Hairspray The Broadway Musical at Sam Houston State University

“Arriving in an aerosol fog of advance hype, it more than lives up to its promise.” – Variety Magazine

Based on the 1988 John Waters film Hairspray, the Tony Award winning hit musical takes place in 1962 Baltimore, Maryland where plump teenager Tracy Turnblad's dream is to dance on The Corny Collins Show, a local TV dance program based on the real-life Buddy Deane Show. When Tracy wins a role on the show, she becomes a celebrity overnight, and meets a colorful array of characters. She then launches a campaign to integrate the show.

'Hairspray' is as sweet as a show can be without promoting tooth decay. ... [it] succeeds in recreating the pleasures of the old-fashioned musical comedy without seeming old-fashioned. ...Marc Shaiman... is taking the infectious hooks and rhythms from period pop and R&B and translating them into the big, bouncy sounds of Broadway. – New York Daily News

The high energy songs include 1960s-style doo wop dance music and "downtown" rhythm and blues. Smash hits from the show include Good Morning Baltimore, The Nicest Kids in Town, Welcome to the 60's, Run and Tell That!, Without Love, I Know Where I've Been and You Can't Stop the Beat.

Call the BOX OFFICE at 936.294.1339
or click here to purchase your tickets ONLINE

Production Photo Gallery

MEET DIRECTOR/CHOREOGRAPHER - GREG GRAHAM

Hairspray opened on Broadway at the Neil Simon Theatre on August 15, 2002. In the cast and serving as dance captain was Sam Houston Musical Theatre alumni, Greg Graham. Greg has appeared on Broadway in Fosse, Chicago, Hairspray, Never Gonna Dance, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, and Billy Elliott. Most recently, NBC produced Hairspray Live!, a new adaptation of the 2002 Broadway musical. Greg was on the scene again serving as assistant choreographer to Jerry Mitchell. Greg is bringing his passion for and history with Hairspray to Sam Houston as director/choreographer of this production.

MEET THE CAST

Ensemble (+Dynamites)

PRODUCTION STAFF

Production Assistant, Kyle Craig-Bogard
Music Director, Dr. Laura Avery
Assistant Music Director, Dr. Eric Gundersen
Rehearsal Pianists, Dr. David Fleming, Dr. Eric Gundersen
Dance Captain, Dominic Pecikonis
Stage Manager, Kali Grau
Assistant Stage Managers, Cody McAnally, Robert Richard, Shelby Semands and Stormy Wilhite

Costume Design, Kris Hanssen and Assistant, Liz Haas
Costume Shop Supervisor, April Keith
Light Design, Eric Marsh and Associate Designer, Bryce Dansby
Scenic Design, Nic Graves
Sound Design, Andrew Harper
Props Master, Charley Topper, Cameron Regan
Technical Directors, Craig Brossman, Malcolm Nichols

ORCHESTRA

Conductor, Dr. Laura Avery
Keyboards, Dr. David Fleming, Dr. Eric Gundersen
Drums, Joe Beam
Percussion, Dr. Luke Hubley
Guitar, Frank Debretti
Bass, Steve Martin
Trumpet, Edgar Jaime

Trombone, Ben Osborne
Reed 1, Graham Tobin
Reed 2, Ray Gonzales
Violin 1, Zachary Montasser
Violin 2, Sean O'neal
Cello, Ed Harper

Consider becoming an orchestra Underwriter by contributing to the Q the Music fund. Yours is a gift for the future ... a gift that helps ensure quality musical productions for Sam Houston State University, its students, alumni and our community...a gift that will tell the story of the Department of Theatre and Musical Theatre so future generations understand the superior education and programing offered at this great institute. For additional information regarding corporate or individual underwriting of the orchestra, please contact music director, Dr. Laura Avery at 936.294.3404 or lka005@shsu.edu.