Hastings High School Casts Outside of District For HAIRSPRAY, Marc Shaiman Approves

Hastings High School presented their production of Hairspray last night, according to News12.

The school district is "less than 5% African-American," causing the school to look outside of the district to cast appropriately.

The cast consists of students from Hastings, Kipp Charter School in the Bronx and two Yonkers high schools. The production faced pushback until the school won a $10,000 grant from NBC. Despite differences, the cast came together, according to parents.

"I think it was great for everyone all-around to be honest, I think it's exactly what a town like this needs," says Louis Tamcerdi.

"They've had their own experience offstage like what the characters are having on stage and it's just a beautiful story," says co-writer Marc Shaiman.

"When I heard about the production and all the details surrounding it, bringing kids or other schools, I just thought, 'Wow this is really something to be proud of,'" says Jen Gambatese, an original "Hairspray" cast member and Westchester resident.

Read more on News12.

Watch the news report, including clips from the production below:

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