Photo Flash: First Look at Arizona Broadway Theatre's HAIRSPRAY

HAIRSPRAY kicks off a jam-packed Season Nine at the Valley's premier musical theatre - Arizona Broadway Theatre (ABT). To begin the new season with a bang, the professional theatre will produce the big-hearted and family-friendly musical sensation now through November 10. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Staying true to the popular 2003 Tony Award winner for Best Musical, the show's director Kurtis W. Overby promises to bring the sensational dancing, tuneful songs and ultimate feel-good experience to ABT theatregoers.

"At its core, Hairspray is about love, family, hope and an unwavering belief in oneself," said Overby. "There are so many themes in the show relevant to today's world, and it fully embraces the mindset that love is what creates a family and overcomes all odds."

Welcoming a huge cast of 26 professional performers, ABT's production of Hairspray features new and familiar faces from Phoenix and across the nation. New York-based, and ABT newcomer, Victoria Lynn Socci will lead the cast as Tracy Turnblad. Joining her will be fellow newcomers to the ABT stage, Richard Koons-Wagoner as the iconic Edna Turblad, Sal Pavia as Link and Deidra Grace as Motormouth Maybelle. ABT favorites Ryan Michael Crimmins(Joseph...) and Trisha Hart Ditsworth (Trailer Park, Joseph...) will return as Corny Collins and Penny Pingleton. For the complete cast listing of all 26 performers, visit azbroadway.org.

Tickets are on sale now for evening and matinee performances. Prices vary according to date, time and availability. Hairspray is a family-friendly production. For more information about Arizona Broadway Theatre, and to purchase tickets contact the box office at (623) 776-8400 or visit azbroadway.org.

Photos courtesy Arizona Broadway Theatre.

Arizona Broadway Theatre's cast of Hairspray.

he cast of Hairspray performs on Arizona Broadway Theatre's stage on opening night.

At the opening of Act two, the Arizona Broadway Theatre stage is transformed into a jail cell for the performance of "The Dollhouse."

Link Larkin (ABT newcomer Sal Pavia) sings to a locked-up Tracy Turnblad (Victoria Lynn Socci).

The Arizona Broadway Theatre cast performs dynamically-choreographed musical numbers in its production of Hairspray.

ABT favorite Ryan Michael Crimmins (center) is Corny Collins in Arizona Broadway Theatre's production of Hairspray. (From left: Chica Loya, Ryan Michael Crimmins (bottom center), Lauren Morgan (top center), Hannah Elyse Bently)

Wade Moran (left) and Richard Koons-Wagoner (right) play the parents of Tracy Turnblad â€" Wilbur and Edna Turnblad.

Tracy Turnblad (center) played by ABT newcomer Victoria Lynn Socci performs on "The Corny Collins Show" in ABT's production of Hairspray. (From left: Lauren Morgan, AJ Hunscuker, Victoria Lynn Socci, Michelle Chin, EJ Dohring)

Penny Pingleton (played by ABT favorite Trisha Hart Ditsworth) and Seaweed (played by ABT newcomer Antonio Tillman) lead a group of dancers in Arizona Broadway Theatre's production of Hairspray.

Edna Turnblad (played by Richard Koons-Wagoner) makes a surprise entrance on "The Corny Collins Show" during ABT's production of Hairspray.

The cast of ABT's Hairspray performs with Richard Koons-Wagoner (Edna Turnblad) at the center. (From left: Victoria Lynn Socci, Scott Shedenhelm, Wade Moran, Richard Koons-Wagoner, AJ Hunsucker, Anne-Lise Koyabe)

To post a comment, you must register and login.