■ January production of ‘Hairspray’ will be ‘fabulous,’ director says

By Keri Luiz
Assistant Editor

Solano Youth Theatre’s Mainstage Musical cast this week will stage a production of “Hairspray,” and as you might expect from the choice of material, it’s going to be “a big, fabulous one!” Director Holli Hornlien said.

Hornlien said theater-goers should be excited about the musical’s over-the-top elements.

“Hairspray is a huge musical,” she said. “It is audacious in the amount of music and dance that it contains. It’s got some really interesting, wonderful ’60s swinging music, which entails fascinating harmonies and rhythms that are unusual for these kids.”

The musical is set in Baltimore in the early part of the decade. Teen Tracy Turnblad is a fun-loving, plus-sized girl with a passion for dance who wins a spot on the local TV dance program — much to the dismay of its reigning princess.

With so much music and so many dance numbers, Solano Youth Theatre’s cast members had to learn a lot about style and choreography, Hornlien said. And with “Hairspray” set during the Civil Rights movement, they also had the opportunity to learn about history.

“One of the things that I always do when I work with the kids on a musical is, I make them do research projects at the beginning of the rehearsal so they understand the context of the time period in which the play was set and/or written,” Hornlien said.

“A play like ‘Hairspray’ that concerns itself with racism and bigotry was an educational experience for the kids to really dig into.”

The actors are as young as 10, so they lack knowledge of the historical forces of the period, she said. “So it was eye-opening.”

“That’s the great thing about doing a show like this. It’s a musical that’s wonderfully fun and imaginative and crazy, but also has a conscience. It has something to say.”

It’s a musical that’s had several lives. Based on the 1988 John Waters film, the Broadway version in turn inspired a 2007 remake of the movie. “It’s funny, Broadway is being influenced by movies which in turn is being influenced by Broadway,” Hornlien said.

Both of which influenced Solano Youth Theatre, which has two casts for the production, one out of Benicia-Vallejo and the other from Vacaville. The Benicia-Vallejo cast will perform Friday, Jan. 20 at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, Jan. 21 at 2 p.m.; and Sunday, Jan. 22 at 7:30 p.m. The Vacaville cast will perform Thursday, Jan. 19 at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, Jan. 21 at 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday, Jan. 22 at 2 p.m.

“Hairspray” offered one big difficulty for Hornlien and the Benicia-Vallejo cast she will direct. Traditionally, the role of Tracy’s mother, Edna, has been played by a man. The Vacaville cast will stick with tradition but the ratio of boys to girls in the Benicia-Vallejo made that choice more difficult, Hornlien said.

In the end they opted to go against tradition and cast a girl, Sierra Wilson, in the role.

“It has an entirely different effect on the show. But the character of Edna, whether it’s played by a boy or a girl, it’s really a journey to self-esteem for that character, and acceptance. So I was really happy that a girl could play it,” she said.

And the role of Tracy, portrayed by Melody Colombini and Brittney Nusbaum (Vacaville), is “a beast of a role — it’s a hard role,” Hornlien said. “But we have two powerhouse girls doing a fantastic job. They are cast well.”

If You Go
Solano Youth Theatre presents “Hairspray” at the Vacaville Performing Arts Theatre Jan. 19-22. Show times are Thursday and Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday and Sunday at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $22 for adults and $18 for students/seniors. $1 VPAT restoration fee on all tickets. To purchase tickets call the VPAT Box Office at 707-469-4015 or visit www.vpat.net.