'Hairspray' cast crafts unique characters

It s the 1960's and change and hairspray are in the air. Strong lead actors, energetic ensembles, and impressive technical elements helped make Eastern Regional High School s production of Hairspray a resounding success.

Set in 1962 Baltimore, Hairspray follows a teenage girl s mission to dance on the Corny Collins Show, get the guy of her dreams, and desegregate television, all while sporting the hippest hairdo in town. Hairspray, which was adapted from a 1988 John Waters film, opened on Broadway in 2002, where it won eight Tony Awards and went on to play over 2,500 performances.

Hairspray is a very difficult show for any high school, but the students at Eastern Regional High School were more than up to the challenge. Even during the most exhausting numbers, actors maintained impressive vocal, physical, and comic energy. Most importantly, they were clearly having fun, and their enthusiasm was contagious.

Meghan Naus starred as plus-size teenager Tracy Turnblad. Naus stellar pop vocals and sheer lovability enabled her to command the stage during numerous solo numbers. Hanny Ramadan, who played heartthrob Link Larkin, impressed the audience with his stage presence and charisma.

A number of supporting actors succeeded in crafting unique characters. Gary Bowman excelled as TV host Corny Collins, showcasing both boundless energy and vocal chops. Tracy s hilarious parents Edna and Wilbur were played by Jackson Schade and Jeremy Gubman, respectively. Schade and Gubman were delightful together in You re Timeless to Me. Peyton Hawkins shined as Motormouth Maybelle, bringing down the house in the painfully relevant I Know Where I ve Been. Members of the Nicest Kids in Town and City Ensemble all had incredible vocal power, dancing skills, and stamina, most notably in the exhilarating finale You Can t Stop the Beat.

Eastern Regional s production of Hairspray was bolstered by strong technical elements. Set pieces ranging from a city street to a giant hairspray can were both attractive and functional. The student-led orchestra played the challenging music with aplomb and worked well with cast members. Although a number of sound issues detracted from the first act, these issues were resolved in the second act.

Despite any minor issues, the abundance of energy and enthusiasm helped make Hairspray both heartwarming and hugely entertaining. Overall, the students at Eastern Regional High School created a Big, Blonde, and Beautiful production of Hairspray.