Susan Anton Joins Harvey Fierstein, Marissa Jaret Winokur, et al. in Hollywood Bowl's HAIRSPRAY

Susan Anton is announced to join the cast of HAIRSPRAY at the Hollywood Bowl as Velma Von Tussle. The production reunites the original Broadway stars Harvey Fierstein and Marissa Jaret Winokur; and includes Corbin Bleu, Drew Carey, Diana DeGarmo, Mo Gaffney, Nick Jonas, Darlene Love, Tara Macri, Michael McDonald and John Stamos. Anton co-starred as Velma Von Tussle in the Las Vegas production of the Broadway musical, Hairspray, opposite Harvey Fierstein. HAIRSPRAY is at the Hollywood Bowl for three performances only, August 5, 6, and 7.

Susan Anton has been recognized as a multi talented international star for more than 35 years in film, television, stage, and concert venues. Her Broadway credits include co-starring with the original Broadway cast of Tommy Tune's Tony Award-winning musical The Will Rogers Follies; she also worked with director Mike Nichols in David Rabe's Pulitzer Prize winning play Hurlyburly. She co-starred in the national tour of the Broadway musical All Shook Up, directed by Christopher Ashley and choreographed by Sergio Trujillo. Susan starred for seven years in the The Great Radio City Music Hall Spectacular with the legendary Rockettes, directed by the late Joe Layton. She also toured in the Neil Simon/Marvin Hamlisch production of They're Playing Our Song and then went on to co-star with Elizabeth Ashley in the national tour of A Couple of White Chicks Sitting Around Talking. Her screen work has been vast; her career was launched in the late ‘70's, starring in the film Goldengirl, for which she was nominated for a Golden Globe. She has gone on to work in hundreds of film and television projects. She is recognized around the world as a distinguished concert performer and recording artist. She hit the top 10 with her very first single "Killing Time".

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