A Life Post-Hairspray

All good things must come to an end, but that doesn’t mean that more good things aren’t on the horizon for the cast of Hairspray. From New York to Florida not to mention the season here at Signature, you can find them all over the East Coast! Then again, if you’re in need of a pick-me-up in a few months, we might be able to rein them in for a Hairspray reunion concert. Any takers?

Reunion or not, the cast gave us a peak at what they’re post-Hairspray life will look like:

“Brother Russia at Signature!  We start rehearsals during the last week of Hairspray.  WHEW!  Nothing like jumping right in!” – Erin Gardiner (Amber Von Tussle)

“Auditioning my life away and crossing fingers!” – Kirstin Riegler (Brenda)

“A week in NY doing a reading of Who's Your Baghdaddy? at Joe's Pub. Then back here for Xanadu” – Harry Winter (Wilbur Turnblad)

Up in New York? Check it out on on February 9th at 9:30...

“My answer:  '?' (that's a big ole question mark, lol)” – Carolyn Cole (Tracy Turnblad)

“Trading in my saddle shoes for roller skates! XanaduI!” – Jamie Eacker (Tammy)

 “....a long, studied meditation on what will really be next in my life...” – Robert Aubry Davis (Edna Turnblad)

“I'll be going down to Jacksonville, Florida to do Hello, Dolly starring Sally Struthers!! Hello sunshine and beach days!” – Nick Hovsepian

“I'm retiring. I started saving really early so I'm good :)” – Patrick Cragin

“Back to the grind in the concrete jungle: babysitting, yoga, and hoping someone can spare a production contract (or a contract of any sorts, really) ....it's a hard knock life for Ms. Knox!” – Brandi Knox (Lorraine/Dynamite)

“Rest and recuperation until the summer.  Next up, Little Shop of Horrors at Olney Theatre.” – Kara Tameika Watkins (Shayna/Dynamite)

“On to Brother Russia here, and looking forward to mastering the art of wearing high heels! Then to the Kennedy Center for a workshop of James and the Giant Peach!” - Stephen Gregory Smith (Corny Collins)

Check out Stephen and Erin in Signature's production of Brother Russia!

A Backstage Tour with Lacey and Taryn

If there’s something to be said about drama, it’s that it’s best left on stage and not off. That’s why Hairspray has an unstoppable backstage crew to run the show! Of course, every good team needs it’s captains and that’s where Production Assistant, Lacey Talero, and Assistant Stage Manager, Taryn Friend come in. They keep the cast in line, the crew on pace and the show running like clockwork all under the watchful eye of the Production Stage Manager, Kerry Epstein. The key to running any operation is order and Lacey and Taryn have got that down pat. Lucky for the Hairline, they were thrilled to give us a peek backstage at how they keep a huge show like Hairspray organized from performance to performance.

Meet Lacey and Taryn!

This is where the actors and the crew sign in for each performance and get information regarding the show, such as whether there is a post show discussion that evening, or whether we have an understudy performing.

This is a list of every single prop that is used in the show, including everything from furniture to hand props. As members of the stage management team, Taryn and Lacey check off each item on the list as they set them in their appropriate location.

This is one of the prop shelves where Taryn and Lacey place those props.

This is Michelle's automation station. As the Automation Technician, it's her job to make sure that all of the automated scenery is in proper working order before each show. This is where the magic happens!

Wigs, wigs, and more wigs. Haley and Karmen do a great job of maintaining the wigs, as well as fitting the wigs on the actors.

And this is where the actors sit for Haley or Karmen to put their wigs on them.

These are all of the microphones used in the show with each mic assigned to a specific cast member. Our sound team (Kendric, Heath, and Steven) keeps track of which mic goes to which actor, puts new batteries in each show, helps attach the mics to the actors, and performs any necessary maintenance to the mics.

The backstage space is fairly minimal. Each piece of furniture has its own place, which makes moving the scenery like putting together a puzzle.

This is J.R., the rat who makes an appearance in "Good Morning, Baltimore" Some of our crew members are understandably a bit creeped out by the little guy.

Thanks for joining us backstage at Hairspray!

Season's Greetings?

We may only be halfway done with this season but progress on the next season is well underway. The caption for next season? 

"Re-in-vent"

Reinvent what? While we’re DYING to tell you what’s on the slate for next year, there are still lots of details to be worked out before anything is officially announced. Of course, that didn’t stop the Hairspray cast from letting us know what they would love to see…

“Singing in the Rain” – Patrick Cragin (Link Larkin)

“Superstar” – Matt Conner (Mr Pinky)

“Funny. Girl.” – Carolyn Cole (Tracy Turnblad)

“Millie or A Little Night Music” – Kirstin Riegler (Brenda)

“The Wiz” – Brandi Knox (Dynamite/Lorraine)

“Sweet Charity” – Ashleigh King (Dynamite/Cindy)

“A Tap-dancing show! 42^nd Street?” – Jennifer Cameron (Shelley)

Have a suggestion? Let us know what you’d like to see at Signature next season in our comments or on our Facebook page!

Hairspray Follies - Part 2

On Monday, the cast told us all about the collection of foibles that have plagued them through the run of Hairspray. But mishaps can extend well beyond our productions at Signature... 

(If you haven't seen this video from The Miracle Worker, it's worth a gander)

The cast shared their some of their own sagas:

“I was in a production of Grease and at the end of the play Sandy is supposed to hit (punch) Patty for being such a snot. Well... the air was just right that night. "Im going to have a black eye..." and sure enough I really got punched in the eye by Sandy and yup, a real black eye was there. No running off stage for this girl though, I continued with the scene and right through curtain call with a swollen eye.  No hard feelings either, I got a nice present the next day for being such a trooper!” – Jamie Eacker (Tammy)

“Let's see ... aside from forgotten lines and tornadoes and earthquakes? hmmm ... in college I had to change clothes onstage and had neglected to wear underwear. Ah, the 70's ...” – Harry Winter (Wilbur Turnblad)

“The worst onstage mishap that I've been involved in EVER, was the final night of A Chorus Line in college, when my parents came to see me. I was really excited, and decided to go for a triple pirouette instead of the single that I had been doing the entire run of the show. Just my luck, I fell completely out of the turns. Though, I didn't fall just out of my turn, but I fell nearly off the stage and onto my face! But, on the bright side I happen to land on the ground just a beat before the lyric "God I really blew it, I really blew it." Me snapping back up and singing those lyrics saved that entire catastrophic moment, and my parents just thought it was all a part of the show.” – Nikolas Vaughan (Gilbert)

“When I was on tour with Grease, the guy playing Roger missed his entrance, and the three of us on stage had to make up a scene for a good 2 minutes. That was the longest two minutes of my life...” – Patrick Cragin (Link Larkin)

“I fell into the orchestra pit when I was 10…” – Kirsten Riegler (Brenda)

“I definitely fell off the stage in Assassins at Signature when we were in the garage space.  It was closing night and the opening number and I was trying to be all cool and Squeaky-like.  I went to get my gun from the Balladeer and slipped on my hippie skirt and fell off the stage.  It was such a shock to the Balladeer that he actually stopped singing.  I think what adds insult to injury is that day's earlier matinee, I had suffered a wardrobe malfunction onstage.  I was definitely ready to close after that day!” – Erin Gardiner (Amber Von Tussle)

Sounding off with Matt Rowe

With all of the technical elements required to mount a production, you can imagine that each show at Signature requires a diverse set of expertise from each staff member. Some focus on lights and electrics, like Sarah LaRue, others are masters of props, like Aly Geisler, but only one is king of sound. Matt Rowe laid out all things aural for the Hairline.

Tell us about your Signature story. How did you come to work here?

Before I worked at Signature Theatre, I had spent the previous decade working in studios and as a front of house audio engineer for touring events. When I decided to concentrate on theatrical sound design a friend of mine, Tony Angelini who was designing almost all of Signature’s productions, introduced me and the rest is history. My first show was Hedwig and the Angry Inch in 2002.

What does sound designing a musical entail?

A musical's sound designer is responsible for adding aural effects to enhance the dramatic content of a show, to add fx's(crash, thunder, bang), and to design the sound system. A sound designer also works with the mixer to ensure a consistent soundscape for the audience from night to night

What kind of sound effects did you have to create for Hairspray?

Hairspray didn't have a lot of sound fx's as it was mostly telephone rings and such. The real work was tracking the 25 body microphones on stage and the over 40 inputs from the orchestra

What has been a favorite moment from working on Signature’s Hairspray?

When we heard Nova (Payton) and the ensemble sing ‘I Know Where I've Been’ for the first time with the orchestra.

What’s next for you at Signature?

My next projects are Signature's productions of Really Really and Brother Russia .

Hairspray Follies - Part 1

One of the greatest thrills of going to the theatre is the possibility that at any given moment, something might go wrong. Why else would people continue to flock to see Spiderman the Musical? Heck, it’s why people see any theatre. You go to the movies for the consistency but you go to the theatre for the unexpected. Alas, with the unexpected can come utter and total disaster.

Spiderman the Musical!

After some minor prodding, the Hairspray cast revealed some onstage mishaps from the run so far:

“I would say that the most embarrassing moment was when I realized that I had danced my tail off in the entire 'Run and Tell That' number with my blouse COMPLETELY open and my bubbies in people's faces, lol. That gave a whole new meaning to 'opening night of previews'” – Carolyn Cole (Tracy Turnblad)

“The night where I blanked on a portion of the Madison. It was a moment when everyone is facing upstage, and since I'm in the back, I couldn't see anyone. So I completely started doing a "freestyle groove" for about 12 counts. It felt more embarrassing than I'm sure it looked to the audience, but I guess that's the only big mishap I've had. ‘Knock on wood!’” – Nickolas Vaughan (Gilbert)

“I have a moment during ‘Run and Tell That’ with Stephen (Scott Wormley) where we're definitely flirty, and I've decided that my character thinks he has gone too far and jokingly slaps him.... sometimes I get too excited and that slap is a little less joke and a little more boxing champ. The lovely Stephen handles it like a star and is always forgiving, but it's definitely a ‘woopsies’ moment for me.” - Ashleigh King (Dynamite/Cindy)

“About three weeks into performance, I got to the famous line where momma is upset because Link has just walked out on Tracy, and the line is ‘It's just Eddie Fisher all over again...’

And the name simply escaped my mind. I began sputtering: "It's just...."- "It's just..." – "It's just..."

Fortunately, Harry Winter, being the pro that he is, jumped in: "I bet you're thinking about that damn Eddie Fisher!"

I now, among the other albums from 1962 scattered everywhere, have mounted high above the mirror, looking down on me, the album: Eddie Fisher--Thinking of You

And I think of him before I go out on every show...” – Robert Aubry Davis (Edna Turnblad)

Learning about LaRue

If you’ve seen Hairspray, you may have noticed there are lights everywhere. They’re above the stage, around the stage, IN the stage. But who’s actually responsible for constructing all of those? Our master electrician, Sarah LaRue, is a technician extraordinaire and quite the wiz when it comes to all things technical. She took a few minutes to tell the Hairline about her work on Hairspray:

Some of the production team working on LaRue's "Practicals"

1) We got a small taste of what you do a few weeks back but can you tell us more specifically about your involvement with Hairspray?

Hairspray was especially interesting because the scenic designer created a lot of practicals for the set.  A practical in theatrical lighting is something that lights up that is not necessarily a standard theatrical lighting fixture such as a sconce, chandelier, or sign. In my 5 years here at Signature Theatre, Hairspray holds the record for number of practicals, including 5 signs, 12 windows, 3 sconces, 4 billboard lights, 2 bare bulbs, 2 lightboxes, 1 fan, and the Corny Collins header which consists of 42 diamonds with a light bulb in the center of each wired in a 3 circuit chase. Fortunately, practicals are my favorite part of the job so clearly I got to have a lot of fun with this one.

2) As Signature’s resident Master Electrician, what does your job entail once a show has opened?

Once a show has opened, the day to day running of the show gets handed over to my assistants Katrina Maurer and Erin Jones and I get freed up to begin the planning process of the next production.  Occasionally, a piece of equipment will break and I’ll need to fix it.

3) What has been your favorite project for Hairspray?

My favorite project for Hairspray was surprisingly something fairly simple.  It was when I installed some ropelight into a box fax (below)  With every show there is always some little project where you stop and think…  boy, my job is weird… I’m installing ropelight in a fan…  who does this?  This is what I come to work and get paid to do everyday and I LOVE it!

Sarah working on her favorite project

4) How did you end up at Signature? What have been some of the highlights?

The story of how I ended up at Signature is a classic one of being involved in the DC theatre community.  I had been happily freelancing around town when I received a call from a friend at Barbizon, a theatrical sales and service company in Alexandria.  She mentioned that Chris Akins, whom she previously worked for at Williamstown was now the Production Manager at Signature, they were opening a new theatre and looking for a Master Electrician, and I should apply.  I wasn’t necessarily looking for full time job, but I figured I’ll go to the interview and see what it’s all about.  5 years later, I’m still here!

5) What is your next project at Signature?

I’m currently prepping for our next two shows Really, Really and Brother Russia.  Brother Russia is going to have a ceiling of festoon lights which will consist of hundreds light bulbs in numerous different shapes, sizes, and colors.

"Backstories, People!"

When you throw a bunch of actors together for an extended run, something rather strange transpires. Histories develop into novels, backstories evolve and develop and relationships morph into something straight from a soap opera.

Some stay simple,

“Corny and Velma had an affair in the early days of the Corny Collins show” – Sherri Edelen (Velma Von Tussle)

While others are, shall we say, complicated?

“When I return as Carol, Shelley’s mom, for the end of act one/beginning of act two...I am friends with Velma until she gets bailed out by the governor....who happens to be my husband...and the affair is new to me in the jail scene...so I turn to the integration side!” – Kirsten Riegler (Brenda)

Read on for some more:

“Fender is Link's best friend” – Patrick Cragin (Link Larkin)

“Brad is a senior, and the oldest of all the 'Nicest Kids'...and he doesn't go to Patterson Park High. He goes to a fancy private school!” – Matthew Wojtal (Brad)

“Edna saw the 1934 Will Rogers movie ‘Judge Priest’ as a teenager, and was impressed by the scene when the judge's son comes back from college. Hattie McDaniel (as "Aunt Dilsey") decides to make the son ‘her best chicken,’ and when he also asks for waffles, she adds that in--so Edna decided to order those things together from then on. It was Edna's initial craving for those two foods together that initiated the restaurant craze to provide both foods--although in actual fact, there was no place that specialized in chicken and waffles together until AFTER 1962!” – Robert Aubry Davis (Edna Turnblad)

“Shelley basically has a crush on every guy in the show. But a major crush on Link!!! One that is sometimes hard to hide :) She is also trying to impress Amber so that Amber will like her. She is the ‘new girl’ to the group so she’s always trying to fit in. The ‘Tracy Hairstyle’ was not a huge hit with Amber” – Jenn Cameron (Shelley)

“Well lately Prudy and Mr Spritzer have the beginnings of a love affair with a date in the offing established during ‘You Can't Stop The Beat". Which is a welcome development for Prudy since it's been quite a dry spell and Spritzer is quite a successful businessman.” – Lynn Neal (Prudy Pingleton)

“During You Can't Stop the Beat, Amber realizes that perhaps she was wrong about black boys and finds one in particular VERY cute!  She watches him through the whole Motor Mouth solo and that is what helps her decide to shake her fanny muscles!  Shhhhh....don't tell her Mom!!!” – Erin Gardiner (Amber Von Tussle)

Photo courtesy of Chris Mueller

We've Extended!!

Hairspray just announced that it's extended for a whole extra week!

That's EIGHT more chances to watch these wacky cats...

SHIMMY

SHAKE

AND GRIND

to the music of the 60's!

Already seen it? Let us know what you thought!

Breaking it down with Brianne Camp

If the name Camp sounds familiar, that’s probably because Karma Camp has been a Signature regular since 2007, devising dances for Signature favorites like Witches of Eastwick and Showboat. With the high energy choreography needed for Hairspray, she brought on her ever charming daughter to join the creative team. A recent graduate of East Carolina University, Brianne graced the Hairline with a few minutes of her time to tell us all about the process.

Brianne Camp

1)       Ok, so, you’re the Associate Choreographer. How’d you get that gig?

Actually I was promoted by Eric and Karma to Co-Choreographer! I worked with Eric and my mom on Overtures for the past seven years and they have watched me grow and thought this may be a good opportunity for me. My mother also saw my work at Interlochen Arts Academy and thought I should try my hand here in Washington. 

2)       What does exactly does the Co-Choreographer’s job entail?


My position entails being responsible for creative content and demonstrating our ideas to the cast. I also clean all our numbers, which I love to do!

3)       What was it like working with your mother? Is this the first time you have worked on a show together in this capacity?

Yes, this is the first time we have worked as equals. I am also currently her legs as she is patiently waiting to have knee surgery! Mom and I have similar teaching methods so we work very well together. I guess you could say I learned from the best!

4)       Do you see yourself more as a dancer or a choreographer?

Always a tough question! I love both. I am way too young to stop performing but my passion for teaching will always be there.

5)       What’s your favorite part of the show to watch? Any reason in particular?

That's tough too! I love every minute of the show because you can see how much fun the cast is having! If I had to choose I would have to say “Run and Tell That”.  That number has the most influence from my style of dancing and watching people interpret your own style is fascinating and fun to watch.

6)       Do you have any other projects coming up in the near future?

Yes, I go to Toronto soon to associate choreograph Aladdin on the new Disney ship debuting in March! I am paying my dues now and look forward to one day leaving my stamp on the Washington D.C. area!  

Happy New Years!!

It's another year and Hairspray still can't seem to stop the beat here at Signature!

What better way to bring in the new year than with a Hairspray-themed flash mob? They've popped up in malls across the country, it would only make sense that the next logical place would be a screening of Hairspray.  While you're recovering from last night's debauchery, sit back and enjoy a little 60s style shimmy-ing