Hairspray

    The Tony-Award winning “Hairspray” has delighted audiences by sweeping them away to 1960’s Baltimore, where the ’50s are out — and change is in the air.

    The Jefferson Performing Arts Society presents “Hairspray” at the Temple Theater, 2320 Eighth St., at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 12. Another performance for student groups is scheduled for 9:45 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 13

    Tickets to the Sunday show are $25 for adults and $15 for children. Tickets for students on Monday are $5 each.

    In “Hairspray” the loveable plus-size heroine, Tracy Turnblad, has a passion for dancing, and wins a spot on the local TV dance program, “The Corny Collins Show.” Overnight she finds herself transformed from outsider to teen celebrity. Can a larger-than-life adolescent manage to vanquish the program’s reigning princess, integrate the television show, and find true love (singing and dancing all the while, of course!) without mussing her hair? Join the JPAS cast as they shake up the 1960s world with rock and roll, dancing and heart.

    JPAS is thrilled to welcome Broadway’s Michelle Dowdy to the cast to star as Tracy Turnblad. Dowdy played the role in the Broadway production. A graduate of Pinellas County Center for the Performing Arts in St. Petersburg, Fla., Dowdy went straight to Broadway, joining the Broadway cast immediately after her high school graduation. In addition to “Hairspray” on Broadway, Dowdy has also been an annual featured performer for the annual Broadway Bares Benefit for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids in New York City.

    Stage, screen and WWL air-waves star, John “Spud” McConnell will play the larger-than-life role of Tracy’s mother, Edna, complete with high heels, fabulous costumes and of course, outrageous hair!

    The cast includes many other outstanding talents including Vatican Lokey as Corny Collins, Kris Shaw as Wilbur Turnblad, Danielle Mathis as Motormouth Mabel, Adam Carl Peyton as Link Larkin, Leslie Limberg as Amber Von Tussle, Jason George as Seaweed, Emily Bennett Walker as Penny and Julianna Star as Velma Von Tussle with Jade Thanars, Jimmy Demontlizen, Keith Claverie, Anna Rosenberg, Jeffery Lockhart, Juliene Natal, Price Provenzano, Micah Desonier, Eric Bond, Rachel De Jonge, Peter Elliott, Christina Tischnor, Whitney Mixon, Jessica Mixon, Leianna Seals, Anthony Taplin, Jr., Brandon Spooner, Tibeau Hampton, Charlene Robinson, Rodrick Nicholson, Cameron Turner and Kenitra Harding.

    Book: Mark O’Donnell and Thomas Meehan. Music and Lyrics: Marc Shaiman. Lyrics: Scott Wittman. Directed by Brandt Blocker. Choreography by Karen Hebert. Stage Manager: Brian Schrader. Assistant Stage Managers: Lauren Guillot and Brandon Spooner. Wigs and Makeup: Don and Linda Guillot. Scenic design by Axis Designs — Isabel Curley-Clay and Moriah Curley-Clay. Lighting Design by Diane Baas. Props Design by Trish McClain.

    The Jefferson Performing Arts Society (JPAS), was founded in 1978 by Dennis G. Assaf and Hannah Cunningham. Jefferson Performing Arts Society is a non-profit professional arts organization whose mission is to promote arts performance, training and outreach by providing a diverse range of quality programs that entertain, educate and enrich the cultural and economic vitality of Jefferson Parish, Greater New Orleans and the Gulf South.