GLEN RIDGE, NJ — A Gas Lamp Players Mainstage production of the musical “Hairspray,” will be presented at Ridgewood Avenue School next Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Ridgewood Avenue Elementary School. For this show, Gas Lamp Players will be joined with the talent of Vanguard Theatre Company, of Maplewood. Gas Lamp Creative Director Kristy Graves spoke earlier this week about “Hairspray.” She will be the creative producer and musical director of “Hairspray.”
“The collective talent in this cast is extraordinary,” she said. “It’s been an absolute thrill working with each cast member.” The show is being directed by Janeece Freeman Clark, the creative director of the Vanguard Theatre. “Hairspray” is set in 1962 Baltimore and tells the story of Tracy Turnblad, a plus-sized teenager whose ambition, personality and dancing ability results in the integration of an American Bandstand-type TV show. In the Gas Lamp production, Tracy is played by Lia Marabella, of Kenilworth. Seaweed, the male lead, is played by Aaron Bowes, of East Orange.
“Lia is absolutely adorable with a beautiful voice,” Graves said. “She’s endearing on-stage. That’s important because everyone falls in love with her. But every lead stands out. There is not a single weak link. And Seaweed lights up the stage.”
The cast of “Hairspray” has many actors of color. Graves said that Clark was able to bring them into the show which also happens to be one of Graves’ favorites.
“I love the music,” she said. “At the university level, there is such a desire not to pay attention to race and body type. ‘Hairspray’ is where you have to pay attention to that. It’s all about race and you have to cast accordingly.”
Graves said it goes against her grain to have a black cast and a white cast, but for this show, that is what you have to do.
“Segregation is shown on-stage,” she said. But “Hairspray” has a great story to tell — finding the things we have in common.
“We’re doing a lot of soul-searching in our cast,” she said, “about what’s going on today.” There is a cast of about 80, ranging in age from seventh-grade to adults. “Hairspray” will be presented Friday, Feb. 9, at 8 p.m.; Saturday, Feb. 10, at 2 and 8 p.m.; and Sunday, Feb. 11, at 2 p.m. An admission fee will be charged.
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