Musical Cast for “HAIRSPRAY” has been set
The cast for this years’ Ponca All-School/Community musical, “Hairspray” was announced on Thursday, January 16.Musical directors Kari Lowe, Marci Gustman, Rhonda Stark and Pauline Miller met with the entire cast, thanked them for their participation and complemented their auditions saying, it as a real ”honor and pleasure” to be involved with such a talented community.
If you love music and dancing, you will enjoy “Hairspray” the fun-filled, energetic show slated to be performed March 20-23.Sponsored by Larry W. Paul, “Hairspray” is based on the book by Mark O’Donnell and Thomas Meehan with music by Marc Shaiman and lyrics by Shaiman and Scott Wittman.“Hairspray” constitutes one of the most high energy dance shows ever performed on Broadway.It’s a fun musical written about the 1960s when segregation was a big topic in our country.
The plot centers on Tracy Turnblad, an overweight teenager with all the right moves, and who is obsessed with the Corny Collins Show. Every day after school, she and her best friend Penny run home to watch the show and drool over the hot Link Larkin, much to Tracy's mother Edna's dismay. After one of the stars of the show leaves, Corny Collins holds auditions to see who will be the next person on the Corny Collins show. With the help of her friend Seaweed, Tracy makes it on the show, angering the evil dance queen Amber Von Tussle and her mother Velma. Tracy then decides that it's not fair that the black kids can only dance on the Corny Collins Show once a month, and with the help of Seaweed, Link, Penny, Motormouth Maybelle, her father and Edna, she's going to integrate the show.....without denting her 'do!
Kacie Anderton (Tracy) and her dad Craig (Corny Collins), are both from Vermillion.Craig is the John Deere representative for both Northeast Nebraska and Southeast South Dakota. Both are looking forward to meeting and getting to know some of their neighbors across the river.
Christian Rush wowed the director’s with his rendition of “It Takes Two”.He is a senior and will be making his stage debut as the heart throb, Link Larkin.
As a junior, this is not Lauren Brickett’s (Amber) first big stage role.Lauren played Dorothy in the 2006 production of “The Wizard of Oz”.
Ambers mother will be played by Mary Rager.She gets a break from directing by playing the snooty former Beauty Queen, Velma Von Tussle.
Chris Beach (Edna) and wife Jaclynn (Motor Mouth Maybelle) live in Martinsburg.They are both Allen graduates and have three children now attending Ponca Public School.
Although Kianna Kramper (Penny) is busy hustling on the basketball court she still finds time to involve herself in music.Two years ago she played one of Cinderella’s sisters in “Into the Woods”.
Blake O’Neill (Seaweed) and Kim Stowe (Inez)play a brother and sister who are both struggling to get a chance to dance on the Corny Collins Show.Both are seniors and are taking the stage for the first time.