PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, November 20, 2014 CONTACT: Patrick Finlon, Marketing Director 315-443-2636 or [email protected]

Hit Broadway Musical Starts Thanksgiving Weekend at Syracuse Stage

“Infectious melodies.”—USA TODAY “Sweet, infinitely spirited.”—VARIETY MAGAZINE

Co-Produced with ’s Department of Drama

PRESENTING SPONSOR: SPONSORS: MEDIA SPONSOR: SEASON SPONSOR: Onondaga County/ Key Bank WAER Syracuse Syracuse Media Group CNY Arts The Allyn Foundation Public Media Grandma Brown Foundation Excellus BlueCross BlueShield

(Syracuse, NY)—Bubbling with joy and 60s era music and dance, Hairspray is the Tony Award- winning hit Broadway musical piled bouffant high with laughter, romance, and deliriously tuneful songs. Tracy Turnblad is a teen whose life revolves around dancing on the Corny Collins TV show. Who knew that a teenybopper TV show could be a catalyst for integration? You can’t stop the beat, and truth be told, you won’t want to once the all-singing and dancing cast takes the stage.

Hairspray performs Nov. 28 – Jan. 4 in the Archbold Theatre at the Syracuse Stage/Drama Complex, 820 East Genesee Street. Discounted preview performances are Nov. 28 – Dec. 4. The Opening Night performance is Friday, Dec. 5 at 8 p.m. Tickets and info are available at www.syracusestage.org, by phone at 315-443-3275, and in person at the Syracuse Stage Box Office, Mon-Fri, 10am-5pm. Ticket discounts are available for groups of 10 or more at 315-443-9844. Discounts are also available for seniors, students, and U.S. military personnel and veterans. Sign interpretation, open captioning, and audio description services are available for select performances. Family guide: fun for all members of the family, some mildly suggestive dialogue. The Broadway production of Hairspray won eight Tony Awards in 2003 including Best Musical. Incorporating 60’s style dance music and rhythm and blues, popular songs from Hairspray include “You Can’t Stop the Beat,” “I Know Where I’ve Been,” “I Can Hear the Bells,” “Big, Blonde and Beautiful,” “,” “,” “It Takes Two,” and “Welcome to the 60s,” among others. Composer/lyricist Marc Shaiman and lyricist Scott Wittman won the Tony Award for Best Original Score and a Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album.

Hairspray at Syracuse Stage is directed by Bill Fennelly, who previously directed Stage’s S.A.L.T. Award-winning production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Fennelly’s previous credits includes Frankenstein the musical (Off-Broadway), A Christmas Carol featuring F. Murray Abraham and Lynn Redgrave, Original Assistant Director of Jersey Boys, and Resident Director for The Lion King.

“There are so many things I like about Hairspray. The music is fabulous, and the choreography by David Wanstreet (White Christmas, Syracuse Stage) is going to be out of this world,” said Fennelly.

“Hairspray is a unique and thrilling choice for a holiday musical. The musical is a love explosion! There are epic, amazing love stories for so many of the characters, and there’s no better time than the holidays to think about those you love. It’s also a time to remember the illuminating power of light in the darkness. One person can make a difference. I think that’s very moving especially at this time of year.”

Set in 1962 Baltimore, Hairspray uses the Corny Collins Show to shed light on social injustices of American society. John Waters, the creator of the original Hairspray movie upon which the musical is based, was inspired by the real-life Buddy Deane Show, a competitor to American Bandstand. (Read more about the historical context of Hairspray in our Program Book)

“If people are going to take something away from this production of Hairspray the musical, I hope everyone will remember that they are unique, beautiful and not like anyone else, and that is to be celebrated,” said Fennelly. “I think Hairspray asks us to try and be more compassionate—live better, live more joyfully, live with more love, live with more courage.”

Hairspray is a co-production with Syracuse University’s Department of Drama in the College of Visual and Performing Arts. The 29-member cast includes professional Broadway actors, SU Drama faculty members, SU Drama alumni, and current SU Drama students. (View artist bios in our Program Book)

The Presenting Sponsor for Hairspray is Onondaga County/CNY Arts. Sponsors are Key Bank, The Allyn Foundation, Grandma Brown Foundation, and Excellus BlueCross BlueShield. The Media Sponsor is WAER Syracuse Public Media. The 2014/15 Season Sponsor is Syracuse Media Group.

LOBBY EXHIBIT

“Syracuse in the Early 60’s” Provided by Onondaga Historical Association

This exhibit will focus on the teenage music scene around Syracuse in the early 60’s, with reference to popular bands, the first local radio stations to play Rock & Roll, local versions of the Corny Collins Show like WHEN’s Dance Party, and Dick Clark’s connections to Syracuse.

SPECIAL EVENTS - FREE FOR TICKET HOLDERS

Dec. 5 Opening Night Party Mingle with the cast after the show! Food provided by Liberty Deli. Live music featuring jazz vocalist Nancy Kelly.

Dec. 6 Syracuse Stage Young Adult Council presents Karaoke 6:45-7:30 p.m. in the Sutton Pavilion.

Dec. 7 Prologue at 1 p.m. An intimate 20-minute pre-show discussion with actors. Bring your questions!

Dec. 11 Happy Hour & Cabaret Performance Appetizers provided by Pastabilities. plus half-price drinks 6 - 7:30 p.m. At 6:45 p.m. there will be a live musical theatre cabaret performance.

Dec. 13 Prologue at 2 p.m. An intimate 20-minute pre-show discussion with actors. Bring your questions!

Dec. 18 Prologue at 6:30 p.m. An intimate 20-minute pre-show discussion with actors. Bring your questions!

Dec. 23 Wednesday @ 1 Lecture Lecture at 1 p.m. in the Sutton Pavilion, before the 2 p.m. matinee. Featuring Brian Cimmet, Professor of Drama at Syracuse University, and the Music Director for Syracuse Stage's production of Hairspray, on “From Screen to Stage—a discussion of adapting source material for musical theatre.”

Dec. 28 Actor Talkback Actor Q&A following the 7 p.m. show.

ABOUT SYRACUSE STAGE

Syracuse Stage is Central ’s premier professional theatre. Founded in 1974, Stage has produced more than 300 plays in over 40 seasons including a number of world, American, and East Coast premieres. Each season 70,000 patrons enjoy an adventurous mix of new plays, and bold interpretations of classics and musicals, featuring the finest theatre artists. In addition, Stage maintains a vital educational outreach program that annually serves more than 15,000 students from 14 counties. A solid core of subscribers and supporters helps keep Syracuse Stage a vibrant artistic presence in . Additional support comes from the government, foundations, corporations and Syracuse University. Syracuse Stage is a constituent of the Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national organization for the American theatre, and a member of the Arts and Cultural Leadership Alliance (ACLA), the University Hill Corporation and the East Genesee Regent Association. Syracuse Stage is a member of The League of Resident Theatres (LORT), the largest professional theatre association in the country.

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Syracuse Stage I Producing Artistic Director: Timothy Bond I Managing Director: Jeffrey Woodward 820 E. Genesee St. I Main: 315-443-4008 I Box Office: 315-443-3275 I www.SyracuseStage.org