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Darlene Love Succeeds Bond Davis in Hairspray on July 7

By: Jun. 23, 2005
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On July 7th, singer Darlene Love will succeed Mary Bond Davis in the role of Motormouth Maybelle in Hairspray.

Bond Davis has been with the colorful '60s-set hit from August 15th, 2002--the date the show started previews at the Neil Simon Theatre (250 W. 52nd St.); she will be the last original cast member to depart the show.  However, her role is in good hands with Love, who is currently in rehearsals.

Most famous as the singer of such sixties hits as on July 7th.
"He's a Rebel," "Da Doo Ron Ron," "He's Sure the Boy I'm Going to Marry" and "Christmas Baby Please Come Home," Love is a Rock 'N Roll Hall of Famer who has also appeared on Broadway in Grease, Leader of the Pack and as Miss Gardner in Carrie; she also starred in the musical Me and Mrs. Jones at the Prince Music Theatre. Love has acted in all four Lethal Weapon films as the wife of Danny Glover's character, and was a regular on the sixties series "Shindig!"

Hairspray currently stars original Tracy Turnblad Marissa Jaret Winokur (who only just returned to her Tony-winning role) and Bruce Vilanch as Edna.
  A
lso in the cast are Todd Susman as Wilbur, Richard H. Blake as Link, Chester Gregory II as Seaweed, Jordan Ballard as Amber, Tracey Miller as Penny and Barbara Walsh as Velma.

In addition to Winokur's win, Hairspray garnered 7 other 2003 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, and Best Actor in a Musical for Harvey Fierstein.  A feature film version of the musical, based on John Waters' 1988 film, is currently in the works.




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