Photo Flash: First Look at HAIRSPRAY at the Maltz Jupiter

You "can't stop the beat" in the Maltz Jupiter Theatre's big and bold Broadway blockbuster about one girl's inspiring dream to dance!

Onstage January 9 through 28, the smash hit musical Hairspray kicks off the New Year at the Theatre. The musical takes place in 1962 Baltimore, where Tracy Turnblad - a girl with big hair and an even bigger heart - is on a mission to dance her way onto national TV. When her dream comes true on the Corny Collins Show, Tracy transforms from social outcast to teen superstar and sets out to integrate the show.

"Here at the Maltz Jupiter Theatre, we are proud to reinvent musicals and bring them new life - and we are ecstatic to be doing just that with the Broadway phenomenonHairspray," said Andrew Kato, the Theatre's producing artistic director and chief executive. "Inviting new visionaries such as director Bill Fennelly and choreographer David Wanstreet allows us to keep our productions fresh and exciting. If you've seen Hairspray before, you're going to get a whole new experience with our production. This is one musical not to be missed this theatre season!"

Based on the hit 1988 John Waters film, Hairspray premiered on Broadway in 2002 and features music by Marc Shaiman, lyrics by Scott Wittman and Shaiman and a book by Mark O'Donnell and Thomas Meehan. Winner of eight Tony Awards® including Best Musical, the musical is piled high with laughter, romance and delightfully catchy songs, including "You Can't Stop the Beat," "Good Morning Baltimore" and "Mama, I'm A Big Girl Now." In addition to its success on Broadway and several tours, the musical was produced by NBC in December of 2016 as the live musical telecast Hairspray Live!

"Hairspray is as sweet as a show can be," raved The New York Times. Variety proclaimed the show to be "infectious jubilation" and "infinitely spirited," while Theater Maniaenthused that the musical has "a feel-good quality that stretches from here to Seattle!"

The Theatre's production of Hairspray will be led by award-winning director Bill Fennelly, whose directorial credits include the off-Broadway production of Frankenstein: A New Musical and the new musical Fly By Night, which earned Fennelly a Dallas Column Award and Bay Area Critics Circle Award nomination for Best Direction of a Musical. In addition to numerous regional credits, he was the original assistant director for the creation of Jersey Boys and resident director for Disney The Lion King.

"Hairspray is about so much more than dancing," Fennelly said. "It's about standing up for what's right, challenging assumptions and rising above expectations to create a better world - all with a smile and perfect hair. I could not be more excited to be creating this production with a phenomenal cast and creative team at the Maltz Jupiter Theatre."

Featuring a cast of 27 and an eight-piece orchestra, the production will feature choreography by David Wanstreet, who Theatre audiences may remember from his Carbonell-nominated performance in the Theatre's production of My One and Only. With New York credits that include The Nutcracker at Radio City Music Hall, Wanstreet has choreographed and/or directed over 50 musicals at theaters throughout the eastern United States. The production will also showcase the work of other accomplished artists, including scenic design by Carbonell Award winner Michael Schweikardt, costume design by Kathleen Geldard, lighting design by Carbonell nominee Kirk Bookman, music direction by Carbonell winner Helen Gregory and sound design by Carbonell winner Marty Mets.

The musical will star Mary DiGangi at Tracy Turnblad, known for performances of Hairspray at Syracuse Stage and the Count Basie Theatre, as well as Legally Blonde at the Merriam Theater. Michael Kostroff will portray Tracy's mother Edna Turnblad, best known for five seasons as Maury Levy on HBO's legendary series The Wire, as well as TV credits that include The Good Wife, The Blacklist, Blue Bloods, Law & Order: SVU, Damages, Billions, Luke Cage, The Deuce, Madame Secretary and Disney's Sonny with a Chance.

The role of Seaweed Stubbs will be portrayed by Austin Holmes, whose credits that include national commercials, independent films, and a television appearance as a contestant on BET's "Apollo Live." Chelsea Turbin will portray Amber Von Tussel, whose credits include touring internationally with Green Day's American Idiot, as well as recent regional credits that include Mame at Riverside Theatre and Stilyagi at Powerhouse Theatre.

Teen heartthrob Link Larkin will be played by Zane Phillips, known for the recent national tour of The Sound of Music, The Fantasticks at Kansas City Reperatory and other regional roles. The role of Penny Lou Pingleton will be portrayed by Taylor Quick, whose credits include Thoroughly Modern Millie at Goodspeed Opera House and Flaemmchen in Grand Hotel at Lyric Stage.

Can't get enough of cabaret music, especially when performed by your favorite show's stars? Then treat yourself to an exclusive up-close-and-personal experience at Company Cabaret in the Club Level, taking place after the show on Friday, January 19. Here's your chance to rub elbows with the cast and crew as they sing some of their favorite tunes. This one-of-a-kind performance begins immediately after the show in the upstairs Green Room Club Level Lounge. All tickets to the Cabaret event (not including the 7:30 performance) are $10.

Why not make it a party? Discounted group rates are available, and The Green Room Club Level Lounge is available for private events and functions. Student rush tickets are also available for young audience members. For each season show on the night of the performance (evenings only), all students 18 and under may buy a mezzanine ticket for only $25; subject to availability.

Join us for a Broadway Brunch! Taking place at noon on Saturday, January 28, enjoy bottomless mimosas and bloody marys paired with a delicious brunch menu, followed by the 2 p.m. matinee. Catered by Christafaros, tickets are $97 each.

Hairspray is sponsored by John Osher, Jana and Ken Kahn, LRP Publications and Kathy and Joe Savarese, Homecare America.

Single tickets for Hairspray start at $58; for showtimes, tickets and additional information, call (561) 575-2223 or visit www.jupitertheatre.org. For more information on bringing your group to the Theatre, contact community relationships ambassador Cheryl McDermott at (561) 972-6117.

the Maltz Jupiter Theatre
The not-for-profit Maltz Jupiter Theatre has become one of Florida's preeminent professional theatres, committed to production and education through its collaborations with local and national artists. Currently the state's largest award-winning regional theatre, the Theatre draws 100,000 people annually, serves a subscription base of more than 8,000 and has world-class classroom facilities in support of its Goldner Conservatory of Performing Arts, which serves hundreds of youth and adults. The Theatre is a member of the prestigious League of Resident Theatres and has earned numerous Carbonell Awards, South Florida's highest honor for artistic excellence, including the prestigious Bill Von Maurer Award for Theatrical Excellence. For more information about the Theatre's upcoming shows and Conservatory, visit www.jupitertheatre.org or call the box office at (561) 575-2223.

Photo Credit: Jason Nuttle and Alicia Donelan

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