Arts & Entertainment

By Nicole Gray

Big hair, shiny suits and catchy dance numbers all blend together under the night sky to create 1960s Baltimore at the Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre’s rendition of the eight-time Tony award winning musical “Hairspray.”

Based on the 1988 John Waters film, the Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman adaption brings a new sense of fun and energy to the cult classic. Set in 1962 Baltimore, “Hairspray” is the story of Tracy Turnblad, a teenage outcast with one wish — to be a dancer on the Corny Collins show. When her wish comes true, Tracy skyrockets from being an outcast to the most popular girl in town. Along the way she deals with mean queen Amber Von Tussel, a budding romance with Link Larkin and trying to use her newfound fame to integrate the Corny Collins show.

The world of “Hairspray” is re-imagined on the Summer Garden stage with colorful set designs that depict cheery skylines, mirroring the youth of the times but also replicating the pale stonework infamously associated with Baltimore row houses. Eye catching details also come through in the costuming with such dazzling elements as Corny Collins’s vibrant suit jackets and Edna Turnbald’s change from homebody to fashionable woman about town with bright colors and flamboyant dresses.

The true stars of the show are the musical numbers that help drive the story and grab audience attention. The cast of the show bring energy and liveliness to Wittman and Shaiman’s lyrics. Choreographer Nicole Martin gives the productions dance numbers style and grace as the show moves from one song and dance number to the next. Highlights of the show include “Mama, I’m a Big Girl Now,” “You’re Timeless To Me,” and “Miss Baltimore Crabs.”

“Hairspray” is filled with many standout performances from the Summer Garden engaging cast including Anastasia Herne as Tracy and Austin Heemstra as Link who bring us the anxiousness and tenderness of young love, while Jenny Abraham as Penny and Rodney Davis, Jr. as Seaweed bring the flirtiness and fun of first attraction to the stage. Herne shows the earnest, naïve and confident nature of Tracy. Through her, audiences are easily transported to the simple yet complex times of 1962 Baltimore. Heemstra embodies charismatic 1960’s cool as a teen heartthrob.

Many of the show’s hilarious and endearing moments stemmed from the supporting cast. Abraham and Davis are equally as engaging and lively as Tracy’s friends as well as being captivating in their own right as star-crossed teenagers kept apart by racial divides and a very strict mother. Christina Carlucci (Amber Von Tussel) and Donielle Juenker (Velma Von Tussel) give a rousing turn as the mother/daughter villainess team working to foil Tracy at every turn. Additional highlights of the show include Jeff Sprague’s turn as the caring and quirky Edna Turnblad.

The Annapolis Summer Gardens’ production is directed by Darnell Morris who returns to the Summer Garden stage after directing last season’s award winning production of “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.” Morris keeps the action on stage moving with clever scene transitions and creative use of the Summer Garden Theatre space with actors moving both onstage and offstage to bring the musical closer to the audience. “Hairspray” is animated and colorful in Morris’s hands — his rendition of the Broadway hit is filled with both lighthearted comedy and the tender sincerity for acceptance of others.

“Hairspray” runs through September 4 at the Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre on 143 Compromise Street, Annapolis MD 21401. For more information on show times and tickets go to www.summergarden.com or call 410-268-9212.