Billy Dawson

Review: HAIRSPRAY at Dolby Theatre
by Harker Jones - May 5, 2023

Aerosol is in the air as Tracy Turnblad, Penny Pingleton, and the teens of Baltimore bring politics and pizzazz to Hollywood with a stunning production of one of the best and beloved musicals of all time.

Review: Drag Race Star Nina West Leads Hilarious New HAIRSPRAY Tour at Segerstrom Center
by Michael Quintos - Apr 25, 2023

As if the universe knew that our increasingly divisive country is in desperate need to revisit this hit 2002 Tony Award-winning musical again, HAIRSPRAY has now embarked on a brand new non-equity national tour starring RuPaul's Drag Race fan favorite Nina West. The show, now at Segerstrom Center for the Arts through April 30, does not disappoint.

Review: HAIRSPRAY at the Eccles Theater is Effervescent
by Tyler Hinton - Apr 12, 2023

A new national tour of HAIRSPRAY, adapted from the original 2002 Broadway production, has arrived at the Eccles Theater in Salt Lake City, bringing with it effervescent joy.

HAIRSPRAY Tour to Play The Eccles Theater in April 2023
by Blair Ingenthron - Nov 12, 2022

HAIRSPRAY, Broadway's Tony Award-winning musical comedy phenomenon, will go on sale Friday, November 18 at 10am. This new North American tour, helmed by original director Jack O'Brien and original choreographer Jerry Mitchell, will play April 11 - 16, 2023 in Salt Lake City at the Eccles Theater. 

BWW Review: HAIRSPRAY at Ohio Theatre - An Inspiring Musical with Blazing Energy
by Christina Mancuso - Nov 9, 2022

The audience was thrilled to welcome home Columbus’s own sextuple superstar, Andrew Levitt aka Nina West, who has successfully conquered the entertainment genres of TV, film, theatre, music, web series, and most recently as an author of children’s book, “The You Kind of Kind.”  His role as Edna Turnblad is just icing on the cake.

National Tour Of HAIRSPRAY Returns To Wilmington Next Month
by Stephi Wild - Nov 8, 2022

You Can't Stop the Beat! The Grand is proud to present the Wilmington engagement of the Tony Award-winning musical comedy phenomenon HAIRSPRAY at the historic Playhouse on Rodney Square from December 1 to December 4.

Interview: Tommy Betz of HAIRSPRAY at Ohio Theater
by Paul Batterson - Nov 4, 2022

It will be a homecoming of sorts for Tommy Betz when the buses for the 20th anniversary tour of HAIRSPRAY pull into Columbus.

HAIRSPRAY On Sale At The Orpheum Theatre This Friday
by A.A. Cristi - Oct 18, 2022

Hennepin Theatre Trust has announced that HAIRSPRAY, Broadway's Tony Award-winning musical comedy phenomenon, returns to Minneapolis next year as part of the 2022-2023 Bank of America Broadway on Hennepin season.

Photos/Video: First Look at the New Cast of HAIRSPRAY on Tour, Featuring Andrew Levitt aka Nina West
by Sneak Peek - Sep 29, 2022

All new photos and video have been released of the new cast of the North American tour of Hairspray, helmed by Jack O’Brien and Jerry Mitchell. Check out the clips and photos here!

Tickets for HAIRSPRAY Tour with Nina West at Miller Auditorium On Sale Now
by Blair Ingenthron - Sep 18, 2022

HAIRSPRAY, Broadway’s Tony Award®-winning musical comedy phenomenon, went on sale September 16, 2022 at 10 AM. This new North American tour, helmed by original director Jack O’Brien and original choreographer Jerry Mitchell, will play Friday, November 4 – Saturday, November 5, 2022 in Kalamazoo at Miller Auditorium. 

Tickets For HAIRSPRAY at the Ohio Theatre On Sale Now
by Stephi Wild - Sep 9, 2022

HAIRSPRAY, Broadway's Tony Award-winning musical comedy phenomenon, is on sale now! This new North American tour, helmed by original director Jack O'Brien and original choreographer Jerry Mitchell, will play November 8-13 in Columbus at the Ohio Theatre, presented by CAPA and PNC Broadway in Columbus. 

Photos: See Andrew Levitt (aka Nina West), Niki Metcalf & More in Rehearsals for the HAIRSPRAY North American Tour
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Aug 26, 2022

The HAIRSPRAY North American tour, helmed by Jack O'Brien and Jerry Mitchell, will kick off at The Carson Center in Paducah, KY, prior to visiting more than 55 cities in its second touring season. Get a first look inside rehearsals here!

Wake Up With BWW 8/16: Melissa Etheridge Off-Broadway, Erika Henningsen to Lead JOY, and More!
by - Aug 16, 2022

Top stories include full casting for the tour of Aladdin, Erika Henningsen will lead a new musical 'Joy' in New Jersey, and more! Plus, Nina West will return to the Hairspray tour, a new Melissa Etheridge one-woman musical is headed off-Broadway, and more!

Andrew Levitt AKA Nina West Will Return to the National Tour of HAIRSPRAY
by Stephi Wild - Aug 15, 2022

Returning cast members Andrew Levitt aka Nina West (from “RuPaul's Drag Race”) as Edna Turnblad, Niki Metcalf as Tracy Turnblad, Sandie Lee as Motormouth Maybelle, Billy Dawson as Corny Collins, Ryahn Evers as Amber Von Tussle, Addison Garner as Velma Von Tussle, and Emery Henderson as Penny Pingleton will be joined by new principal cast members Charlie Bryant III as Seaweed J. Stubbs, Ralph Prentice Daniel as Wilbur Turnblad, Brayden Krikke as Link Larkin and Joi D. McCoy as Little Inez.

BWW Review: HAIRSPRAY at National Theatre
by Elliot Lanes - May 14, 2022

Hang on to your big hair and take a trip back to the 1960’s with the current US touring company of the Tony Award winning musical Hairspray playing through this Sunday at the National Theatre.

National Tour of HAIRSPRAY Postpones Performance at State Theatre
by Marissa Tomeo - Apr 16, 2022

According to an announcement from the National Tour team, the performance of Hairspray that was scheduled to play at the State Theatre on April 16 has been rescheduled to February 18, 2023. 

Kimmel Cultural Campus And The Shubert Organization Present HAIRSPRAY
by A.A. Cristi - Apr 12, 2022

The Kimmel Cultural Campus and The Shubert Organization present the musical comedy phenomenon, HAIRSPRAY, winner of eight 2003 Tony Awards including Best New Musical. As part of the Kimmel Cultural Campus' 21-22 Broadway Series, the show plays the Miller Theater (formerly the Merriam Theater) from Tuesday, May 17 – Sunday, May 22, 2022.

HAIRSPRAY Will Play At The Fabulous Fox Theatre April 5-9!
by A.A. Cristi - Mar 17, 2022

HAIRSPRAY, Broadway's Tony Award-winning musical comedy phenomenon, announced the principal cast that will feature Andrew Levitt (aka Nina West), Sandie Lee and introducing Niki Metcalf. This new North American tour, helmed by original director Jack O'Brien and original choreographer Jerry Mitchell, will play April 5-9 in St. Louis at the Fabulous Fox Theatre.

HAIRSPRAY National Tour Will Arrive in Sioux Falls
by Nicole Rosky - Mar 10, 2022

HAIRSPRAY, Broadway’s Tony Award®-winning musical comedy phenomenon, is coming to Sioux Falls! This new North American tour, helmed by original director Jack O’Brien and original choreographer Jerry Mitchell, will play March 25–26, 2022, at the Washington Pavilion.

BWW Review: HAIRSPRAY THE MUSICAL at The Overture Center
by Scott Rawson - Feb 25, 2022

Hairspray The Musical is based in 1962 Baltimore, the show answers the question, “Can a big girl with big hair and even bigger dreams, dance her way into changing the world?”