E. FAYE BUTLER brought the house down in her performance as Juba in the Goodman’s Pullman Porter Blues.
Get set for a high-octane ride with thrilling choreography, rock-in’ tunes and explosively colorful costumes – plus some really cool hairdos – when the Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd. in downtown Aurora, presents “Hairspray – The Broadway Musical,” January 20-February 21, 2016.
Based on the John Waters’ hit movie, “Hairspray” reminds us of the importance of individuality and the acceptance of one another: a wonderful message to share with everyone.
Director and choreographer Amber Mak makes her Paramount directorial debut with this high-energy song and dance party about a plus-sized teen, with plus-sized hair, and one big plus-sized dream – to dance her way onto Baltimore’s hit TV show, “The Corny Collins Show.”
The incomparable E. Faye Butler makes her Paramount debut as Motormouth Maybelle. On his blog, Paramount Artistic Director Jim Corti wrote, “It seems I’ve known this powerhouse, multi-award winning beauty all my life and it’s hard to keep track of Ms. Butler as she never stops working! I will never forget her portrayals of Dinah Washington in “Dinah Was” at Northlight and in the title role of Court Theatre’s “Caroline, or Change.”
Butler is just one in an A-list, 30-person cast including Amelia Jo Parish as Tracy Turnblad, Michael Kingston as Edna Turnblad, TJ Crawford as Seaweed J. Stubbs, Devin DeSantis as Corny Collins, Michael Ehlers as Wilbur Turnblad, Landree Fleming as Penny Pingleton, Henry McGinniss as Link Larkin, Samantha Pauly as Amber Von Tussle, Heather Townsend as Velma Von Tussle and Ariana Burks as Little Inez.
Adding motion to the ocean are “Hairspray” ensemble members David Davis, Gilbert Domally, Annie Jo Ermel, Adam Fane, Megan E. Farley, Allyson Graves, Danielle Jackman, Allie Jae, Reneisha Jenkins, Alex John Johnson, George Keating, James Lee, Ericka Mac, Mallory Maedke, John Marshall Jr., Mollyanne Nunn, Jaymes Osborne, Carlita Victoria and Phil Young.
Bring your family, friends and neighbors to Paramount’s “Hairspray – The Broadway Musical.” Previews begin January 20, 2016. Regular performances continue through February 21: Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.; Thursday at 7 p.m.; Friday at 8 p.m.; Saturday at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m.; and Sunday at 1 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Estimated run time is 2 hours and 30 minutes including intermission. There will be two certified sign interpreters translating all dialogue and lyrics into American Sign Language on Thursday, February 18 at 7 p.m.
Tickets are $41 to $56. The Paramount Theatre is located at 23 E. Galena Blvd., in the heart of downtown Aurora. For tickets and information, go to www.Par-amountAurora.com, call (630) 896-6666 or visit the Paramount box office. This musical is rated PG. Parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.
More about “Hairspray – The Broadway Musical”: It is based on the original 1988 New Line Cinema film written and directed by cult legend John Waters starring Ricki Lake, Divine and Debbie Harry. Who can forget Waters’ timeless story? Every day after school, “pleasantly plump” Tracy Turnblad and her best friend Penny bee-line home to watch the cool kids shake the rafters to the hottest tunes on “The Corny Collins Show.” When a dance slot opens on the show, Tracy gets help from her friend Seaweed who puts enough groove in her step to win that dream role. Overnight, Tracy is the new girl in town, and life is never the same. But Tracy doesn’t rest on her stardom; instead, she uses her new celebrity to racially integrate the show and change the lives of Baltimore folks forever.
About E. Faye Butler (Motormouth Maybelle): She has performed on virtually every Chicago stage including the Goodman Theatre, Chicago Shakespeare, Northlight, Steppenwolf, Court, Marriott Lincolnshire, Victory Gardens, Congo Square, Roy-
al George and Mercury. Regionally she has performed at Asolo, Yale, Milwaukee and Arkansas Repertory Theatres, Philadelphia Theatre Company and the Kennedy Center. She is the recipient of six Jeff awards, four BTAs, two Helen Hayes awards and a Black Excellence Award. She has been recognized for Excellence in the Arts and was inducted into Women in the Arts Museum in Washington D.C.
