WMC Alumni Hall has been bustling lately as students rehearse for the opening night of the comical musical “Hairspray” this Wednesday.
The show takes us to Baltimore where the 1950’s are ending and the 60’s are rolling in. The main character, Tracey Turnbald, lands a spot on the local television dance program and overnight transforms herself from an outsider to teen celebrity. Can Tracey beat out the reigning program’s princess and find true love?
Originally a film by Baltimore’s own John Walters, an adaptation to a Broadway musical made it an instant hit in 2002. The music performed in the show is by Marc Shaiman and lyrics by Shaiman and Scott Wittman.
Cast member, Shelley Hierstetter, said the decision for the show was made at the end of last semester by the theatre department.
“The theatre tries to cover all genres and styles in a 4 year period,” said Hierstetter. “It was time for another big musical, something with dancing and that was more popular.”
The last musical at McDaniel was “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” back in the fall of 2009.
Students have been rehearsing since the beginning of September and also had one of the largest turn out for auditions in quite some time.
“We had over 60 people audition and we casted about half of that,” said Hierstetter.
The cast includes Mae Alexander, Kevin Anderson, Samantha Arana, Lyndsay Arnold, Najee Banks, Daniel Beane, Alissa Beckett, Erin Brown, Danielle Bruck, Simone Davis, Hillary Deweese, Ashanti Edwards, Kelsey Gondek, Paul Davis Griffin, Erna Hammond, Josh Harding, Shelley Hierstetter, Chesney Jamieson, Lena Jenny, Malcolm Jones, Jennifer Litzinger, Elizabeth Maxman, Joanne McCoy, Foster McDaniel, Joshua Meltzer, Jasmine Nunez, Ryan Powell, Emma Richard, Adrian Rowe, David Ruth, Sammi Stair, Daniel Valentin-Morales, John Wontrop, and Karly Ziegler. Mae Alexander, Kevin Anderson, Samantha Arana, Lyndsay Arnold, Najee Banks, Daniel Bean, Alissa Beckett, Erin Brown, Danielle Bruck, Simone Davis, Hilary Deweese, Ashanti Edwards, Kelsey Gondek, Paul Davis Griffin, Erna Hammond, Josh Harding, Shelley Hierstetter, Chesney Jamieson, Lena Jenny, Malcome Jones, Jaqueline Kolawole, Jennifer Litzinger, Lizzie Maxman, Joanne McCoy, Foster McDaniel, Joshua Meltzer, Daniel Valentin-Morales, Jasmine Nunez, Ryan Powell, Emma Richard, Adrian Rowe, David Ruth, Sammie Stair, Tyler Thomas, John Wontrop, and Karly Ziegler.
“Hairspray” is promised to be a hit with a high energy cast and jokes to keep you laughing all night.
You can catch “Hairspray” opening this Wednesday October 3, at WMC Alumni Hall. Tickets for McDaniel students, faculty, and staff are $8. Tickets for the community and adults are $10.
