by Brownie Bennett
The Franklin-Simpson Community Arts Council will be performing the popular musical “Hairspray” for their 2018 summer musical. “Hairspray” is the big and bold musical about one girl’s inspiring dream to dance and is a family-friendly musical, piled bouffant-high with laughter, romance and deliriously tuneful songs including 1960s-style dance music and “downtown” rhythm and blues. With popular songs like “Good Morning Baltimore,” “You Can’t Stop the Beat,” “The Nicest Kids in Town” “I’m a Big Girl Now,” “Miss Baltimore Crabs,” “Welcome to the 60s,” “Run and Tell That,” “Big, Blonde and Beautiful,” “Without Love,” and “I Know Where I’ve Been,” you really can’t stop the beat!
It’s 1962 in Baltimore, Md., and the lovable and quirky plus-size teen, Tracy Turnblad, played by local musical theatre veteran, Lauren Talley, has only one desire – to dance on the popular The Corny Collins Show, a local TV dance program based on the real-life “Buddy Deane Show.” Tracy’s mother, Edna Turnblad, played by Morgan Cook, fears that Tracy will be ridiculed because of her size, but her father Wilbur Turnblad, played by Michael May, continues to encourage her. When Tracy gets put in detention with the African-American students in the school, they teach her some of their dance moves. During the sophomore dance where Corny Collins is DJ, her newfound groove wins her a spot on the show. Tracy’s dream comes true on the show, as she becomes a celebrity overnight, and is transformed from social outcast to sudden star.
Tracy meets a colorful array of characters and feels she must use her newfound power and influence to advocate for racial integration on the television show. She enlists the help of her old friend Penny, played by Allison Spears, new friend teenage heartthrob, Link Larkin played by Cade Stephens, Seaweed, played by Mickey Lewis Jr., Motormouth Maybelle (the host of “Negro Day”), played by Brittany Whitlow, and host Corny Collins played by Jeremy Roberts. Tracy faces scrutiny and bullying from the network producer, Velma, played by Leigh Bayles, and her popular, but vicious, daughter, the reigning Teen Queen, Amber Von Tussle, played by Kyndrah Shoulders. As Tracy tries to dethrone the Queen, win the affections of Link Larkin, and campaigns for the show’s integration, she overcomes the odds, achieves social change and succeeds in her mission to integrate The Corny Collins Show! And she does it all without denting her ‘do!
Other cast members are Roger Eldridge as Harriman F.Spritzer; Payton Blakemore as Little Inez; Kiley Rone as Prudy Pinkleton; Cody Greer as Mr. Pinky/the Principal; Brian Talley as the Gym Teacher/Newscaster; Nicole Bratcher as the Matron; Maxine Carter, Michelle Harris Wright and Michelle Hardesty as the Dynamites; Tavias Babb as Gilbert; Javarius Rogan; Nazay Newland; Damyah Hopson; Justis Turner; Lily Jackson; Ty Killen; Austin Henson; Ellen Pardue; Conleigh Wilson; Ella Watwood; other Council Member/Dancers are Kennedi Alexander, Cassadee Cummings, Jacee Cummings, Charlotte Vaughn; and Ensemble Members (Students, Hookers, Beatnik Chicks) Tammy Cardwell, Annalese Cardwell, Baley Suiter, Nicole Bratcher, Reagan Hope Cook, Haylee Hoy, Hanna Herston, Mikaela Estes, MaryAnn Bagwell, and Bailey Wilson.
With this talented cast of approximately 45 adults, teens and pre-teens, you will not want to miss this entertaining musical. It will be directed by Elizabeth Cook and produced by Brownie Bennett with choreography by Kristin Hickman of SKy DC in Franklin. The title sponsor is The Franklin Bank & Trust Company, and the production will take place at the Goodnight Library Auditorium at 203 S. Main St., Franklin, Ky., on Friday and Saturday, July 20 and 21, at 7 p.m. and Sunday, July 22, at 3 p.m. Tickets are available at The Gallery on the Square, 110 N. Main St., Franklin, 270-586-8055 or online at www.franklinsimpsonarts.org. Advance tickets are $11 for adults and $6 for students while tickets at door will be $13 for adults and $7 for students.
“Hairspray,” with music by Marc Shaiman, lyrics by Shaiman and Scott Wittman, and a book by Mark O’Donnell and Thomas Meehan, is based on the 1988 John Waters film “Hairspray.” In 2003 it won eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical. This musical continues to be one of the most widely produced musicals today, not only because of its wit and charm, but also because of the beautiful message of acceptance and progress that it portrays. The bright, energetic story of Tracy Turnblad teaches us all to look past the color of one’s skin and fight for every human being’s equal rights.
