
Cast

ANDREW LEVITT
Edna Turnblad
Andrew is thrilled to be part of the cast of Hairspray. He has performed as drag queen Nina West since 2001 and competed on Season 11 of RuPaul’s Drag Race, for which he was named Miss Congeniality. On stage, he starred in the regional premieres of Buyer and Cellar (Alex More) and Peter and the Starcatcher (Betty Bumbrake) with CATCO Theatre Columbus. In 2019, Andrew appeared in The Little Mermaid (Ursula) with the Butterfly Guild of Nationwide Children’s Hospital. Other TV credits: RuPaul’s Celebrity Drag Race, “Dragging the Classics: The Brady Bunch” (Alice, Paramount+), “‘This Is Me’ Pride Celebration Spectacular” (Disney+), “The Blue’s Clues Pride Parade Singalong” and “The Meaning of Pride” (Nickelodeon). He provided the voice for the animated short Coaster. Andrew has released music EP’s “Drag Is Magic,” “The West Christmas Ever,” and “John Goodman” as Nina West; all have charted on Billboard’s Top 10 for Children’s Music and Comedy. Throughout his drag career, he has raised over $4 million dollars and started his own foundation, The Nina West Foundation, primarily serving LGBTQIA+ organizations and causes. Thanks to Mom, Dad, PT. Andrew would like to dedicate this performance to the memory of Kathy Ringley. www.ninawest.com, @ninawest

SKYLER SHIELDS
Link Larkin
Skyler is thrilled to be making his National Tour debut in Hairspray! Selected credits include Double J/Cover Tony in Saturday Night Fever (Royal Caribbean), Riff in West Side Story (Florida Rep), and Conrad Birdie in Bye Bye Birdie (The Palace Theater). Skyler would like to thank Brian K Herrick and Hells Kitchen Agency whom through all things are possible and his parents Scott and Tracy for their unending love and support. Special thanks to EG and KF! @skylercshields

DEVIN HALL
Gilbert
Grateful! International: MSC Cruises (Male Singer #2) National Tours: Rent (u/s Paul/Angel). Regional: Forever Plaid (Jinx), Legally Blonde (Nikos), Rent (Benny), Aida (Mereb), Sister Act (Tj), Hairspray (Seaweed; Valley Theater nominee for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical). Much gratitude to NETworks Presentations and Brian Keith Graziani at HK Agency! @devin_hall

STEVIE LeWARNE, JR.
Sketch
Originally from Des Moines, Iowa, Stevie is grateful to be back on the Hairspray tour! Select credits: Jersey Boys (Bob Gaudio, NCL), Hairspray (Dance Captain/Swing, 2021-22 National Tour), Miss Saigon (Ensemble/ u/s Chris, WPPAC). Proud NYU Steinhardt Alum. Much love and gratitude to his family, friends, and representation at Bloc NYC. Insta: @stevielewarne Website: stevielewarne.com

NIKI METCALF
Tracy Turnblad
Niki is thrilled to be taking on a role she’s dreamed of playing since she first saw the original Broadway production! As a New York based actress from Saugerties, NY, and graduate of Montclair State University with a degree in Musical Theatre, some of her favorite credits include The Little Engine that Could Earns Her Whistle (Little Red, ArtsPower National Tour) and …Spelling Bee (Olive). Beyond grateful to my friends and family for their constant support, and to the team for this incredible opportunity to “eat some breakfast then change the world!” @nikimetcalf

ASABI GOODMAN
Motormouth Maybelle
Originally hailing from Oklahoma, Asabi is currently based in Queensland, Australia. Her most recent credits include: Hairspray Australian national tour for Crossroads Live (Motormouth Maybelle), Once On This Island Queensland production for Altitude Theatre (Mama Euralie), Lauren Gunderson’s The Revolutionists Australian premiere for The Curators Theatre (Marianne Angelle), and Disenchanted Australian premier for Mad About Theatre (The Princess Who Kissed The Frog). I wish to thank my family for all of their support, my agents at Kermond Management (Sydney), and the Australian and U.S. Hairspray teams for this wonderful opportunity. asabigoodman.com

CHARLIE BRYANT III
Seaweed J. Stubbs
Charlie is a native of Birmingham, Alabama. Charlie is excited to be making his National Tour Debut in the role of Seaweed. The latest credits include Spelling Bee (Mitch), Once on this Island (StoryTeller), and Company (Peter). Charlie gives thanks to all his friends and family for their fantastic support. Social Media: Instagram: @iamcharliebryant Facebook: @Charlie Bryant

RALPH PRENTICE DANIEL
Wilbur Turnblad
National tour debut! International: Universal Beijing Resort (opening cast) Regional: Oliver! (Fagin), Assassins (Guiteau), It Shoulda Been You (Albert), Tuck Everlasting (Man in Yellow), Seussical (Mr. Mayor), Elf the Musical (Walter Hobbs), The Best Christmas Pageant Ever – the Musical (Reverend Hopkins), Newsies (Pulitzer), Mary Poppins (George Banks), Footloose (Rev. Shaw), 9 to 5 (Hart). Love to friends, family, Gabe, and The Hell’s Kitchen Agency.

BILLY DAWSON
Corny Collins
Billy is thrilled to return to Hairspray as Corny Collins! National tour debut! International: Universal Studios Japan. Regional: The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Quasimodo), The Last Five Years (Jamie), Jekyll & Hyde (Jekyll/Hyde), The Light in the Piazza (Fabrizio), Cabaret (Emcee), The Rocky Horror Show (Dr. Frank-N-Furter). Love and thanks to Mom, CF, Big Mouth Talent, and the Hairspray family. @dawsonbilly, www.billydawson.net

RYAHN EVERS
Amber Von Tussle
Ryahn is thrilled to bring this bratty blonde to stages across America! Originally from Denver, Ryahn is an alumnus of the University of Northern Colorado. Select regional/collegiate roles include Xanadu (Kira), Chicago (Roxie), First Date (Casey). She is forever grateful to her dad, stepmom, sisters, and her team at Ann Steele Agency for supporting her endlessly. She’d like to thank Stewart/Whitley and the entire team at Hairspray for thinking she is talented and funny. Instagram:@ryahn

ADDISON GARNER
Velma Von Tussle
A southern gal from Alabama, Addison is ecstatic to be back on tour with Hairspray. A musical theater graduate from the University of Mobile, favorite credits include Damn Yankees (Lola), Crazy for You (Irene), Singin’ in the Rain (Lina) and Velma Von Tussle in RCCL’s Hairspray (Velma Von Tussle). Forever grateful for her family, friends and ATB Talent for their endless encouragement, support, and love. Philippians 4:13. @addisongarner

EMERY HENDERSON
Penny Pingleton
Emery waited in line for nine hours to audition for this show. Then, there was a global pandemic. She grew up in Massachusetts with a bunch of ducks.

JOI D. McCOY
Little Inez
Joi is a recent graduate of UCLA’s Musical Theatre program. She grew up in Fort Lauderdale, FL, training in ballet, jazz, modern as well as vocal studies. Regional: Bring It On: The Musical (Eva), Spamalot (Patsy), Once on This Island (Little Ti Moune), Mamma Mia! (Ali). Joi is excited to travel the country in her dream role with her dream cast. I’d love to thank my family, especially my mom, because without them none of this would be possible. Love y’all! Joidmccoy.com @joi.d.McCoy

SYDNEY ARCHIBALD
Peaches, Dynamite
National tour debut! Regional: Ain’t Misbehavin’, Dreamgirls, Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella. New York Conservatory graduate. Endless gratitude to fam, friends, and entire Hairspray team! Trinidad & Tobago jump up!

KELLY BARBERITO
Tammy
Kelly, a proud native of New Orleans and a graduate of UATD, is so excited to be returning to the cast of Hairspray! National Tour: Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella (Swing). Kelly would like to thank her family for their support and dedicate her performance to her beloved grandmother.

TOMMY BETZ
Fender
Thrilled to be joining the Hairspray company! National Tour: The Sound of Music. Regional: North Shore, Fulton, Engeman, Forestburgh. Special thanks to Matt, the entire creative team and everyone at NETworks. Love to my family for their undying support. @tommyfbetz

HELENE BRITANY
Shelley
Helene is making her national tour debut but has been working in entertainment all her life. Credits: Hairspray Live! (Shelley, NBC), “Ain’t Your Mama” (Jennifer Lopez music video). She has been signed to two major record labels and her song is featured in a Ford Fusion national commercial. Her released songs are on all streaming platforms. She is grateful for her family and friends for their love and support, ecstatic for Hairspray coming back into her life, and thankful for all those involved. @officialhelene

CAROLINE EISEMAN
Swing
National tour debut! Regional: The Muny, Stages St. Louis, Studio Tenn, Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre. Favorite Credits: 42nd Street (Peggy Sawyer), Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella (Charlotte), Bright Star (Lucy Grant). Proud Belmont University Musical Theatre Alum. Endless love to the Hairspray team, Stewart/Whitley, BUMT and her incredible family. For Patti, Judie and Jane. @caroline.eiseman

MELANIE PUENTE ERVIN
Pearl, Dynamite
National tour debut! Melanie is an Afro-Latinx actor/singer from Voorhees, NJ who is passionate about expanding empathy through performance, while gaining a better understanding of our world. Mel is extremely grateful for everyone who has supported and guided her to where she is now. Training: The American Musical and Dramatic Academy, NYC. Credits: Aida (Aida), Footloose (Rusty), Theory of Relativity (Caroline). www.melaniepuenteervin.com, IG: @mpuervin

CRAIG FIRST
Brad
Craig is making his national tour debut, but this marks his 4th production of Hairspray! Regional: Newsies (Morris Delancey), Singin’ in the Rain (Production Tenor), A Chorus Line (Tom). University of Alabama alum. Thanks to his family, friends, and the Movement Talent Agency for their love and support. Check out Spotify for original music. Instagram: @CraigFirst

ALEX FULLERTON
Swing
National tour debut! Favorite credits: Singin’ in the Rain (Don Lockwood), Sh’Boom (Denny), Crazy for You (Custus). Alex has also performed at sea with Disney Cruise Line. Thanks Mom & Dad! BFA: Boston Conservatory, rep: HKA, IG:@AlexFullerton28

ANNIE GAGEN
Lou Ann
Annie originally from Cleveland, OH, is thrilled to be making her national tour debut! BA Dance, minor in Musical Theatre, Point Park University. She has performed 15+ productions with Norwegian Cruise Line. Favorite credits: Beauty and the Beast (Paper Mill Playhouse), Burn the Floor: My Revolution, Chicago, Thoroughly Modern Millie. Thanks to Stewart/Whitley for this opportunity and to my family for their constant support! @AnnieGagen

CARLY HAIG
Brenda
Carly is elated to be continuing her Hairspray journey as the fun-loving, free-wheeling Brenda! National Tour: Anastasia, Hairspray (Swing). Regional credits: Beauty and the Beast (La Mirada/Moonlight), Holiday Inn (MTW), West Side Story (5-Star), Matilda (La Mirada). Cruise Ship: Grease (RCCL). Love and gratitude to the Hairspray Team, Stewart/ Whitley, FSE, and her family and friends. Thank you, thank you, thank you. @carly.haig

LAUREN JOHNSON
Lorraine
Lauren is excited to be making her national tour debut. Credits: Into the Woods (The Witch), Godspell (“Turn Back O’ Man” soloist), Kinky Boots (Pat). Proud alum of Viterbo University. Go V-Hawks! Thanks to her parents and brother for their unending love and support, and her team at FSE for being in her corner from the beginning. Instagram: @laurenjohnsononstage

SABRINA JOSEPH
Swing
Sabrina is making her national tour debut in Hairspray! DeSales University ‘19. Regional: Ragtime, Evita (Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival). Teaching Artist with Broadway for Arts Education. She would like to thank her beautiful friends, family, and mentors for their love and guidance. Hugs and kisses! This is for Andrea. Instagram: @sabrina_j97

GREG KALAFATAS
Harriman F. Spritzer, Mr. Pinky, Principal, Guard
Previous National Tours: Something Rotten (Nostradamus), Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story (The Big Bopper), The Drowsy Chaperone. Endless thanks to family, friends, and the entire Hairspray team for making this possible. gregkalafatas.com, @gregkala

KYLE KAVULLY
Thad
Professional debut. Kyle is a NY-based performer and student at Brown University. He has performed in over 15 productions in his hometown and trains at Ultimate Dance Academy under Anthony Borello. Thank you Stewart/Whitley Casting for this opportunity and to my family for their support! @kylekavully

MATTHEW J. KELLY
Swing, Asst. Dance Captain
National tour debut! Proud UAB Music Theatre Alum. Credits: Kinky Boots, The Addams Family, and American Idiot at Weathervane Theatre. I would like to thank Stewart/Whitley and the creative team, my wonderful agents HellsKitchen Agency, and the support from my friends and family. I dedicate this show to my Mom, Dad and brother! @MatthewJ.Kelly

McLAINE MEACHEM
Swing
(Mac) is originally from Fort Worth, TX. She studied and trained in dance and musical theater at Ft. Worth Academy of FA. Her previous credits include Mamma Mia! (Ali), Hairspray (Lil Inez), A Chorus Line (Bebe).

FAITH NORTHCUTT
Swing, Dance Captain
Faith is so excited to be returning to Hairspray! Select credits: A Chorus Line (Maggie) at The Wick, Freaky Friday (Gretchen), Grease (Jan), and Newsies (Buttons) at MTWichita. Recent FSU Music Theatre graduate. Sending thanks and love to the whole Hairspray team and to her family and friends. IG: @faithnorthcutt, faithnorthcutt.com

NICHOLAS DION REESE
Duane
Nicolas is from Enterprise, AL and is excited to be making his national tour debut in Hairspray! To God, family, and friends, much love and gratitude.

MICAH SAUVAGEAU
Swing
An Alaska native originally from Chugiak. Credits: Beauty and the Beast (Cogsworth), The Mystery of Edwin Drood (Chairman), Saucy Jack & the Space Vixens (Booby), Guys and Dolls (Nicely Nicely). Thank you to the cast, creatives, production team, and the audience for bringing joy back to the theatre!

CLINT MADDOX THOMPSON
IQ
Clint is thrilled to be joining Hairspray! Select credits: The Wizard of Oz (National Tour), A Chorus Line (Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival), A Bronx Tale (Axelrod Performing Arts), Mamma Mia! (Virginia Musical Theatre), Elf the Musical (Gateway Playhouse). Follow his journey as an entertainer and model highlighting his southern roots @clintmthompson. Endless love and thanks to his mentors, Matt, Benton, NETworks, and most of all his family.

JADE TURNER
Cindy Watkins, Dynamite
Jade is so excited to be joining Hairspray! National Tour: Escape to Margaritaville. Regional: Asolo Rep’s Ragtime, Roe, and The Music Man directed by Jeff Calhoun. Film: Ben Platt’s “Temporary Love” music video. University of Stewart/Whitley, friends and family! @jayglotay

EMMANUELLE ZEESMAN
Prudy Pingleton, Gym Teacher, Matron
Emmanuelle is a proud Canadian and thrilled to be part of this magic! National Tours/Off-Broadway: Finding Neverland, The Wizard of Oz, Guys and Dolls, Passion, Blood Brothers (CCC Best Actress Award), and five seasons with symphony orchestras across four continents. Thanks to the creative team and to Stewart Whitley Casting! Love to Mamaman, Papa, and all my family and friends! @emmanuellezeesman
Creative
Mark O’Donnell
Book
MARK O’DONNELL (Book). Plays: That’s It, Folks!; Fables for Friends; The Nice and the Nasty (all produced at Playwrights Horizons), and Strangers on Earth and Vertigo Park (both produced by Zena Group Theatre). He wrote the book and lyrics for the musical Tots in Tinseltown. Mr. O’Donnell collaborated with Bill Irwin on an adaptation of Moliere’s Scapin, and he co- authored a translation of Feydeau’s A Flea in Her Ear, both for the Roundabout. For Manhattan Theatre Club, he translated Jean Claude Carriere’s La Terrasse. He has published two collections of comic stories Elementary Education and Vertigo Park and Other Tall Tales (both Knopf), as well as two recent novels, Getting Over Homer and Let Nothing You Dismay (both now in Vintage paperback). His humor, cartoons, and poetry have appeared in The New Yorker, The New York Times, The Atlantic, Spy, The New Republic, and Esquire, among many others. He has received a Guggenheim Fellowship, the Lecomte du Nuoy Prize, and the George S. Kaufman Award.
THOMAS MEEHAN
Book
Thomas won the 2003 Tony Award for co-writing the book for Hairspray, after having won the 2001 Tony Award for co- writing the book of The Producers. In 1977, he received his first Tony Award for writing the book of Annie, which was his first Broadway show, and he has since written the books for the musicals I Remember Mama, Ain’t Broadway Grand, Annie Warbucks, Bombay Dreams, and Cry- Baby. In addition, he is a long-time contributor of humor pieces, including “Yma Dream” to The New Yorker, an Emmy Award-winning writer of television comedy, and a collaborator on a number of screenplays, including Mel Brooks’ Spaceballs, To Be or Not to Be, and the film version of The Producers. He is also the co-author for the libretto of 1984, an opera composed by Lorin Maazel and based on George Orwell’s classic novel of the same name, which had its world premiere in the spring of 2003 at London’s Royal Opera House and was performed at La Scala in Milan. Mr. Meehan is a member of the Council of the Dramatists Guild.
MARC SHAIMAN
Music & Arrangements, Lyrics
Marc is a composer/lyricist/arranger/performer working in films, television, musical theater and recordings. He has won several honors, including a Tony, an Emmy, a Grammy, plus seven Oscar nominations.
Opening this fall on Broadway is Shaiman & Wittman’s new musical Some Like It Hot, based on the iconic film. And coming in a year or so after that will be Smash, a play about a musical (based on the TV Show).
Recent projects include Rogers: The Musical for Marvel/Disney+’s Hawkeye, incidental music for the smash Broadway revival of Plaza Suite and the score for Universal’s Billy Eichner romcom Bros.
For Mary Poppins Returns he was nominated for two Oscars, a BAFTA, a Golden Globe and a Grammy. His other Oscar nominations have been for Sleepless In Seattle, Patch Adams, The First Wives Club, The American President and South Park-Bigger, Longer & Uncut.
Other film credits include Beaches, When Harry Met Sally, City Slickers, The Addams Family, Sister Act, A Few Good Men, Hocus Pocus, The Bucket List and Hairspray. He and Mariah Carey were nominated for a Golden Globe for their title song for the animated film The Star.
For Broadway, he and co-lyricist Scott Wittman have written Hairspray (Tony & Grammy Awards), Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me, Catch Me If You Can (Tony nom) and Charlie & The Chocolate Factory.
Television credits include Saturday Night Live (Emmy and Golden Globe nom), Smash (Emmy & Golden Globe nom), The Oscars with Billy Crystal (Emmy Award), Bette Midler (final guest with Johnny Carson) and countless appearances with Neil Patrick Harris, Nathan Lane, Jennifer Hudson, Jack Black & Will Ferrell, among others.
He has produced/arranged recordings and performances for Bette Midler, Harry Connick Jr., Peter Allen, Eric Clapton, Diane Keaton, Patti LuPone, Steve Martin, Barbra Streisand, Robin Williams and many more.
His online opus Prop 8 – The Musical was a Webbie Award winner.
SCOTT WITTMAN
Lyrics
Tony, Grammy, and Olivier Award winning lyricist, director, writer, and conceiver Scott Wittman co-wrote the lyrics for the hit musical Hairspray (Tony, Grammy, Olivier Award) with creative partner Marc Shaiman. Wittman served as an executive producer on the hit film starring John Travolta. Nominated for a Golden Globe, Grammy, and two Emmy Awards for the original songs on NBC’s musical drama Smash. Shaiman and Wittman’s original score for the Marilyn Monroe musical Bombshell was released by Sony Records. Scott and Marc’s Broadway writing credits include Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me, which Scott also directed, Catch Me If You Can (Tony nom. for Best Musical), and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory on Broadway and the West End. And the new Broadway musical of Some Like it Hot at the Schubert Theatre. Scott has created and directed concerts for Patti LuPone. He has created solo shows for Christine Ebersole and Nathan Lane, as well as writing for Bette Midler’s 2015 Divine Intervention World Tour. Off-Broadway, he conceived and directed Jukebox Jackie starring Justin Vivian Bond at La Mama, and Bridget Everett’s Rockbottom at the Public Theatre. His notorious and legendary Downtown shows are in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Marc and Scott also wrote the score to Disney’s Mary Poppins Returns starring Emily Blunt, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and Meryl Streep. The song “The Place Where Lost Things Go” was nominated for an Oscar.
JACK O’BRIEN
Original Director
Jack has won three Tony Awards for his direction of Hairspray, Henry IV, and The Coast of Utopia. His other recent Broadway credits include Arthur Miller’s All My Sons, Carousel, The Front Page, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, It’s Only a Play, Macbeth, The Nance, Dead Accounts, Catch Me If You Can, Impressionism, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Tony nom.), Imaginary Friends, The Invention of Love (Tony nomination and Drama Desk winner),The Full Monty (Tony nom.), More to Love, Getting Away with Murder, The Little Foxes, Damn Yankees, Two Shakespearean Actors (Tony nom.) and Porgy and Bess (Tony nom.).Off- Broadway credits include Tom Stoppard’s The Hard Problem, Pride’s Crossing, and Hapgood (Lucille Lortel Award). Other productions include Il Trittico at the Metropolitan Opera, Guys and Dolls at Carnegie Hall,Much Ado About Nothing for The Public’s Shakespeare in the Park, Love Never Dies and Hairspray (Olivier nom.) in London, which saw a revival at the Coliseum in London last summer. Mr. O’Brien was the Artistic Director of the Old Globe Theatre from 1981 till 2007. He has directed six programs for PBS’s American Playhouse. His book, Jack Be Nimble, is published by Farrar, Strauss and Giroux and his next volume, Jack in the Box: or, How to Goddamn Direct, will also be published by FSG.
JERRY MITCHELL
Original Choreographer
Jerry received the Tony Award for Best Choreography twice—for the Tony Award-winning Best Musical Kinky Boots (also Tony nom. for Best Director), and the revival of La Cage aux Folles. Most recent Broadway: Pretty Woman (Director/ Choreographer), now playing on Tour across the U.S. and on the West End. He directed the Gloria Estefan musical On Your Feet! (also international tour, London’s Coliseum Theatre), and was nominated for an Olivier Award for his choreography in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, which he also directed and co-produced in London. In the 35 preceding years, Jerry has been involved with more than 50 Broadway, West End, and touring productions, starting as a dancer for Agnes de Mille in Brigadoon and thereafter assisting Michael Bennett and Jerome Robbins. His Broadway debut as Choreographer, You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, was followed by The Full Monty (Tony nom.), The Rocky Horror Show, Hairspray (Tony nom., NBC Live), Gypsy, Never Gonna Dance (Tony nom.), Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Tony nom.), La Cage aux Folles, Imaginary Friends, Legally Blonde (Tony nom., which he also directed on Broadway and in London), Catch Me If You Can, and Kinky Boots. He is currently developing a new musical, Becoming Nancy. He also choreographed the Off- Broadway productions and films of Hedwig & The Angry Inch and Jeffrey. Jerry conceived and created Broadway Bares, a comedy burlesque show performed annually in NYC for the past 30 years and raising over 24.5 million dollars for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS to date.
Matt Lenz
Tour Director
Broadway: Hairspray, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Catch Me If You Can, The Velocity of Autumn (Associate Director on original productions), Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (Resident Director). Off-Broadway: Pageant: The Musical (Drama Desk nom.), The Irish Curse, Idaho! The Comedy Musical, The Great Daisy Theory, Fingers and Toes, and Alan Ball’s Tense Guy. National Tours: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Sound of Music, A Christmas Story: The Musical, Cheers: Live on Stage, Catch Me If You Can, The Who’s Tommy, and Hairspray. International: Productions of Hairspray in Australia, South Africa, the UK, Toronto, and Germany. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Australian tour. Regional: Numerous plays and musicals at Paper Mill Playhouse, George Street Playhouse, the MUNY, Ogunquit Playhouse, Cape Playhouse, North Carolina Theatre, Maltz Jupiter Theater, Forestburgh Playhouse, Zach Theatre, Gulfshore Playhouse and Casa Manana. Matt is the founding Artistic Director of In The Works~In The Woods, a festival of new plays and musicals. Member SDC. www.mattlenzdirector.com
ROBBIE ROBY
Choreographer
Robbie has been part of the Hairspray family for 18 years, originally as the dance captain for the Broadway and Las Vegas productions. Select choreography credits include: Joseph… Dreamcoat (staring David Archuleta), Sister Act (Kansas City Starlight, Pittsburgh CLO), Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (Tuacahn, Ordway Theatre, and Pittsburgh CLO), Little Shop of Horrors (Sacramento Music Circus), Disney’s The Little Mermaid (The 5th Avenue Theatre), Shrek (Walnut Street Theatre, Sacramento Music Circus), and Broadway Backwards (New Amsterdam Theatre; NYC). As a performer, Robbie was the dance captain for Broadway/Touring productions of Billy Elliot, Disney’s The Little Mermaid, and Monty Python’s Spamalot.
DAVID ROCKWELL
Scenic Designer
Broadway: Into the Woods; Take Me Out; Tootsie; Kiss Me, Kate; Lobby Hero; She Loves Me (Tony, Drama Desk, and OCC awards); On the Twentieth Century (Tony nom.); You Can’t Take It With You (Tony nom.); Kinky Boots (Tony nom.); Lucky Guy (Tony nom.); Hairspray (Tony, Drama Desk, OCC noms.); and the upcoming production of A Beautiful Noise. Off-Broadway: Into the Woods; Seven Deadly Sins; Soundtrack of America; A Bright Room Called Day; and Shakespeare in the Park. Founder and President of Rockwell Group, an architecture and design firm based in New York with offices in Los Angeles and Madrid. He is the author of four books on architecture and design, including Drama (Phaidon 2021). Honors: AIANY President’s Award, Cooper Hewitt National Design Award, Presidential Design Award
WILLIAM IVEY LONG
Costume Designer
Credits: The Producers, Seussical, The Man Who Came to Dinner, The Music Man, Contact; Swing!, Epic Proportions, The Civil War, Annie Get Your Gun, The Mystery of Irma Vep, Cabaret, Chicago (New York, London, Melbourne, Vienna, Stockholm, Amsterdam), Steel Pier, 1776, Smokey Joe’s Cafe (New York, London, Las Vegas, tours), Crazy For You (Tony, Outer Critics Circle, Dora awards), London, Toronto (Dora Award), Tokyo; Guys and Dolls (Drama Desk Award); Madison Square Garden’s annual A Christmas Carol; Six Degrees of Separation; Assassins (1991 Obie Award for outstanding achievement); Lend Me a Tenor (Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle awards); Nine (Tony, Drama Desk, Maharam awards); Robert Wilson’s Hamletmachine; Leonard Bernstein’s A Quiet Place and Trouble in Tahiti (Vienna State Opera, La Scala, Houston Grand Opera, Kennedy Center); The Lost Colony; Mick Jagger for the Rolling Stones’ Steel Wheels tour; Siegfried and Roy at the Mirage Hotel; Paul Taylor; Twyla Tharp; Peter Martins; David Parsons; Susan Stroman.
PAUL MILLER
Tour Lighting Designer
Broadway: Ruben & Clay’s Christmas Show, Amazing Grace, The Illusionists, Legally Blonde, Freshly Squeezed, Laughing Room Only. National Tours: The Illusionists, Elf the Musical, The Producers, Hairspray, Nunsense. Many commercial Off-Broadway productions and City Center Encores! Regional: The Old Globe, Stratford Shakespeare Festival (Ontario), DC Shakespeare, Chicago Shakespeare, Idaho Shakespeare, Great Lakes Theatre Co, Asolo Rep, American Conservatory Theatre, Cleveland Playhouse, Pasadena Playhouse, The Goodspeed Opera House, Pittsburgh CLO, and Seattle’s 5th Avenue Theatre, among others. Ballet: The New Jersey Ballet, Eglevsky Ballet, Grand Rapids Ballet. Television: Live from Lincoln Center, Netflix, Showtime, Comedy Central. International: Productions in São Paulo, Toronto, London, Vienna, Milan (Teatro alla Scala), Manila, Johannesburg, Beijing, Slovenia, Canada, and Mexico. Paul has been the Lighting Director for the internationally televised New Year’s Eve Celebration from New York’s Times Square for the last 20 years. He is originally from Chicago and trained at The Theatre School at DePaul University.
KENNETH POSNER
Lighting Designer
Kenneth designs extensively Off-Broadway, for resident theatres and touring productions throughout the United States, as well as internationally. He began his design career in the early 1990s s the lighting designer for the Berkshire Theatre Festival in Stockbridge, MA. Selected Broadway credits include Mr. Saturday Night, Beetlejuice, Pretty Woman, Mean Girls, War Paint, Tuck Everlasting, Disgraced, On Your Feet, If/Then, Kinky Boots, Pippin, Cinderella, Hairspray, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Legally Blonde, Catch Me If You Can, The Coast of Utopia: Shipwreck, Other Desert Cities, The Merchant Of Venice, The Little Foxes, The Adventures Of Tom Sawyer, Finding Neverland, and Wicked.
SHANNON SLATON
Sound Design
Shannon has designed many national tours including Shrek; Once on this Island; The Producers; Kiss Me, Kate; Noise/Funk; The Full Monty; Contact; A Chorus Line; Tap Dogs; Sweeney Todd; The Wizard of Oz; The Drowsy Chaperone; and The Wedding Singer. He was production sound for The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway and national tour, and advance sound for Wicked. Shows he has mixed on Broadway include Springsteen on Broadway, Man of La Mancha, Bombay Dreams, A Christmas Carol, Sweet Charity, Jersey Boys, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, The Drowsy Chaperone, Spring Awakening, Fela!, Anything Goes, Annie, Legally Blonde, and Cabaret.
PATRICK W. LORD
Video Designer
Patrick is a projection and video designer, whose work has been seen across the county. He has designed the National Tours of Hairspray and the new tour of On Your Feet, and was on the video team for the first tour of Mean Girls as the animator. In addition, he has had the privilege to design critically acclaimed world premieres at theaters like Lincoln Center and The Kennedy Center for Performing Arts with playwrights like Lauren Gunderson, Finegan Kruckemeyer, Robert Schenkkan and others. His career also includes extensive work at regional theaters across the country like Shakespeare Theatre Company, Olney Theatre Center, Flatrock Playhouse, Croswell Opera House, Skylight Music Theatre and many more, especially in the Washington DC area, which he calls home. Outside of his theatre work, Patrick has designed for Grammy award winning musicians and creative directed projects for numerous NBA and NHL teams’ special events. www.patrickwlord.com
PAUL HUNTLEY
Wigs & Hair Designer
London born Paul Huntley is a special Tony Award Winner as well as a Drama Desk recipient. Paul has worked on hundreds of Broadway projects since arriving in this country in 1972. His projects have included Cats; Amadeus; Kiss Me, Kate; The Producers and Hairspray. He has also worked with some of the most talented leading ladies of the American Cinema. They include Bette Davis, Vivien Leigh, Mae West, Glenn Close, Angela Lansbury and Jessica Lange. Movies are Christopher Plummer in “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus” and Willem Dafoe in “Cirque Du Freak.”
BERNIE ARDIA
Wigs & Hair Design
Bernie is a California native with a 40-year career starting in print and television: soap operas and TV specials such as Happy Birthday Hollywood. Mr. Ardia returned to live theater with David Merrick’s national tour of 42ndStreet. He has designed for over 75 productions including: Can-Can, Me and My Girl, Showboat, Ziegfeld: A Night at the Follies; recreating Paul Huntley’s designs for the current NETworks production of Hairspray. He is very happy to be part of this project and working under the direction of Matt Lenz. Other credits: Ragtime (The Kennedy Center), Dirty Dancing, Cameron Mackintosh’s Les Misérables and Oliver, Kiss of the Spider Woman with Chita Rivera, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Starlight Express (Las Vegas) and Cinderella with Eartha Kitt. Mr. Ardia is proud to have worked with many talented performers and directors in his career including Jeanne Cooper, George Wendt, Hal Prince, Melody Thomas Scott, Mary Wilson, Patrick Cassidy, many Osmonds, Lynda Carter, Makenzie Philips and even Judge Judy! He is also the author of Barbra Streisand in New York City, and presenting the upcoming At Sea with Patrick Dennis, My Madcap Mexican Adventure with the Author of Auntie Mame, (pub. Ratteling Good Yarns).
HAROLD WHEELER
Orchestrations
From the time he conducted the B’way musical Promises, Promises to the year Dreamgirls won six Tony Awards, Harold Wheeler has been in the front ranks of entertainment as a conductor, composer, arranger and performer. Additional theatre credits as orchestrator and music supervisor include CoCo, Two Gentlemen of Verona, The Wiz, Little Me (Tony nom.), A Chorus Line, The Tap Dance Kid, Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music, Fame, The Life (Tony nom.), Side Show, Swing! (Tony nom.), The Full Monty. He acted as Musical Director for the Summer Olympics in Atlanta, and composed the score for the film Love! Valour! Compassion! He is married to actress/singer Hattie Winston.
KEITH THOMPSON
Music Supervisor
Keith was creator/director/producer of The Cocktail Cabaret which enjoyed a 13-month run the famed Cleopatra’s Barge in Caesars Palace. He is the founder and host of The Composers Showcase, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides a platform and forum for composers and songwriters to share their original musical creations at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts.
As a seasoned conductor/musical director, Keith’s most recent list of professional credits include musical director and conductor for the Las Vegas companies of Jersey Boys, The Producers, Hairspray, and for the North American premier of the hit musical, We Will Rock You. The conductor and musical director for the first national tours of Mamma Mia! and Cabaret, Keith also supervised the music for the Australian production of Cabaret in Sydney and won the 2000 Dora Award as musical director of Cabaret in Toronto. Other national tours Keith has conducted include Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, with Donny Osmond; Peter Pan, with Cathy Rigby; Jesus Christ Superstar, with Carl Anderson and Ted Neeley; and the 25th Anniversary tour of the musical, HAIR! as well as concert tours for Sarah Brightman and Jenifer Lewis. In addition, his New York credits include Les Miserables, When Pigs Fly, and Little Shop of Horrors.
Keith Thompson is co-composer of IDAHO! The Comedy-Musical with long-time collaborator, Buddy Sheffield (In Living Color). The musical premiered at the New York Musical Theatre Festival in 2008 where it received the honor of “Best in Fest.” IDAHO! was presented in a full production at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts in Las Vegas in 2016.
Another Keith Thompson original, God Lives in Glass, Keith’s premiered at NYU’s Provincetown Playhouse in Greenwich Village and has been presented regionally and in concert nationwide. Keith’s original comedy/novelty song revue, Kooky Tunes, has received international critical and popular praise. This revue completed a successful extended engagement at New York’s Laurie Beechman Theater, followed by an Australian tour, and the release of the cast recording, produced by Jay Records of London, currently available on Amazon.com..
Keith was vocal director and arranger for RoundHouse, a Television series that aired on the Nickelodeon Network. Keith was also Adjunct Professor in the Musical Theater program at NYU where he conducted, arranged and supervised music for dozens of shows.
JOHN MEZZIO
Music Coordination
John has conducted national tours including State Fair starring John Davidson, Victor Victoria starring Toni Tennille, and Cinderella starring Eartha Kitt and Deborah Gibson. Additionally, Mr. Mezzio was Associate Conductor for Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Starlight Express at the Las Vegas Hilton. National Tours: Oklahoma!, The Producers, Spring Awakening, Memphis, Beauty and the Beast, and Elf the Musical.
JULIUS LaFLAMME
Music Conductor
Julius is a Music Director, Arranger, and Composer based in Boston. Regional: Passing Strange, West Side Story, Tommy, Xanadu, Spring Awakening, Songs for a New World, A New Brain, Rocky Horror Picture Show. He studied musical theater writing and direction at Berklee College of Music.
STEWART/WHITLEY
Casting
Duncan Stewart CSA and Benton WhitleDuncan Stewart CSA and Benton Whitley CSA. Broadway/NY: Hadestown (Artios Award), Chicago, Paradise Square, Rock of Ages, The Lightning Thief, …the Great Comet of 1812, Elf the Musical, On the Town, Pippin, La Cage aux Folles, Radio City Christmas Spectacular. TV/Film: Netflix, 20th Century Fox, NBC, Lionsgate, Disney Channel. West End/UK: Hadestown, Thriller Live, Menier Chocolate Factory. Tours: Hadestown, Hairspray, Waitress, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Finding Neverland, Into the Woods, We Will Rock You. Regional: ART, Berkeley Rep, Alley, Bay Street, For the Record, TUTS, Hollywood Bowl, McCarter, Signature, RCCL. @stewartwhitley, www.stewartwhitley.com
EMILY KRITZMAN
Production Stage Manager
Emily studied Stage Management at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. She is honored to be a part of the national tour of Hairspray. Former credits include Waitress and Anastasia. She would like to thank her family and friends for their support.
MEGAN BELGAM
Assistant Stage Manager
Megan is thrilled to be joining the Hairspray Team! National Tour: Waitress (Lulu), To Kill a Mockingbird. Regional: Escape to Margaritaville (Ogunquit), Frozen Jr. (Ogunquit), Winter Wonderland (American Music Theatre), Aladdin (Fulton). Proud graduate of Penn State University. Thanks for supporting the arts!
LUKE MEYER
Company Manager
Luke is thrilled to be joining the Hairspray family and returning to NETworks. He has toured extensively over the past decade as both a musician and Company Manager. Past Management credits: Friends the Musical Parody (off-B’way/tour), The Office! A Musical Parody(tour), Sasha Velour’s Smoke & Mirrors (US tour), Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (tour), Love, Actually? A Musical Parody (off-B’way), Emojiland the Musical (tour).
GENTRY & ASSOCIATES
General Management
Gentry & Associates has managed nearly 250 national and international touring theatrical productions over the past 25 years. Current and upcoming productions include 1776, Anastasia, Blue Man Group, Beetlejuice, The Book of Mormon, Elf the Musical, Fiddler on the Roof, Hairspray, Les Misérables, Peter Pan, The Prom, and To Kill a Mockingbird.
BROADWAY BOOKING OFFICE NYC
Tour Press and Marketing
Broadway Booking Office NYC is a leading theatrical tour booking, marketing and press company representing award-winning musicals and plays. Currently: Jersey Boys, Beautiful – The Carole King Musical, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, Hairspray, To Kill a Mockingbird, Potted Potter, The Crown Live!, world premiere new works Designing Women and Here You Come Again, and a new Broadway-bound production of The Secret Garden. BBO serves as consultant for Transcendence Theatre Company in Sonoma and the North American tour of Les Misérables. bbonyc.com
THE BOOKING GROUP
Tour Booking
The Booking Group has represented 27 Tony Award® winning Best Musicals and Plays. Current tours include: Hamilton, Dear Evan Hansen, Come From Away, The Book of Mormon, 1776, Hadestown, Mean Girls, MJ The Musical, Pretty Woman, Six, Tina, To Kill A Mockingbird, Anastasia, Chicago, Fiddler on the Roof, Hairspray, My Fair Lady, R.E.S.P.E.C.T; and Tootsie. Future tours include: Almost Famous, Funny Girl, Mamma Mia!, Mrs. Doubtfire, A Strange Loop, The Devil Wears Prada, and The Wiz.
TRINITY WHEELER
Executive Producer
Broadway: The current Broadway revival of 1776 directed by Diane Paulus and Jeffrey Page and Les Misérables. National Tours: Rodgers & Hammerstein’s The Sound of Music directed by Jack O’Brien, Finding Neverland, Once on This Island, Waitress, The SpongeBob Musical, Chicago, Dirty Dancing, Bullets Over Broadway, Elf the Musical, The Producers, The Wedding Singer, Oklahoma!, Funny Girl, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Singin’ in the Rain, The Wizard of Oz, Titanic, Damn Yankees, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, The Phantom of the Opera, Mary Poppins, Young Frankenstein starring Roger Bart and Rent starring Adam Pascal and Anthony Rapp. Trinity’s current projects include Les Misérables, Hairspray, 1776 and the upcoming revival of Peter Pan directed by Lonny Price. He is the host of Rhapsody Radio available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Love to Alan, Colin, Richard, Sawyer, Huck, Curry and Alfie. @trinityonbroadway
NETWORKS PRESENTATIONS
Producer
NETworks is an industry-leading producer of touring theatrical productions, committed to delivering quality entertainment to audiences worldwide for more than 25 years. Current and upcoming productions include 1776, Anastasia, Blue Man Group, Beetlejuice, The Book of Mormon, Elf the Musical, Fiddler on the Roof, Hairspray, Les Misérables, Peter Pan, The Prom, and To Kill a Mockingbird. www.networkstours.com