Tickets on sale now for ‘Hairspray’ April 14 at Eisenhower

UNIVERSITY PARK — Tickets for “Hairspray,” Broadway’s Tony Award-winning musical comedy phenomenon, are on sale now. This new North American tour, helmed by original director Jack O’Brien and original choreographer Jerry Mitchell, will play at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 14, in Eisenhower Auditorium on Penn State's University Park campus.

Tickets are available online at cpa.psu.edu and also available by phone at 814-863-0255 or in person at Eisenhower Auditorium from noon to 4 p.m. weekdays. A grant from the University Park Student Fee Board makes Penn State student prices possible. Visit “Hairspray” for more information.

“Hairspray” is the story of 16-year-old Tracy Turnblad in 1960s Baltimore as she sets out to dance her way onto TV’s most popular show. Can a girl with big dreams (and even bigger hair) change the world? Featuring the beloved score of hit songs including “Welcome to the ’60s,” “Good Morning Baltimore” and “You Can’t Stop the Beat,” “Hairspray” is “fresh, winning and deliriously tuneful!” (The New York Times).

The cast will be led by Andrew Levitt aka Nina West (from “RuPaul’s Drag Race”) as Edna Turnblad, Niki Metcalf as Tracy Turnblad, and Sandie Lee as Motormouth Maybelle. Joining them are Billy Dawson as Corny Collins, Will Savarese as Link Larkin, Emery Henderson as Penny Pingleton, Jamonté D. Bruten as Seaweed J. Stubbs, Kaelee Albritton as Amber Von Tussle, and Addison Garner as Velma Von Tussle.

Christopher Swan plays Wilbur Turnblad and Kaléa Leverette plays Little Inez. Members of the ensemble are Caroline Daye Attayek, Kelly Barberito, Helene Britany, Kobe Brown, Tanner Callicutt, Shante Clarke, Ryahn Evers, Carly Haig, Michael Harmon, Michael Corey Hassel, Kaleb Jenkins, Greg Kalafatas, Gabriel Kearns, Stevie LeWarne Jr., Nichelle Lewis, Brendan Morris, Faith Northcutt, Adam Blake Raque, Nadia Ra’Shaun, Renée Reid, Micah Sauvageau, Gabriyel Thomas and Emmanuelle Zeesman.

Director Jack O’Brien said, “It’s a brand-new world we find ourselves in today, and ‘Hairspray’ is even more relevant than 20 years ago when it first burst onto the scene. With the renewed, refreshed energy of the unforgettable Nina West as Edna and a whole new generation of wildly talented kids across the board, we cannot wait to raise the roofs once more with dance, joy, music and that glorious, famous, energy-packed score!”

“‘Hairspray’ has always been about all of us dancing together,” said choreographer Jerry Mitchell. “I am thrilled to welcome this new company of amazing fullout talents to lead the way as we dance across America with a message of inclusion and hope because ‘You really Can’t Stop the Beat!’”

This new touring production reunites Broadway’s award-winning creative team, led by O’Brien and Mitchell, to bring “Hairspray” to a new generation of theater audiences. “Hairspray” is based on the New Line Cinema film written and directed by John Waters, who served as a creative consultant on the musical comedy. It features a book by Mark O’Donnell and Thomas Meehan. “Hairspray” features an original score by Academy Award-nominated Marc Shaiman and lyrics by Shaiman and Scott Wittman. The tour is produced by NETworks Presentations.

Additional creative team for “Hairspray” includes Tour Director Matt Lenz, Tour Choreographer Michele Lynch, Set Designer David Rockwell, Lighting Designer Kenneth Posner, Tour Lighting Designer Paul Miller, Costume Designer William Ivey Long, Hair and Wig Designers Paul Huntley and Richard Mawbey, Sound Designer Shannon Slaton, Music Supervisor Lon Hoyt and Casting by Stewart/Whitley.

“Hairspray” premiered at Seattle’s 5th Avenue Theater in June 2002. The show was a smash hit when it transferred to Broadway, winning eight 2003 Tony Awards including Best Musical, and became the longest-running musical to play the Neil Simon Theater, running 2,642 performances from July 18, 2002, until January 4, 2009. It is the 22nd-longest running show in Broadway history.

Geisinger, Northwest, The Village at Penn State, Designer’s Studio and Kish Bank sponsor the performance.

Audio description

Audio description, which is especially helpful to patrons with sight loss, is available for this performance at no extra charge to ticket holders. Reservations are required by Thursday, March 31. Phone 814-238-0132 to reserve this service.

Safety first

The Center for the Performing Arts has the health and safety of our patrons in mind. Visit Covid Precautions for more information on the center’s safety measures.

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