‘HAIRSPRAY’
By Victoria Beninga
Staff Writer
The talented-beyond-their-years youth and young adults of the El
Dorado Musical T heatre (EDMT) are presenting the
musical “Hairspray.” Having never seen “Hairspray,” I originally
assumed it was about a beauty salon. It’s actually the story of
sweet, kind, chubby teenager Tracy Turnblad, who lived in Baltimore
in 1962. Tracy auditioned as a dancer in the all-Caucasian Corny
Collins Show using some dance moves she learned from a friend of
color while they were in detention at school. She won the part, and
took the place of another teenage dancer, Brenda, who had announced
she needed to take a 9-month leave of absence. “Hairspray” is the
title of the musical because the sponsor of the Corny Collins Show
was a hairspray manufacturer.
After enduring many rude comments about her weight, and witnessing
people of color being excluded from auditioning, Tracy was
determined to integrate the show with the help of her friends from
detention. The musical addressed prejudices based on looks and
color, and wove throughout the musical several love stories,
including multi-racial romance. “Hairspray” tackled the serious
topic of discrimination while still managing to be a feel-good
musical about how love and working together can overcome obstacles.
 The casting, as in all of
the EDMT productions I’ve seen, was perfect. This was an encore
performance, meaning all participants had to audition and earn a
part, and not everyone who auditioned was chosen. The performers
were all wonderful, and should all be very proud of themselves, but
here are just a few of the standouts in the musical. Helen Regula,
as Tracy, was a real-life-sized person, not a tiny person
pretending to be larger. She portrayed Sweet Tracy with a smile
that lit up the theatre. Her love interest, Link Larkin, played by
Jonathan Cranmer, was awesome as the Corny Collins Show’s teen
idol. Handsome Chris Meissner shone as Corny Collins. The
multi-racial romance between Seaweed J. Stubbs and Penny Pingleton,
played by the extremely talented duo of Terry Hicks and Madeleine
McConnell, was in my opinion the best-performed romance of the
show. Little Inez, played by Olivia Kaufmann, had a voice that was
so strong and angelic at the same time that it gave me goose bumps.
My absolute favorite, though, was Tracy’s mother Edna Turnblad,
played by male performer, Braiden Wells. The transformation from
teenage boy to buxom mother was incredible. From the make-up to the
clothing to the personality to the singing, Braiden was
outstanding, and I will remember and laugh in remembrance of Edna
for many years to come.
The costumes and hair were authentic, and brought back many
memories of my time in the 60s. The sets, though fairly simple,
really set the mood for each scene. The dancing was fabulous. This
musical is rated PG. There wasn’t any swearing that I recall, but
the musical does contain several sexual lines and jokes. They would
probably go over the heads of young children, but teenagers and
adults would understand them.
 Hairspray will run
through March 13 at the Jill Solberg Performing Arts Theatre at
Folsom High School, located at 1655 Iron Point Road in Folsom.
Tickets are $20 for General Admission; and $16 for Children,
Students, and Seniors. Group discounts are available. For more
information, including details on dates and times of the
performances, please call (916) 941-SING or visit El Dorado Musical
Theatre’s website at www.edmt.info if you want to take a couple of
hours to sit back and enjoy some great singing, dancing, and
acting; and feel really good when you leave, please go see
“Hairspray.”
El Dorado Musical Theatre is an award-winning regional theater
company based in El Dorado Hills, California, providing instruction
and the opportunity for youth from ages 5-22 to participate in
theatrical performances. Although they are staffed by a group of
professionals, parents and family are also required to participate
in some aspect of the production. EDMT is a non-profit organization
founded in 2001. EDMT produces five major productions per year.
Additionally, EDMT produces an annual training show for performers
aged 5-9, no experience is required. Most performances take place
at the Jill Solberg Theater on the campus of Folsom High School.
For info on how to enroll for auditions, become a sponsor, or for
Playbill advertising, visit www.edmt.info or phone (916) 941-SING
(7464). El Dorado Musical Theatre • 5011 golden foothill parkway,
unit #4, El Dorado Hills, CA, 916-941-sing (7464) • fax
916-941-7465. Courtesy
Photos by EDMT
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