamletmachine ; Leonard Bernstein’s A Quiet Place and Trouble in Tahiti (Vienna State Opera, La Scala, Houston Grand Opera, Kennedy Center); The Lost Colony ; Mick Jagger for the Rolling Stones’ Steel Wheels tour; Siegfried and Roy at the Mirage Hotel; Paul Taylor; Twyla Tharp; Peter Martins; David Parsons; Susan Stroman.

PAUL MILLER

Tour lighting designer.

Broadway: Ruben & Clay’s Christmas Show, Amazing Grace, The Illusionists, Legally Blonde, Freshly Squeezed, Laughing Room Only . National Tours: The Illusionists, Elf the Musical, The Producers, Hairspray, Nunsense . Many commercial Off-Broadway productions and City Center Encores! Regional: The Old Globe, Stratford Shakespeare Festival (Ontario), DC Shakespeare, Chicago Shakespeare, Idaho Shakespeare, Great Lakes Theatre Co, Asolo Rep, American Conservatory Theatre, Cleveland Playhouse, Pasadena Playhouse, The Goodspeed Opera House, Pittsburgh CLO, and Seattle’s 5 th Avenue Theatre, among others. Ballet: The New Jersey Ballet, Eglevsky Ballet, Grand Rapids Ballet. Television: Live from Lincoln Center, Netflix, Showtime, Comedy Central. International: Productions in São Paulo, Toronto, London, Vienna, Milan (Teatro alla Scala), Manila, Johannesburg, Beijing, Slovenia, Canada, and Mexico. Paul has been the Lighting Director for the internationally televised New Year’s Eve Celebration from New York’s Times Square for the last 20 years. He is originally from Chicago and trained at The Theatre School at DePaul University.

KENNETH POSNER

Lighting designer.

Kenneth designs extensively Off-Broadway, for resident theatres and touring productions throughout the United States, as well as internationally. He began his design career in the early 1990s s the lighting designer for the Berkshire Theatre Festival in Stockbridge, MA. Selected Broadway credits include One More Time , Saturday Night, Beetlejuice, Pretty Woman, Mean Girls, War Paint, Tuck Everlasting, Disgraced, On Your Feet, If/Then, Kinky Boots, Pippin, Cinderella, Hairspray, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Legally Blonde, Catch Me If You Can, The Coast of Utopia: Shipwreck , Other Desert Cities, The Merchant Of Venice, The Little Foxes, The Adventures Of Tom Sawyer, Finding Neverland, and Wicked.

SHANNON SLATON

Sound designer.

SHANNON SLATON ( Sound Designer ) Broadway designs: My Window; The Illusionists .  National tour designs include: Shrek; Once on this Island; The Producers; Kiss Me, Kate; Noise/Funk; The Full Monty; Contact; A Chorus Line; Tap Dogs; Sweeney Todd; The Wizard of Oz; The Drowsy Chaperone; and The Wedding Singer . He was production sound for The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway and national tour, and advance sound for Wicked . Shows he has mixed on Broadway include Springsteen on Broadway, Man of La Mancha, Bombay Dreams, A Christmas Carol, Sweet Charity, Jersey Boys, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, The Drowsy Chaperone, Spring Awakening, Fela!, Anything Goes, Annie, Legally Blonde, and Cabaret .

PATRICK W. LORD

Video designer.

Patrick is a projection and video designer, whose work has been seen across the county.  He has designed the National Tours of Hairspray and the new tour of On Your Feet , and was on the video team for the first tour of Mean Girls as the animator.  In addition, he has had the privilege to design critically acclaimed world premieres at theaters like Lincoln Center and The Kennedy Center for Performing Arts with playwrights like Lauren Gunderson, Finegan Kruckemeyer, Robert Schenkkan and others.  His career also includes extensive work at regional theaters across the country like Shakespeare Theatre Company, Olney Theatre Center, Flatrock Playhouse, Croswell Opera House, Skylight Music Theatre and many more, especially in the Washington DC area, which he calls home.  Outside of his theatre work, Patrick has designed for Grammy award winning musicians and creative directed projects for numerous NBA and NHL teams’ special events.  www.patrickwlord.com

PAUL HUNTLEY

Wigs & hair designer.

London born Paul Huntley is a special Tony Award Winner as well as a Drama Desk recipient. Paul has worked on hundreds of Broadway projects since arriving in this country in 1972. His projects have included Cats; Amadeus; Kiss Me, Kate; The Producers and Hairspray . He has also worked with some of the most talented leading ladies of the American Cinema. They include Bette Davis, Vivien Leigh, Mae West, Glenn Close, Angela Lansbury and Jessica Lange. Movies are Christopher Plummer in “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus” and Willem Dafoe in “Cirque Du Freak.”

BERNIE ARDIA

Tour wigs & hair designer.

Bernie is a California native with a 40-year career starting in print and television: soap operas and TV specials such as Happy Birthday Hollywood .  Mr. Ardia returned to live theater with David Merrick’s national tour of 42 nd Street .  He has designed for over 75 productions including: Can-Can, Me and My Girl, Showboat, Ziegfeld: A Night at the Follies ; recreating Paul Huntley’s designs for the current NETworks production of Hairspray .  He is very happy to be part of this project and working under the direction of Matt Lenz. Other credits: Ragtime (The Kennedy Center), Dirty Dancing, Cameron Mackintosh’s Les Misérable s and Oliver, Kiss of the Spider Woman with Chita Rivera, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Starlight Express (Las Vegas) and Cinderella with Eartha Kitt. Mr. Ardia is proud to have worked with many talented performers and directors in his career including Jeanne Cooper, George Wendt, Hal Prince, Melody Thomas Scott, Mary Wilson, Patrick Cassidy, many Osmonds, Lynda Carter, Makenzie Philips and even Judge Judy! He is also the author of Barbra Streisand in New York City , and presenting the upcoming At Sea with Patrick Dennis, My Madcap Mexican Adventure with the Author of Auntie Mame , (pub. Ratteling Good Yarns).

HAROLD WHEELER

Orchestrations.

From the time he conducted the B’way musical Promises, Promises to the year Dreamgirls won six Tony Awards, Harold Wheeler has been in the front ranks of entertainment as a conductor, composer, arranger and performer. Additional theatre credits as orchestrator and music supervisor include CoCo, Two Gentlemen of Verona, The Wiz, Little Me (Tony nom.), A Chorus Line, The Tap Dance Kid, Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music, Fame, The Life (Tony nom.), Side Show, Swing! (Tony nom.), The Full Monty . He acted as Musical Director for the Summer Olympics in Atlanta, and composed the score for the film Love! Valour! Compassion! He is married to actress/singer Hattie Winston.

KEITH THOMPSON

Music supervisor.

Keith was creator/director/producer of The Cocktail Cabaret which enjoyed a 13-month run the famed Cleopatra’s Barge in Caesars Palace. He is the founder and host of The Composers Showcase, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides a platform and forum for composers and songwriters to share their original musical creations at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts.

As a seasoned conductor/musical director, Keith’s most recent list of professional credits include musical director and conductor for the Las Vegas companies of  Jersey Boys ,  The Producers , Hairspray , and for the North American premier of the hit musical,  We Will Rock You .  The conductor and musical director for the first national tours of Mamma Mia! and Cabaret , Keith also supervised the music for the Australian production of Cabaret in Sydney and won the 2000 Dora Award as musical director of Cabaret in Toronto. Other national tours Keith has conducted include Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat , with Donny Osmond; Peter Pan, with Cathy Rigby; Jesus Christ Superstar , with Carl Anderson and Ted Neeley; and the 25 th Anniversary tour of the musical, HAIR! as well as concert tours for Sarah Brightman and Jenifer Lewis. In addition, his New York credits include Les Miserables , When Pigs Fly , and Little Shop of Horrors .

Keith Thompson is co-composer of IDAHO! The Comedy-Musical with long-time collaborator, Buddy Sheffield ( In Living Color ).  The musical premiered at the New York Musical Theatre Festival in 2008 where it received the honor of “Best in Fest.” IDAHO! was presented in a full production at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts in Las Vegas in 2016.

Another Keith Thompson original, God Lives in Glass , Keith’s premiered at NYU’s Provincetown Playhouse in Greenwich Village and has been presented regionally and in concert nationwide. Keith’s original comedy/novelty song revue,  Kooky Tunes , has received international critical and popular praise. This revue completed a successful extended engagement at New York’s Laurie Beechman Theater, followed by an Australian tour, and the release of the cast recording, produced by Jay Records of London, currently available on Amazon.com..

Keith was vocal director and arranger for  RoundHouse , a Television series that aired on the Nickelodeon Network.  Keith was also Adjunct Professor in the Musical Theater program at NYU where he conducted, arranged and supervised music for dozens of shows.

Music Coordinator

JP MEYER  ( Music Coordinator ) is the Music Supervisor and Contractor for APEX Touring ( Summer: The Donna Summer Musical , Pippin, Finding Neverland, Chicago, Cabaret, Wizard of Oz ) and has been the Resident Music Director at the Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre in Lancaster, Pennsylvania since 2014.   He also serves as the Organist and Music Director at Old Zion Lutheran Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

LIZZIE WEBB

Music director/conductor, prather productions.

PRATHER PRODUCTIONS  (Casting)   has been casting productions in the entertainment industry for more than 40 years. The casting and artistic producing team of Brian J. Enzman and Lauren L. Sobon recently cast the national tours of  Cabaret ,  Once, The Musical,   Summer: The Donna Summer Musical, Finding Neverland, The Wizard of Oz International Tour, Pippin, Million Dollar Quartet  and  Fiddler on the Roof.  

JESS LEVINE

Production stage manager.

JESS LEVINE (Production Stage Manager) is thrilled to be joining Hairspray ! Originally from Pittsburgh and a proud graduate of Penn State, previous tours include Elf the Musical and regional credits include Plano and The Cherry Orchard (Quantum Theatre) and Shantytown (Pittsburgh Playwrights). Many thanks to all the family and friends that continue to support her!

SAM KRONHAUS

Assistant stage manager.

Sam Kronhaus (Assistant Stage Manager) is excited to be back with the Hairspray company this season! National Tours: Hairspray and Les Misérables . Regional: Into the Woods (Slow Burn Theatre Company) and Disney’s Beauty and The Beast (Maltz Jupiter Theatre). Other credits: Miami City Ballet, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, The Kravis Center, Pittsburgh Playhouse, and Pittsburgh CLO. Proud graduate of Point Park University. Sam wishes to thank his family for their continued love and support!

MARC CIEMIEWICZ

Resident company manager.

MARC CIEMIEWICZ (Resident Company Manager ) .   For 30 years Marc   has worked as an actor, director, stage manager, company manager, and production manager from coast to coast. Tours: Yeston and Kopit’s Phantom , It’s Swingtime! , Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (directed and choreographed by Andy Blankenbuehler), Footloose 10th Anniversary Tour , The Wedding Singer , Finding Neverland , Chicago , and the national and international tours of The Wizard of   Oz . Marc holds a BFA and a MFA in Musical Theatre from Shenandoah Conservatory and San Diego State University respectively. Let Art Live!

TIMOTHE BITTLE

Company manager.

TIMOTHE BITTLE (Tour Company Manager) is excited to be a part of Hairspray and was the Company Manager for Chicago, the Musical and Summer: The Donna Summer Musical . National tours include Finding Neverland and The Wedding Singer . He attended Lees-McRae College in Banner Elk, North Carolina and Greensboro College in Greensboro, North Carolina. An avid TV and movie watcher, but has also been known to enjoy a football game or two. Go Pack Go!!

KENT McINGVALE & COMPANY

Tour press and marketing.

Kent McIngvale & Company  ( Tour Press & Marketing ) currently leads the marketing and press campaigns for the national tours of  Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird  and  Hairspray , and consults with Transcendence Theatre Company in Sonoma. Recent projects for Kent McIngvale, Deb Fiscella and N. Meredyth Davis include marketing and press campaigns for the national tours of  Jersey Boys  (14 seasons on tour),  Beautiful – the Carole King Musical  (6 seasons on tour),  Rodgers & Hammerstein’s The Sound of Music , and  Summer: The Donna Summer Musical .

THE BOOKING GROUP

Tour booking.

The Booking Group has represented 27 Tony Award® winning Best Musicals and Plays. Current tours include: Hamilton, Dear Evan Hansen, Come From Away, The Book of Mormon, 1776, Hadestown, Mean Girls, MJ The Musical, Pretty Woman, Six, Tina, To Kill A Mockingbird, Anastasia, Chicago, Fiddler on the Roof, Hairspray, My Fair Lady, R.E.S.P.E.C.T ; and Tootsie . Future tours include: Almost Famous, Funny Girl, Mamma Mia!, Mrs. Doubtfire, A Strange Loop, The Devil Wears Prada , and The Wiz.

LAUREN L. SOBON

Associate producer.

LAUREN L. SOBON (Associate Producer) . Recent credits include Director for the 2021 tour of Summer: The Donna Summer Musical , Associate Producer for the 2020 national tour of Chicago , Artistic Producer/Casting Director for the 2020 national tour of Finding Neverland , 2019 international and 2018/2019 national tours of The Wizard of Oz as well as the 2017 national tour of Pippin . She was the Director and Artistic Producer for the 2016 national tour of Million Dollar Quartet . Choreographer and Associate Producer for the 2014 national tour of Fiddler on the Roof .      

BRIAN J. ENZMAN

BRIAN J. ENZMAN (Associate Producer) .   Brian has 35 years of experience in the entertainment industry. He has been involved in over 400 productions from A Chorus Line in 1987 to the recent national tours of Cabaret , Once, The Musical and Summer: The Donna Summer Musical . As resident director, credits include: Evita , Yeston and Kopit’s Phantom , Les Miserables , The Civil War , Jekyll and Hyde , The Drowsy Chaperone , South Pacific , Hello Dolly , Best Little Whorehouse in Texas , Cabaret , Gypsy , Mame , The King and I , Damn Yankees , Music Man and Annie , to name a few. Brian is a graduate of Millersville University in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

RUSSELL A. THOMPSON

Production manager.

RUSSELL A. THOMPSON  ( Production Manager ) has been the Production Manager for multiple national touring productions and the international tours of Chicago and Cabaret . Mr Thompson was the Lighting Designer & Production Manager for the international and national tour of The Wizard of Oz ,   and national tours of Summer: The Donna Summer Musical , Finding Neverland , Once , Pippin , Million Dollar Quartet , Memphis , Seven Brides for Seven Brothers , Hair , Fiddler on the Roof , All Shook Up , Footloose , The Wedding Singer , and Beehive: The 60’s Musical . Thompson’s other designs include Jesus Christ Superstar , On Your Feet , Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat , Mamma Mia! , Jersey Boys , Rock of Ages , A Bronx Tale and CATS . He also designed the world premiere of Around the World in 80 Days and the regional premiere of The Civil War .

RYAN C. PARLIMENT

General manager, william prather, executive producer.

WILLIAM T. PRATHER (Executive Producer) is the Executive Producer and Founder of APEX Touring. He is a second-generation theatre producer following in the footsteps of his parents, Tom and Debbie Prather, who produced live theatre for over 58 years. A graduate of the School of Hotel Administration at Cornell University, he returned to the family business in 1993 after spending a couple of years in the corporate world. As an Executive Producer, Prather has worked on successful tours including Footloose , The Wedding Singer , BLAST , Fiddler on the Roof , Seven Brides for Seven Brothers , Memphis and Million Dollar Quartet . 

APEX TOURING

APEX TOURING, LLC (Producer) . APEX Touring is the producer of the current tours of Hairspray being presented by Hairspray on Tour, LLC and Chicago , being presented by Chicago Razzle Dazzle, LLC. Now in its sixth tour season, APEX has produced recent national tours which include Summer: The Donna Summer Musical , Once and Finding Neverland . APEX was honored to produce the first company to bring a live production to the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Middle East with the international tour of The Wizard of Oz , which also performed across China. APEX produced the 2018 tour of Cabaret and 2017 tour of Pippin . APEX has been created to serve the ever-expanding need for high quality, Broadway-caliber touring productions around the world. APEX looks forward to many years of producing Broadway’s brightest new shows.

Set in an East Village park in 1967, the American Tribal Love-Rock Musical HAIR tells the story of the "tribe", a group of politically active hippies living a bohemian life in New York City and fighting against conscription into the Vietnam War.

Hair explores many of the themes of the counterculture movement of the 1960, addressing topics such as homophobia, xenophobia, racism, nudity, sexual freedom, and drug use. [Long] hair was the hippies' flag – their symbol of the rejection of discrimination and restrictive gender roles, and the equality between men and women. This production looks at problems that unfortunately have not been resolved since the 60’s.

Our first production in 2020 was challenging because of the corona restriction, but it forced us to think out of the box, and find alternative ways to connect on stage. It was a bonding time because of it and I am grateful to the team and cast for our unique experience. The theater provided us a “Messehalle” big enoughto fit us AND the prescribed cubic metres of air per person in.

Now in 2023 we have completely revised version where nothing is keeping us apart anymore! We all breath the same air, and are finally allowed to touch and embrace it all.

“ Wie gut es tut, nach monatelangem Rumgegammel vor Monitoren mal wieder Menschen in absoluter Körperspannung zu sehen. Choreographin Eleonora Talamini macht diesen Abstands-Tanz möglich, ohne dass der groß als solcher auffällt ”

“ Eleonora Talamini meistert das schwierige Kunststück, mitreißende Tanzszenen auf Abstand zu choreografieren – nur mobile Trennwände mit durchsichtiger Folie machen‘s möglich, dass sich erregte Körper doch noch in freier Liebe aneinander reiben können. ”

“ The choreography by Eleonora Talamini, (…) a masterpiece in complete safety, (…) A challenge accepted and solved in a perfect way, without damaging the piece, on the contrary: distance has become a symbol of actual distance, even emotional, which subsists, and often is not even perceived.* ”

Press Reviews

Pressreader Review

Süddeutsche Zeitung

Rockmusical

Lyrics and Book by Gerome Ragni James Rado

Music by Galt MacDermot

Creative Team

Direction | Maximilian von Mayenburg & Eleonora Talamini

Choreography | Eleonora Talamini

Musical Director | Achim Schneider

Set | Tanja Hofmann

Costumes | Ralph Zeger

Photography | Honk Photo Oliver Dietze

Saarländisches Staatstheater Saarbrücken & Theater Heilbronn Germany

Premiere on the 24th of October 2020

(*) Translated from Italian