First up, a Signature perennial! You loved him in Boy Detective and he's back for some "Corny" action in Hairspray: Stephen Gregory Smith!
Hairspray. We are really doing Hairspray. What do I mean by this? A brief history...
John Waters is one of my personal role models and heroes, and Hairspray was a favorite film of mine since childhood. I bought the soundtrack on Vinyl, then later on cassette tape (remember those things? We used to buy them in stores). I developed a great affinity for John Waters' portrayal of rebellious Baltimore youth, ratting their hair, wearing Cha Cha heels, and scowling through their school day, waiting for the bell before they could run home and watch The Corny Collins Show.
Fast forward to 2002, and the broadway musical of Hairspray comes out on CD (remember those things? We used to buy those in stores). Eleasha Gamble and I quickly became obsessed with the cd, and sang it all over my townhouse that year. I would always sing Corny Collins, and say to her, "God! I would love to be Corny Collins one day!" We always would talk about which regional theatre might take on this show, if ever. We thought then, in 2002, wouldn't it be amazing if Signature ever did Hairspray?
Wouldn't it be amazing.
Fast forward to now, where yours truly gets the opportunity and privilege of playing Mr. Corny Collins, alongside a brilliant cast of phenomenal talent. Yes, everyone, sometimes dreams do come true. We are one week into rehearsals, and if anything that I have seen thus far is any indication (and I know it is), you guys are in for a treat this winter. Carolyn Cole is the absolute perfect Tracy Turnblad. Erin Gardiner is the absolute perfect Amber Von Tussle. Sherri Lynn Edelen Simpson is the absolut perfect Velma Von Tussle. I can go on and on, but I think you get the idea. The casting of this show is absolutely perfect, and every rehearsal is a delight to attend.
I also don't think that we have seen this level of dancing on a Signature stage in quite awhile. It is a cast of young and very talented performers, who fling and twist their bodies into amazing formations and positions, and Karma Camp is working some serious overtime here, alongside her daughter, Brianne Camp, who is assisting. I am so excited by the choreography so far, that it is all I can talk about when I leave.
Then there was the sing/read through the other day...dear god. The power of these 25 voices singing together is really phenomenal. I know we say that often, but when we finished several songs, Sherri, seated to my left actually screamed when a song ended. It was a primal scream of excitement and genuine appreciation. I guess the feeling that we are all feeling in the room is a feeling of electricity. The feeling of something amazing that is about to be unleashed.
Eric's vision of this show will get back to the John Waters roots of the original film. As I have stated earlier, dreams do come true.
So week one is complete, and the hair hoppers are doing the monkey, and "race music" is floating through the rehearsal hall, exciting everyone with it's infectious rhythms and catchy tunes. Young and I mean YOUNG performers are learning of the history of segregation and shaking their heads at the ridiculousness of how that happened here not that very long ago, and THAT, friends...that is why we tell this story. For every Tracy Turnblad who feels like they don't fit in, for every Penny Pingleton who finds a love whom others might not approve of, for every minority that seeks acceptance into this wild and crazy dance party that we call life...this is why we tell this story. So get ready, DC...because you CAN'T stop the beat.
xoxo Corny Collins.
Stephen Gregory Smith
John Waters is one of my personal role models and heroes, and Hairspray was a favorite film of mine since childhood. I bought the soundtrack on Vinyl, then later on cassette tape (remember those things? We used to buy them in stores). I developed a great affinity for John Waters' portrayal of rebellious Baltimore youth, ratting their hair, wearing Cha Cha heels, and scowling through their school day, waiting for the bell before they could run home and watch The Corny Collins Show.
Fast forward to 2002, and the broadway musical of Hairspray comes out on CD (remember those things? We used to buy those in stores). Eleasha Gamble and I quickly became obsessed with the cd, and sang it all over my townhouse that year. I would always sing Corny Collins, and say to her, "God! I would love to be Corny Collins one day!" We always would talk about which regional theatre might take on this show, if ever. We thought then, in 2002, wouldn't it be amazing if Signature ever did Hairspray?
Wouldn't it be amazing.
Fast forward to now, where yours truly gets the opportunity and privilege of playing Mr. Corny Collins, alongside a brilliant cast of phenomenal talent. Yes, everyone, sometimes dreams do come true. We are one week into rehearsals, and if anything that I have seen thus far is any indication (and I know it is), you guys are in for a treat this winter. Carolyn Cole is the absolute perfect Tracy Turnblad. Erin Gardiner is the absolute perfect Amber Von Tussle. Sherri Lynn Edelen Simpson is the absolut perfect Velma Von Tussle. I can go on and on, but I think you get the idea. The casting of this show is absolutely perfect, and every rehearsal is a delight to attend.
I also don't think that we have seen this level of dancing on a Signature stage in quite awhile. It is a cast of young and very talented performers, who fling and twist their bodies into amazing formations and positions, and Karma Camp is working some serious overtime here, alongside her daughter, Brianne Camp, who is assisting. I am so excited by the choreography so far, that it is all I can talk about when I leave.
Then there was the sing/read through the other day...dear god. The power of these 25 voices singing together is really phenomenal. I know we say that often, but when we finished several songs, Sherri, seated to my left actually screamed when a song ended. It was a primal scream of excitement and genuine appreciation. I guess the feeling that we are all feeling in the room is a feeling of electricity. The feeling of something amazing that is about to be unleashed.
Eric's vision of this show will get back to the John Waters roots of the original film. As I have stated earlier, dreams do come true.
So week one is complete, and the hair hoppers are doing the monkey, and "race music" is floating through the rehearsal hall, exciting everyone with it's infectious rhythms and catchy tunes. Young and I mean YOUNG performers are learning of the history of segregation and shaking their heads at the ridiculousness of how that happened here not that very long ago, and THAT, friends...that is why we tell this story. For every Tracy Turnblad who feels like they don't fit in, for every Penny Pingleton who finds a love whom others might not approve of, for every minority that seeks acceptance into this wild and crazy dance party that we call life...this is why we tell this story. So get ready, DC...because you CAN'T stop the beat.
xoxo Corny Collins.
Stephen Gregory Smith
