Maine East presents HAIRSPRAY

Maine East High School will delight audiences with energetic song and dance, hilarious comedy and a timeless message when it presents the musical HAIRSPRAY on March 4, 5, 11 and 12.

 The action in this Tony Award-winning production unfolds in 1962.  Baltimore high school student Tracy Turnblad, initially deemed too plump to appear on the locally televised teen dance show, wins a spot nonetheless when the show’s host is impressed by her moves at a high school dance.  Having learned her best steps from her black friends, Tracy quickly lobbies to integrate the show once she appears and becomes an audience favorite.  All of this develops against a set of wacky subplots featuring romance, jail breaks and good, of course, triumphing over evil in a talent contest.

 “It’s a hysterical musical comedy that has a great heart and a great message,” said East Fine Arts teacher Karen Hall, who is performing double duty as the production’s director and choreographer.  “It’s all about the idea that we shouldn’t let others hang labels on us, tell us what our place is or tell us that don't belong.  Tracy’s story is how she brings change about in Baltimore in 1962 because she loves to dance.”

 “We are a really diverse school,” Hall added, “and we really wanted to promote diversity on our stage.  HAIRSPRAY is a great choice to get more diversity on stage.”

 In fact, she said, students are so enthusiastic about the production that she and other staff were able to draw their cast of 51 from among the largest groups to audition for a show during her years at East. 

 “This is one of the best companies I've worked with.  They are amazing kids who have worked very hard every day,” Hall said of the cast, crew and orchestra members. 

 Maine East Fine Arts Chair Ed Eubank is orchestra director; Jessica Buczek is set designer and technical director; Ben Avci is vocal director’ Kim Morris is the costumer; and Veronica Lynn is Hall’s assistant director.

 The show time is 7:30 p.m. for each of four performances: Friday, March 4, Saturday, March 5, Friday, March 11 and Saturday, March 12.  Tickets cost $10.  Maine East is located at 2601 West Dempster Street in Park Ridge.