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Hairspray explores swinging 1960s
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Neighbors | Sarah Foor .At one of Boardman High School’s last dress rehearsals for their production of Hairspray, the principal cast struck a pose for a cast picture. The cast were, from left, My’Kale Jania White, Jordan Thrash, Matt Melito, Kelsey Crassen, Luke Markovitch, Matt Albani, Katelyn DeLadurantey, Cody McCormick, and Alicia Lawson.
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Tracy Turnblad, as played by Katelyn DeLadurantey, welcomed the day by singing the play’s opening song, “Good Morning Baltimore.”
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Television dance show host Corny Collins (right, at microphone), played by Matt Melito, introduced the audience to the “Nicest Kids in Town.”
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In her first appearance on the Corny Collins Show, Tracy Turnblad, or Katelyn DeLadurantey (center, at microphone), unabashedly declares on air that she believes in integration.
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Hairspray’s Elvis-like love interest, Link Larkin, as played by Cody McCormick (center), serenaded Tracy Turnblad and the audience as he sang “It Takes Two.”
By SARAH FOOR
Bringing “Hairspray” to the stage of the Boardman Performing Arts Center April 1-2 required a lot of back-combing, hair grease, flouncey skirts and suits, but the cast and crew of the production thought the effort was completely worth it.
The production follows the story of Tracy Turnblad, who faces the issues of the early 1960s head on in her hometown of Baltimore. While the show is funny, it explores the implications of prejudices of all kinds, while still proving that love conquers all.
“The characters definitely deal with the particular issues of the ‘60s,” admitted My’Kale Jania White, who played Motormouth Maybelle. “But the bigger lesson is still the same now. The show is about uniting the world, and that’s timeless.”
The show’s 10 principal actors were a mix of veterans and newbies that added an excitement to the production.
Hairspray’s best friends Tracy Turnblad and Penny Pingleton were portrayed by veteran actors and real-life buddies Katelyn DeLadurantey and Kelsey Crossen, respectively.
“Working this long with this group of people forms this crazy bond that is hard to find anywhere else,” DeLadurantey shared. “We’re like a family.”
Matt Melito played dance show host Corny Collins in show, and only had one regret in his first production.
“This is my senior year, and I’m really sad I waited this long to try out. It’s been a really amazing experience,” Melito shared.
First-time director Heidi Domhoff helmed the show, and knew that bringing “Hairspray” to the stage was a chance that Boardman could not miss.
“The rights for the show were released at the very end of 2010, and I knew the kids deserved this,” Domhoff said of her production. “It’s an energetic, dynamic show for an amazing group of actors. We’re so lucky that Boardman is a school that honors and appreciates the arts so deeply. It’s an amazing opportunity.”