"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