Marissa Jaret Winokur's Hairspray Injury

[Matteo]

Does anyone know who played Tracy while Marissa was hurt during her return engagement in Hairspray? While watching the backstage video with Ryan O'Conner, he mentioned that Marissa Perry was in the dressing room dressed as Tracy, and I am curious as to whether they called her back to perform.

Is there any accuracy to that, or was it just her understudy that went on?

[brettarnett]

I could be completely wrong but I recall that Perry was bumped down to the standby or understudy when Winokur stepped back into the role.

[theatreguy]

That's correct. Perry stayed on as an additional stand-by for the last 4 weeks of the run and went on when Winokur was injured.

[ucjrdude902]

Weren't cast members a lil tiffed at the time that MJW was coming back? I remember a lot of "Marissa will always be OUR Tracy" going around on social networking sites.

[broadwayguy2]

When Marissa Winokur returned to close the production, Marissa Perry was still under contract and so became the primary stand-by for the role. Annie Funke, who had been the stand-by for Perry became, essentially, the second stand-by and Lori Eve Marinacci, who was playing Shelley, continued to serve as understudy.

During the performances missed by Winokur, Perry performed the bulk of the shows, but Funke was given a few as well.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Marissa is wonderful.

And she will kick your ass if you don't believe it.

[zamedy]

I think I remember reading that Marissa Perry was upset that she couldn't close out the show (and understandibly so). But I doubt she or anyone in the cast held it against MJW. That's showbusiness. And bringing MJW back to close out the show she won the Tony for made a lot of sense and made closing night that much more special. And perfect. Marissa and Harvey reunited again. I was there for the final show.. and I'll always remember Marissa's perfectly delivered adlib (delivered shortly before President Obama took the oath of office). "From now on, the Corny Collins Show... and THE WHITE HOUSE.. will be completely integrated!!!" Perfect.