Okay, I’m not sure what to make of the dance competition portion of this thing. I like John Waters films (especially “Crybaby,” “Pecker” and “Serial Mom” –his latter day stuff. I never got around to seeing “Pink Flamingos”), but I’ve never seen “Hairspray.”
John Travolta in drag just never really appealed to me. Oddly, Robin Williams in drag did. I have no good explanation why that is.
Both, of course, were in the critically reviled, “Old Dogs.”
But I digress… Here’s the release and I have to admit the whole inventing a dance move thing could be fun… to watch. Check it out.
“Hairspray” brings big music and comedy to Clay Center
co-presented with Charleston Light Opera Guild
(Charleston, W.Va.) 7/11/11 – It’s time to let your hair down and dance the night away as the Clay Center and Charleston Light Opera Guild co-present “Hairspray.” The first of six performances of the Broadway phenomenon begins Friday, August 5 at 7:30 p.m. in the Maier Foundation Performance Hall.
This smash-hit musical takes audiences back to 1962 as 16-year-old Tracy Turnblad sets out to dance her way onto a Baltimore favorite, “The Corny Collins Show.” Can the plus-size trendsetter vanquish the program’s reigning princess, win the affection of heartthrob Link Larkin and racially integrate TV’s most popular show without denting her ‘do? Find out in “Hairspray” where everything is bigger – the dreams, the voices and, of course, the hair.
Based on the 1988 John Waters movie of the same name, the original Broadway production opened in the fall of 2002 and won eight Tony awards, including Best Musical. After running for more than 2,500 performances, the show has had U.S. national tours, numerous foreign productions and was adapted for a 2007 major motion picture. The tuneful score includes such great songs as “Good Morning Baltimore,” “Welcome to the 60’s,” “Big, Blonde and Beautiful” and “You Can’t Stop the Beat.”
The cast includes Jessica Cooper as Tracy Turnblad, Alan Pennington as Tracy’s mother Edna and Jonathan Lamp as love-interest Link. The youth-oriented production is under the direction and choreography of Nina Denton Pasinetti with musical direction by Bobby Hodges, Jr. and technical direction by Tom Pasinetti.
The complete schedule of performances includes:
• Friday and Saturday, Aug. 5 and 6, 7:30 p.m.
• Sunday, Aug. 7, 2 p.m.
• Friday and Saturday, Aug. 12 and 13, 7:30 p.m.
• Sunday, Aug. 14, 2 p.m.
“Hairspray” is sponsored by Mrs. Alex Schoenbaum.
VIDEO DANCE CONTEST
Produce a video of a new, original dance move to a “Hairspray” music track for a chance to win exciting prizes. All submissions should feature the music track provided at www.theclaycenter.org and www.charlestonlightoperaguild.org. Videos should be uploaded to YouTube and then submitted to the contest by filling out a form on the Clay Center’s website. Submissions will be accepted through July 22.
The public can vote for their favorite videos by visiting the Clay Center’s website from July 25 to July 30 – National Dance Day. The producers of the three videos with the greatest number of YouTube “likes” will receive a four-pack of tickets to the opening performance. The overall winner will receive admission to the “Hairspray” cast party, and the winning dance video will be played in the lobby prior to each remaining performance.
This special summer show preludes the fall 2011 Clay Center Presents performance season. Tickets are $15 and $20 and can be purchased by calling 304-561-3570, visiting www.theclaycenter.org or stopping by the Clay Center box office. For more information about this and other Charleston Light Opera Guild performances, visit www.charlestonlightoperaguild.org.