HAIRSPRAY Plays The Lyceum, Closes 8/15

SAN DIEGO REPERTORY THEATRE in partnership with THE SAN DIEGO SCHOOL OF CREATIVE AND PERFORMING ARTS (SCPA) is proud to present Southern California's first regional production of the hit musical comedy HAIRSPRAY. For the first time in local theatre history, high school students from SCPA will join professional actors on stage for this big fat, gorgeous musical. Directed by San Diego REP Artistic Director Sam WoodHOUSE with assistance from SCPA's Artistic Director RICHARD TRUJILLO, the REP's presentation of HAIRSPRAY will mark the first time the musical has been produced as a regional theatre production in Southern California. Performances begin previews on Saturday, July 17 at 8pm with an Opening Night performance on Friday, July 23 at 8pm and continue through Sunday, August 15, 2010.

With choreography by Javier Velasco, HAIRSPRAY will feature performances by Peter Van Norden as the fabulous Edna Turnblad, BETHANY SLOMKA as perky Tracy Turnblad, PAM TROTTER as Motormouth Maybelle, LEIGH SCARRITT as Velma Von Tussle and Steve Gunderson as Wilbur Turnblad. The cast also includes STACEY HARDKE as Penny Pingleton, EFREN RAMIREZ as Link Larkin, Tony Melson as Seaweed, Megan Martin as Amber Von Tussle, Victor Hernandez as Corny Collins and SCPA's VICTORIA MATTHEWS as Little Inez. HAIRSPRAY features music by Marc Shaiman, with lyrics by Scott Wittman and a book by Mark O'Donnell and Thomas Meehan.

HAIRSPRAY
When: July 17, 2010 - August 15, 2010
Opening Night: Friday, July 23, 2010 at 8pm
Where: The Lyceum Stage
79 Horton Plaza
San Diego, CA, 92101
Performance Times: Previews: Sat 8pm, Sun 7pm, Tue 7pm, Wed 7pm, Thu 8pm
Wednesday, 7pm (no performance on July 28)
Thursday, 8pm
Friday, 8pm
Saturday, 2pm (July 31 only)
Saturday, 8pm
Sunday, 2pm
Sunday, 7pm (August 8 only)
Tickets: $30-$53
Lyceum Box Office: (619) 544-1000
www.sdrep.org

The Story Behind HAIRSPRAY
It's 1962 in Baltimore. The 50's are gone and change is in the air. Tracy Turblad is a spunky young teenager who has one goal-to win the hearts of millions with her big hair and larger-than-life dance moves. She comes one step closer to becoming a big star when she wins a spot on the local TV dance program "The Corny Collins Show." Overnight, Tracy is transformed from outsider to teen celebrity. But can a trendsetter in dance and fashion vanquish the TV show's reigning princess, win over heartthrob Link Larkin, and integrate a television show without denting her spectacular 'do? Set against the backdrop of the civil rights movement, Tracy Turnblad's campaign for integration embraces the significant themes of equality, personal image and learning to love the person you are.

Based on John Waters' cult film of 1988, HAIRSPRAY is clearly a stage triumph-winner of an astonishing 33 Tony®, Olivier and Drama Desk Awards, including those for Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, Best Original Score and Best Lyrics.

Bios:
BETHANY SLOMKA (Tracy Turnblad) is making her San Diego REPertory Theatre debut. A native of San Diego, she graduated from The San Diego School Of Creative and Performing Arts and is currently studying musical theatre at Cal State Fullerton.

Peter Van Norden (Edna Turnblad) has appeared at San Diego REP as Scrooge in A Christmas Carol, The Judge in David Mamet's Romance and as Kent in King Lear. His most recent role was Henry Kissinger in Top Secret: The Battle For The Pentagon Papers at the New York Theatre Workshop. Peter also recently voiced the entire audio book version of John Updike's collection of short stories entitled The Maple Stories for the BBC America. Other performances include Little Johnny Jones (with Donny Osmond); Hamlet (with both Kevin Kline and Sam Waterston); Jungle of Cities (with Al Pacino), and Saint Joan (with the late, great Lynn Redgrave). He has also performed in most of the regional reps throughout the country and on screen in The Accused with Jodie Foster, Police Academy 2 and as Ralph Brentner in the Stephen King mini-series, The Stand.

PAM TROTTER (Motormouth Maybelle) has performed in a variety of roles ranging from a precocious 10-year-old to a spunky 60-year-old in television, radio, stage and recording. Her theatre credits include the national touring production of The Color Purple, Ain't Misbehavin, Smokey Joe's Café, Big River, Blues in the Night and numerous others. She was also featured in the movie Dream Girls and has appeared in numerous television shows including "Hawthorne," "Chuck," "Dollhouse," "Everybody Hates Chris" and "My Name is Earl."

LEIGH SCARRITT (Velma Von Tussle) was last seen at San Diego REP during the hit musical The Threepenny Opera, directed by Sam Woodhouse. Theatre goers may remember Leigh in Nine, directed by Brian Wells; Working, also directed by Sam Woodhouse; Bluebonnet Court and Rapunzel directed by Delicia Turner Sonnenberg; Marjorie in What the Butler Saw, the title role in the Allergists' Wife, the Witch in Into the Woods, Eva Peron in Evita, Ms. Pennywise in Urinetown, Morgan Le Fae in Camelot, Jill Butterflies Are Free, Frenchie in Grease, Sally in Cabaret, I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change; Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors and Jo in Trolls. Leigh is coach and mentor to San Diego's finest up and coming new talent.

Steve Gunderson (Wilbur Turnblad) has performed in multiple REP productions, including Romance, Miss Witherspoon, Mad Dancers and I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change. Other shows include How The Grinch Stole Christmas, Suds, A Trip To Chinatown, Hadrian VII at The Old Globe; and Memphis at La Jolla Playhouse. He has also performed at Laguna Playhouse, Pasadena Playhouse, ALLIANCE THEATRE, La Mirada Theatre, Cygnet Theatre, Lambs Players Theatre, North Coast Rep and Welk Resort Theatre. Steve co-authored, arranged and starred in two Off Broadway shows: Suds (which continues to have productions worldwide) and Back To Bacharach & David (recently revived in Los Angeles). His New York credits include Butley, Street Scene and two years as "Sparky" in the hit Forever Plaid.

Sam WoodHOUSE (Director) co-founded San Diego REPertory Theatre with D.W. Jacobs in 1976, and has since served as its producing and artistic director. He has worked as a director, producer and actor on more than 150 REP productions. He has performed as an actor on the REP stages in the title role of King Lear, Proof, Hamlet, K2, Beyond Therapy, as Elvis in Are You Lonesome Tonight? and with the San Diego Symphony Orchestra in the title role of Stravinsky's L'Histoire du Soldat. In 2003, he was awarded the Patté Shiley Award for Lifetime Achievement by KPBS and the prestigious Alonzo Award by the Downtown San Diego Partnership. In January 2006, he and Jacobs were honored with the Craig Noel Award by the San Diego Theatre Critics Circle for 30 years of artistic dedication to downtown and diversity.

Javier Velasco (Choreographer) has choreographed and/or staged numerous productions for the San Diego REP including: A Christmas Carol, Cabaret, Suds, Corridos Re-Mix, Zoot Suit, Bandido, The Three Penny Opera, and many others. An expert in musical theatre and period styles, he has staged pieces as diverse as Hair, Oklahoma, and The Mikado, both nationally and internationally. He is responsible for the original musical staging and choreography of Suds, in New York, San Francisco, San Diego, Toronto and Actors Theatre of Louisville. As Artistic Director of the San Diego Ballet, he has choreographed over 70 ballets for the company since its inception, including SDB's sizzling signature piece, Mambomania to the music of Perez Prado and the recently premiered Romeo et Juliet.

ABOUT SAN DIEGO REPERTORY THEATRE
SAN DIEGO REPERTORY THEATRE produces intimate, exotic, provocative theatre. The REP promotes a more inclusive community through vivid works that nourish progressive political and social values and celebrate the multiple voices of our region. San Diego Repertory Theatre feeds the curious soul. Established in 1976, the REP was founded by Artistic Director Sam Woodhouse and D.W. Jacobs. Currently in its 34th season, San Diego REPertory Theatre has presented 266 productions and world premieres, including It Ain't Nothin' But the Blues, the Tony®-nominated musical which played on Broadway for nine months in 1999.
ABOUT SCPA
SAN DIEGO SCHOOL OF CREATIVE AND PERFORMING ARTS (SCPA) is a college preparatory arts-focused San Diego Unified magnet public school for students in grades 6 through 12 who have a strong interest in and passion for the arts. SCPA alumni are an extensive and impressive group who have attended UCLA, Juilliard, New York University Tisch School of the Arts, Boston Conservatory, and numerous prestigious universities, colleges and conservatories throughout the United States. SCPA counts 5 Tony Award® winners among its alumni along with countless others working professionally in the artistic arena. For more information about SCPA and upcoming performances, please visit www.scpa.sandi.net.

The REP's box office is open Tuesday through Sunday from 12pm-6pm on non-performance days and 12pm until curtain on performance days. Groups of 10 or more can purchase tickets at a discounted rate. For more information, please see our website at www.sdrep.org.
Subscriptions run $68-$282. The REP offers subscribers an extensive package of benefits, including the lowest prices available; free ticket exchange privileges; discounts on individual tickets; and the opportunity to upgrade to a Premier Patron Package which features seating in the best 75 seats in each theatre venue. Premier Patron seating also offers an additional voucher for a friend and free drink coupons for the season.

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