John Waters, Beth Leavel, Marissa Perry and More Set for Symphonic Premiere of HAIRSPRAY: IN CONCERT!, Jan 2013

Marking the 25th anniversary of the John Waters' original film, Principal Pops Conductor Jack Everly brings together an all-star cast of Broadway, film and TV stars for the full symphonic production of the Broadway musical, Hairspray. Hairspray: In Concert! will premiere with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra Jan. 11-13, 2013, and with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Jan. 24-27, 2013.

Hairspray: In Concert! stars noted filmmaker, writer and artist John Waters (Narrator), who created and directed Hairspray, the popular cult comedy hit film in 1988, which was adapted into an Tony Award-winning Broadway musical in 2002; Micky Dolenz (Wilbur Turnblad), best known as the drummer and lead vocalist of the 1960s made-for-television band The Monkees; Broadway star Beth Leavel (Velma Von Tussle), who earned a Tony Award for The Drowsy Chaperone and a nomination for her role in Baby, It's You; and Paul Vogt (Edna Turnblad), who played the role of Edna in Hairspray on Broadway and whose television and film credits include MADtv, Grey's Anatomy, Glee and The Rerun Show.

Also starring in Hairspray: In Concert! are Nick Adams (Link Larkin), who recently appeared on Broadway in A Chorus Line and Chicago and was the winner of two Broadway.com Audience Choice Awards for his role in Priscilla, Queen of the Desert; Marissa Perry (Tracy Turnblad), currently of Broadway's Sister Act and previously the role of Tracy in Hairspray on Broadway; NaTasha Yvette Williams (Motormouth Maybelle), currently starring on Broadway in Gershwins' Porgy and Bess; Alix Korey (Prudy Pingleton), whose Broadway credits include Hello, Dolly! and The Pirates of Penzance; Julie Kavanagh (Penny Pingleton), who recently appeared in the national tour of La Cage Aux Folles; Rhiannon Hansen (Amber Von Tussle), a finalist for MTV's reality series, Legally Blonde The Musical: The Search for Elle Woods; Bret Shuford (Corny Collins); whose Broadway credits include Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Disney's Beauty and the Beast and The Little Mermaid; Marcus Terell (Seaweed J. Stubbs) from FOX's American Idol (finalist, seasons three and four) and from NBC's America's Got Talent (semi-finalist, season three); John Phillips (Mr. Pinky), a popular actor with extensive credits within central Indiana's theater community; and the Divas of Song (Dynamites), led by Natalie Perkins, who appeared in the national Broadway tour of Hairspray.

"If there's ever a time to do a concert production of this classic story and musical, it's now," said Jack Everly, who serves as Principal Pops Conductor for the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. "All of the stars are aligned: We have the original filmmaker John Waters, a superior cast of actors, singers and Broadway stars, many of whom have performed in previous Hairspray productions, the epitome of 1960s pop culture with musician Micky Dolenz, and two major orchestras collaborating in this significant full symphonic production," he added.

Set in the 1960s in his hometown of Baltimore, John Waters wrote Hairspray, the story of the misadventures of "pleasantly plump" Tracy Turnblad, whose aspirations of fame lead her to find celebrity on a locally-produced dance program. Her dreams for stardom are quickly traded for more important dreams: integrating the show in the racially divided city of Baltimore. The Broadway adaptation of the film won eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical in 2003.

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