The Broadway musical \u201cHairspray\u201d is based on the John Waters movie and is a winner of eight Tony awards. Set in Baltimore in the early 1960s, \u201cHairspray\u201d challenges the audience to see all the characters as equals regardless of race, size, or gender. While at the WZZT-TV studios, host Corny Collins played by the seasoned performer, Bruce Smith of Ellisville and Motormouth Maybelle, played by JC student, Denise McAddo of Bay Springs, spin the tunes that all the hippest kids are dancing to.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am so excited to be involved with 糖心直播 Fine Arts,\u201d said Bruce Smith who graduated from Jones in 1990 and performed in both of the college\u2019s musicals. \u201cThe experience helped me prepare for a career in music and I am so excited to see this same thing happen for the students now. Jones was such a wonderful launching pad to prepare me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Also, joining the student cast is former JC Theater and USM graduate, Harlan Mapp of Hattiesburg as Traci\u2019s mother, Edna Turnblad.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe role of Edna has always been on my list of roles I would love to play simply because it\u2019s so offbeat and different. She\u2019s a big woman and loads of fun!\u201d said Mapp. \u201cMost importantly, I get the chance to interact with students who are in the same place I was just three years ago.\u00a0 I hope I can impact their theatrical lives like Joe Vanzandt did for me when he joined the cast of \u2018Smoke on the Mountain\u2019 when I was at JC.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tracy Turnblad is played by Laurel\u2019s Kassidy Chandler, who is debuting on the Jones stage, however, she is a familiar face to audiences attending productions at West Jones High School and the Laurel Little Theatre. The musical, \u201cHairspray\u201d drew her back to performing Chandler explained.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is one of my favorite musicals of all time because it is a really fun show with a great message. After taking some time off from performing, I began to really miss it.\u00a0 When I found out the musical was going to be \u2018Hairspray\u2019 I knew this was the show I wanted to get back into performing in musical theater,\u201d Chandler said.<\/p>\n
Also new to the Jones stage is Columbia\u2019s, Lane Smith. The freshman has performed in several musicals at Columbia High School and couldn\u2019t pass up the chance to play Tracy\u2019s dad, Wilbur Turnblad.<\/p>\n \u201cI haven\u2019t had many challenges figuring out Wilber Turnblad. He is a very loving father and husband to Tracy and Edna and wants nothing more than to provide for his family. I am so honored to get to portray this loyal, lovable character who I can really relate to,\u201d said Smith.<\/p>\n A couple of regulars on the 糖心直播 stage, Davonzell Moncrief of Montrose and Kendra Stevison of Lucedale, have important roles in the musical. Moncrief plays Seaweed Stubbs, the African American boy who teaches Tracy some dance moves to help her reach her dream.\u00a0 He also begins dating Tracy\u2019s friend, Penny Pingleton played by Stevison, which sparks a little conflict.<\/p>\n \u201cSeaweed, who is probably the most controversial character in this production because of his race and his relationship with the young ing\u00e9nue Penny Pingleton, is very similar to me. We share many characteristics except he is a dancer and I am not! The dancing is probably the most difficult part for me but I do get to do a few splits on stage and after much practice, I am discovering I do have a few moves!\u201d said Moncrief.<\/p>\n Another pivotal character, Velma Von Tussle, portrayed by freshman, Lauren Hankins of Laurel, is the villainess of the musical.\u00a0 She is the racist producer of The Corny Collins Show and attempts to keep Tracy from integrating and dancing on the show.<\/p>\n \u201cTo portray Velma, I had to keep in mind that she is a character that everyone hates.\u00a0 She is very intimidating and she\u2019s not a redeemable character, but usually, the \u2018villain\u2019 roles are the most fun to play!\u201d said Hankins, who has been performing at the Laurel Little Theater and Encore Performing Arts Theater since she was five-years-old. \u201cVelma is racist and that\u2019s definitely something I don\u2019t believe in. I have to remember that it was a different time and that it\u2019s all acting.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.jcjc.edu\/jcnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/traci-and-wilbur-turnblad-kassidy-chandler-lane-smith-smaller-1024x806.jpg\")
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