Ryann Redmond, Bryan Batt and More Star in HAIRSPRAY, Beginning Tonight at The Muny

The Muny presents Hairspray, winner of the 2003 Tony Award for Best Musical, featuring music by Marc Shaiman & Scott Wittman with a book by Mark O'Donnell & Thomas Meehan. The Muny's production of Hairspray is directed and choreographed by Dan Knechtges and music directed by Charlie Alterman.

The full cast includes Bryan Batt (Edna Turnblad), Ryann Redmond (Tracy Turnblad), Christopher J. Hanke (Corny Collins), Liz Mikel (Motormouth Maybelle), Lara Teeter (Wilber Turnblad), Heather Ayers (Velma Von Tussle), Bob Amaral (Harriman F. Spritzer/Principal/Mr. Pinky/Guard), Taylor Louderman (Amber Von Tussle), Charlotte Maltby (Penny Pingleton), John Battagliese (Link Larkin), Gerald Caesar (Seaweed J. Stubbs), Jenn Harris (Prudy Pingleton/Gym Teacher/Matron) and Kennedy Holmes (Little Inez).

The ensemble includes Niani Feelings, Lili Froehlich, Berklea Going, Wonza Johnson, Zachary Daniel Jones, Alex Larson, Jada Mayo, Kalia Medeiros, Lindsay Moore, JJ Niemann, Drew Redington, Nasia Thomas, Brinie Wallace, Brion Marquis Watson, Jerome D. Wells, and Sharrod Williams.

Hairspray tells the story of Tracy Turnblad who reaches for her dream of performing on the Corny Collins TV dance show in 1960s Baltimore - and helps to integrate the show in the process. Based on the 1988 John Waters film of the same name, Hairspray features such award-winning songs as "Good Morning Baltimore," "It Takes Two," "I Know Where I've Been," and "You Can't Stop The Beat!"

Scenic design is by Robert Mark Morgan, with costume design by Leon Dobkowski, lighting design by Rob Denton, sound design by John Shivers & Hugh Sweeney and video design by Matthew Young. Wig design is by Leah Loukas and the production stage manager is Lynda Lavin.

Hairspray (tonight, June 23, through June 30) returns to the Muny for 8 performances and is proudly sponsored by Wells Fargo Advisors.

CAST BIOS:

BRYAN BATT (Edna Turnblad)is a native New Orleanian, actor, designer, fundraiser and civic activist. He has won two Screen Actors Guild Awards® for his portrayal of Salvatore Romano on AMC's critically-acclaimed, Emmy®, Golden Globe®, and Peabody® award-winning dramatic series, Mad Men. Broadway leading role credits include the 2005 revival of La Cage aux Folles, Beauty and the Beast, Seussical the Musical, Sunset Boulevard, Saturday Night Fever, The Scarlett Pimpernel, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Starlight Express andCats. Bryan can be seen in the recent films 12 Years a Slave, Parkland and The Last of Robin Hood.

RYANN REDMOND (Tracy Turnblad) is making herMuny debut! Broadway: If/Then, Bring It On: The Musical (Bridget); National Tour: Bring It On: The Musical (Bridget). Regional: Alliance Theatre. NYU - CAP 21.

CHRISTOPHER J. HANKE (Corny Collins) is most noted for starring as Bud Frump in the revival of How to Succeed... Other Broadway credits: Rent (Mark), Cry-Baby (Baldwin), and In My Life (J.T.). He received rave reviews in the one-man show Buyer and Cellar. Additionally, Hanke played Tommy Boatwright in director George C. Wolfe's Tony Award-winning production of The Normal Heart and starred in the Public Theater's Hair for Shakespeare in the Park. Television: Christopher guest starred on The Client List, Major Crimes and Brothers and Sistersand recurred in the final season of HBO's Big Love. He played series regular Ryan Abbott in CBS's Three Rivers.

LIZ MIKEL (Motormouth Maybelle) is ecstatic to be returning to The Muny! She is known for portraying Corrina "Mama Smash" Williams on NBC Series Friday Night Lights. Her Off-Broadway and Broadway debuts as Heitaira in Lysistrata Jones received rave reviews. Liz originated the role of Sister Ro in the world premiere of Eve Ensler's comedy, O.P.C. at American Repertory Theater. She is a member of the Brierley Resident Acting Company at Dallas Theater Center. Additional television roles include Prison Break and Past Life, and Maggie on Sordid Lives: The Series. Film credits include The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty, Straight A's, Bending The Rules, Welcome Home, Roscoe Jenkins and James Brown BiopicGet On Up! Liz is a recipient of the 2015 Lunt Fontanne Fellowship.

LARA TEETER (Wilbur Turnblad) a Muny veteran for 25 years, has performed/ directed/ choreographed for theatres and opera houses nationwide, including six Broadway shows and four national tours. He received a Tony® nomination and an Outer Critics Circle Award for his portrayal of Junior Dolan in the 1982 Broadway revival of the 1936 classic On Your Toes. He is currently the head of the musical theatre program at Webster University, and has directed the musical for the Variety Children's Theatre for the last 6 seasons.

HEATHER AYERS (Velma Von Tussle) Broadway credits include Mel Brook's Young Frankenstein, On A Clear Day You Can See Forever with Harry Connick Jr., and Trevor Nunn'sA Little Night Music. Off-Broadway, Heather has been seen in several Encores! Productions, as well as in Five Course Love, Forbidden Broadway, and Sarah, Plain and Tall. Regionally, she has performed at Stages St. Louis, St. Louis Rep, Kansas City Rep, Cincinnati Playhouse, Yale Rep, and The Old Globe, among others. TV credits include Scandal, The Exes, Lights Out andZ Rock.

BOB AMARAL (Harriman F. Spritzer/Principal/Mr. Pinky/Guard) is pleased to return to the beautiful Muny stage after a brief hiatus of 30 years. Broadway credits include: Guys & Dolls, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and The Lion King. National tours include: Max Bialystock in The Producers; Pumbaa in The Lion King; and Cowardly Lion in The Wizard of Oz. Favorite regional credits include: Old Jews Telling Jokes, The History of Invulnerability, Fiddler on the Roof, Little Shop of Horrors, Happy Days: A New Musical, The Brothers Karamazov with the Flying Karamazov Brothers, and The Merry Widow at San Francisco Opera.

TAYLOR LOUDERMAN (Amber Von Tussle) This Missouri native is thrilled to be performing in her eighth Muny production where she began as a Muny Teen. Taylor most recently starred opposite Christopher Walken and Allison Williams on NBC's Peter Pan Live as Wendy Darling. She attended the University of Michigan for Musical Theater before originating the role of Campbell Davis (Fred Astaire Award nomination) in the Tony® nominated Broadway production and national tour of Bring It On: The Musical. Favorite Credits: Grease (Sandy) at Paper Mill Playhouse and The Muny; Legally Blonde (Margo), The Muny; Footloose (Ariel) at Kansas City Starlight.

CHARLOTTE MALTBY (Penny Pingleton) is elated to return to The Muny after playing Fantine in LES MISERABLES. NYC Credits include Sense and Sensibility (Miss Morton), Michael John LaChiusa's First Daughter's Suite (Susan Ford), the original reading of 13 (Charlotte, originated and entitled), and the reinvented Babes in Toyland at Avery Fisher Hall (Jenny, originated). Charlotte is a recent graduate of the University of Michigan, where she was in Into the Woods(Cinderella); Spring Awakening (Ilse); The Laramie Project (Romaine Patterson); Caroline, or Change (The Moon). Film credits include The Last Five Years (directed by Richard LaGravenese), ITHACA (directed by Meg Ryan), and AWOL (directed by Deb Shoval).

JOHN BATTAGLIESE (Link Larkin) is a rising senior at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, and is from Philadelphia. He's performed across the country with The Broadway Dreams Foundation. Credits include 110 in the Shade, Forever Plaid, and The Fantasticks.

GERALD CAESAR (Seaweed J. Stubbs) is thrilled to be making his Muny debut in Hairspray! He is a Virginia native and a proud new member of Actors' Equity Association, currently earning a bachelor of fine arts degree in music theatre at Elon University. Previous professional credits include Legally Blonde, Hairspray, The Lost Colony and Romeo and Juliet. Most recently, he was seen in Connecticut Repertory Theatre's production of Les Misérbles directed by Terrance Man.

JENN HARRIS (Prudy Pingelton/Gym Teacher/Matron) Off Broadway- Silence! The Musical, Modern Orthodox (Lucille Lortel & Theatre World Award), All in the Timing, The Understudy, New Jerusalem. Many wonderful regional theatres. NY-The Plank Project, Our Hit Parade at Joes Pub. Film: Gayby (Official Selection SXSW 2012), 5 Doctors, Better Living Through Chemistry, A Case of You, Confessions of a Shopaholic. TV: High Maintenance, Alpha House, 30 Rock, Bored to Death, Law & Order, Law & Order: Criminal Intent. Boston University School for the Arts, L.A.M.D.A., The Second City. "Meet The Agents" web series on YouTube & Jenn's solo show The Moment You Have Been Waiting Four premiered at The Duplex this year.

KENNEDY HOLMES (Little Inez)is a ten-year old who's extremely proud to be making her first Muny appearance! She's also a current member of the Muny Kids Touring Troupe. Past performances: Story of Claudette Colvin (lead role, Claudette Colvin), 2014; Trial of Goldilocks(Attorney Wombat), 2013; and The Wiz (Fairy Godmother), 2013.

CREATIVE BIOS:

DAN KNECHTGES (Director/Choreographer) is thrilled to be returning to The Muny after directing Seussical last summer. Broadway credits include Lysistrata Jones (direction and choreography), Xanadu (Tony® nomination, Drama Desk nomination), Sondheim on Sondheim, 110 in The Shade and The 25th Annual Putnum County Spelling Bee. Off-Broadway credits include Clinton the Musical, TAIL!SPIN!, My Favorite Year, Lysistrata Jones, Merrily We Roll Along, Vanities and The 25th Annual Putnum County Spelling Bee at Second Stage, for which he earned a Lucille Lortel Award nomination. Other credits include Give It Up! (Dallas Theatre Center), Vanities (Theatreworks Palo Alto), Girl In The Frame (Goodspeed), Guys and Dolls(Playhouse Square Center), Elf (Pioneer Theatre), Boys From Syracuse (Centerstage Baltimore), Godspell (Paper Mill Playhouse), Oklahoma!, The Wiz, Cats, My Fair Lady, Chalk Circle, The Sound of Music, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor ® Dreamcoat (Hangar Theatre), Mame, Angel Street, Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (Surflight Theatre), Don Giovanni (Indianapolis Opera), Carousel, The Merry Widow, West Side Story(Opera Illinois). The Grand Duke, Iolanthe, Ruddigore, The Mikado, Patience, The Gondoliers, H.M.S. Pinafore and The Sorcerer (Blue Hill Troupe). Film and TV: Dark Horse and Palindromes, Fatboy Slim's music video It's a Wonderful Night, White Collar, and the 2011 TVLand Awards starring Liza Minnelli. BFA from Otterbein College. Board member SDC.

CHARLIE ALTERMAN (Musical Director) is thrilled to return to The Muny, where he served as musical director for Chicago and Legally Blonde. Broadway credits include Pippin (musical director), Godspell (musical director), Next to Normal (musical director), Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me (musical director/actor), and Legally Blonde (associate conductor). Tours: Next to Normal (music supervisor) and Grease (US/Asia). Regional includes: La Jolla Playhouse, Arena Stage, Trinity Rep, ART, Huntington Theatre, and nine seasons with the Williamstown Theatre Festival. Concert appearances include shows with Brooke Shields, Frankie Avalon, Emily Skinner, Dana Reeve, Billy Porter, Carol Woods and Ken Page.