HAIRSPRAY at the Hollywood Bowl to Star Fierstein, Winokur, Bleu, Carey, DeGarmo, Jonas, Stamos & More
By: Robert Diamond May. 24, 2011
The Hollywood Bowl's production of HAIRSPRAY reunites original Broadway stars Harvey Fierstein and Marissa Jaret Winokur. Both Fierstein and Winokur, playing mother Edna Turnblad and daughter Tracy Turnblad, were awarded Tony Awards for best leading actor in a musical and best leading actress in a musical respectively for their appearances in HAIRSPRAY on Broadway. This is the first time that they have performed these roles together in Los Angeles; this is also Fierstein's Hollywood Bowl debut. Single tickets are now on sale!
Fierstein and Winokur are joined by Corbin Bleu, Drew Carey, Diana DeGarmo, Mo Gaffney, Nick Jonas, Darlene Love, Tara Macri, and John Stamos. Drew Carey, the current host of The Price is Right and Drew Carey's Improv-a- Ganza, plays Wilbur Turnblad, Edna's husband and Tracy's father. John Stamos, playing the TV Host Corny Collins, starred on Broadway in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Cabaret, Nine and Bye Bye Birdie and is known for his television work on Full House and ER, and this season on Glee and Law & Order: SVU.
Nick Jonas, of the Grammy®-nominated, platinum selling band, the Jonas Brothers plays Link Larkin. Jonas appeared on Broadway as Chip in Beauty and the Beast and as Gavroche in Les Misérables and last year made his West End debut and performed at the 02 Arena in the 25th Anniversary Concert as Marius in the same musical. Corbin Bleu, who plays Seaweed, was Chad Danforth in all three High School Musical Disney films and starred on Broadway as Usnavi in In the Heights; he has released 2 albums, Another Side and Speed of Light, both distributed by Hollywood Records.
2011 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Darlene Love, most known for her Phil Spector recordings of "He's a Rebel" and "(Christmas) Baby Please Come Home," plays Motormouth Maybelle and is one of four cast members performing roles they played in the Broadway company of HAIRSPRAY. Diana DeGarmo, who finished just after Fantasia in the third season of American Idol, plays Penny Pingleton and Tara Macri, a Chicago Jersey Boys company alum, plays Amber. They are joined by Mo Gaffney, beloved for her television appearances (Mad About You, that ‘70s Show, Run of the House, Absolutely Fabulous among others) playing Prudy Pingleton, the Gym Teacher, and the Matron.
HAIRSPRAY is directed and choreographed at the Hollywood Bowl by Tony Award- winner Jerry Mitchell, and Lon Hoyt is the musical director. HAIRSPRAY is the 2003 winner of eight Tony Awards including Best Musical, in addition to holding the record as the 20th longest running show in Broadway history. Mitchell was the original choreographer of Hairspray on Broadway and won Tony and Olivier awards for his work; Hoyt was the original musical director of the Broadway production.
This invigorating phenomenon of HAIRSPRAY - based on the classic film by John Waters - is the doo-wop inflected story of big dreams, big voices and, of course, big hair! Mitchell and Hoyt, along with Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, HAIRSPRAY's composer and lyricist, are currently represented on Broadway with the Tony Award Best Musical nominee Catch Me If You Can.
HAIRSPRAY will have three performances only at the Hollywood Bowl -- Friday and Saturday August 5 and 6 at 8:30pm, and Sunday August 7 at 7:30pm. Single tickets are available in person at the Hollywood Bowl box office, by calling 323.850.2000 and at HollywoodBowl.com.
HAIRSPRAY is based on the New Line Cinema film written and directed by John Waters, who served as a creative consultant on the musical comedy. It features a book by Mark O'Donnell and Thomas Meehan. HAIRSPRAY features an original score by Academy Award-nominated Marc Shaiman (who co-wrote the music and lyrics for the animated musical, South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut) and lyrics by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman.
The musical's original Broadway production opened on August 15, 2002 ran for 2,642 performances, had U.S. national tours, a London West End production, numerous foreign productions and was adapted for a 2007 musical film. The London production was nominated for a record-setting eleven Laurence Olivier Awards, winning for Best New Musical and in three other categories.
One of the largest natural amphitheaters in the world, with a seating capacity of nearly 18,000, the HOLLYWOOD BOWL has been the summer home of the Los Angeles Philharmonic since its official opening in 1922, and is home to the best and brightest in all genres of music. It remains one of the best deals in Los Angeles; to this day, $1 buys a seat at the top of the Bowl for many of the Los Angeles Philharmonic's concerts. The venue offers something for everyone, from its sizzling summer evening concerts to the daytime summer arts festival for children, "SummerSounds: Music for Kids at the Hollywood Bowl," now in its 43rd season. In January 2011, the Hollywood Bowl was named Best Major Outdoor Concert Venue for the seventh year in a row at the 21stAnnual Pollstar Concert Industry Awards. The Hollywood Bowl has become synonymous with summer in Southern California. www.HollywoodBowl.com
Friday and Saturday, August 5 and 6 at 8:30 pm Sunday, August 7 at 7:30 pm
HAIRSPRAY
Jerry Mitchell, Director and Choreographer
Lon Hoyt, Musical director
Marissa Jaret Winokur (Tracy Turnblad)
Corbin Bleu (Seaweed J. Stubbs)
Drew Carey (Wilbur Turnblad)
Diana DeGarmo (Penny Pingleton)
Mo Gaffney (Prudy Pingleton, the Gym Teacher, the Matron)
Nick Jonas (Link Larkin)
Darlene Love (Motormouth Maybelle)
Tara Macri (Amber Von Tussle)
John Stamos (Corny Collins)
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