HairsprayCharacterDescriptions

TracyTurnbladApleasantlyplumpteenagerwithabigheartwhohasdreamsofbeingadancingstaras
soonasshe'soutofdetentionforherbighair.Tracyisntafraidtobeherselfandstandupforwhatshebelievesin. Shemustbefriendly,relentless,andgoodheartedwithavibrant,lovablepersonalityandlovetosinganddance. TracyisonstageforaLOToftheshowsoshemusthavestaminaandtalentsheperformsin10+numbers includingGoodMorningBaltimore,ICanHearTheBells,andmanymore!ItistrulyaBIGrole!MezzoBelt StageAge:1619

EdnaTurnbladTracyskind,plussizedmother;runsalaundrybusinessoutofherhomebuthasn'tbeenoutina
while.PlayedbyHarveyFiersteinonBroadway,andJohnTravoltainthemovie,thisdragrolerequiresastrong comicmaleperformerwhoisreadyforhisinnerwomantotakethespotlightEdnaisnotamanpretendingtobea woman,sheisallwoman!Just,youknow,withadistinctivevoice.Performsin5+numbersincludingYou're TimelessToMe.Tenor.StageAge:40+

WilburTurnbladTracysgoofyfather,whoownstheHarDeHarHutjokeshopandisstillmadlyinlovewith
hiswife,Edna.HeencouragesTracytofollowherdreams.Performsin2+numbersincludingYou'reTimelessTo Me.Baritone.StageAge:40+

CornyCollinstheexciting,confidentdancingandsinginghostofhisownTVdanceshow(thinkAmerican
Bandstandatitsinception).CornyisinfavorofTracyandracialintegration.Performsin4+numbersincluding NicestKidsInTownandHairspray.Tenor.StageAge:25+

PennyPingletonTracy'sslightlydorky,butlovablebestfriendwhoisoftenbyherside(whennotgroundedfor
lifebyhermother,Prudy).FallsheadoverheelsforSeaweed.Performsin4+numbersincludingMama,I'mABig GirlNowandWithoutLove.Belt.StageAge:1619

AmbervonTusslebratty,selfishresidentprincessofTheCornyCollinsShow.Hermother'sdaughterthrough
andthrough,sheiswillingtodoanythingtowintheMissTeenageHairspraypageant.CouncilMember.Performs in7+numbersincludingCooties.Belt.StageAge:1619

VelmavonTussleAmber'sslimandattractivebutoverbearingmotherwhopushesherdaughtertoseek
stardom.VelmaistheschemingproducerofTheCornyCollinsShowwhotriestosteeritinthewhitedirection. HersensitivitiesareoffendedattheverysightofTracy.Agreatvillainessrole.Performsin4+numbersincluding MissBaltimoreCrabs.Belt.StageAge:40+

LinkLarkinTeenageheartthrob,aspiringyoungElvis,andmaleleaddanceronTheCornyCollinsShow.Fallsin
lovewithTracy(Amberissoooojealous!).CouncilMember.Performsin7+numbersincludingItTakesTwo. CrooningBaritone.StageAge:1621

SeaweedJ.StubbsMotormouthMaybellessonandatalenteddanceronTheCornyCollinsShow,butonly
allowedonNegroDay.EndsupindetentionwithTracy.FallsinlovewithPenny.Performsin4+numbers includingRunAndTellThat.Tenor.StageAge:1619

MotormouthMaybellethesassyCornyCollinsNegroDayDJ.Ownerofarecordstoreandmotherto SeaweedandLittleInez.Plussized,shehelpsEdnafindprideinherself.Performsin3+numbersincludingBig, Blonde&BeautifulandIKnowWhereI'veBeen.SoulfulAlto.Stageage40+

LittleInezSeaweed'slittlesisterandjustastalentedadancer.TriestoauditionforTheCornyCollinsShowbut
isturnedawaybecausesheisblackbyVelma.Performsin3+numbersincludingRunAndTellThat.Belt.Stage Age:1315

TheDynamitesJudine,Kamilah,andShaynaTalentedblackvocaltrioalaTheSupremes.Featuredinmany
numberstogetherandusuallyintightharmony.Maydoubleforotherensembleroleslike'CindyWatkins,'etc. StageAge:25+

CouncilMembersTammy,Brad,Fender,Brenda,Sketch,Shelley,IQ,LouAnnDancersandsingersonThe
CornyCollinsShow.Performin5+numbersincludingNicestKidsInTownandYouCantStopTheBeat.Stage Age:1619

OtherStudentsGilbert,Duane,Lorraine,Stooie,ThadKidswefindindetention,andmostinMotormouth
Maybelle'srecordshop.Performin4+numbersincludingWelcometothe60sandYouCantStopTheBeat. StageAge:1619

FemaleAuthorityFigureTherolesofPrudyPingleton(Penny'suptightmother),thesadisticgymteacher,and
theprisonmatronareoftenplayedbyonecameoperformer.StageAge:40+

MaleAuthorityFigureTherolesofHarrimanF.Spritzer(PresidentofUltraClutchcosmetics,CornyCollins
showsponsor),thehighbloodpressureprincipal,andMr.Pinky(ownerofaplussizeddressshop)areoftenplayed byonecameoperformer.StageAge:40+ AfewotherEnsemblerolesmayalsobeavailable.TBD Allinformationissubjecttochange!

HairsprayandEthnicityandBodyTypes
Ingeneral,youhavetophysicallylooktheparttoplayatheatricalrole.AstrongcomponentoftheHairspray storyrevolvesaroundraceinthe1960's,aswellasspecificbodytypesandages.Itisourgoaltohavethe followingcharacteristicsappearontheFlynnstagetoforwardthestory: Black/AfricanAmerican White/Caucasian Plussized(Pleasantlyplump!) Notablyslimmerthanplussized Appearmeansyounaturallylookthepartwewillnotbeusingmakeuptomodifyethnicityorcostumingto dramaticallyalterbodytype(exceptforEdna'sbrassiere!). Severalrolesintheplaydonotcallforaspecificethnicityorbodytype. LyricTheatreisanEqualOpportunityorganizationandencourageseveryoneofallracesandsizestoauditionfor ageappropriateroles.Hairsprayisfairlyuniqueinitsspecificityforethnicityandbodytype.MostLyric productionsaretotallynonspecific! Charactersthatappearwhite: Charactersthatappearblack: TracyandEdnaTurnblad SeaweedJ.Stubbs PennyPingleton MotormouthMaybelle VelmaandAmbervonTussle LittleInez CornyCollins TheDynamites(Judine,Kamila,Shayna) CouncilMembers Gilbert MaleandFemaleAuthorityFigures CindyWatkins Duane Lorraine

Charactersthatmustbeplussized:

Charactersthatmustbenotablythinnerthanplussized:

TracyandEdnaTurnblad VelmaandAmbervonTussle MotormouthMaybelle CouncilMembers TeenNote:StudentorCouncilMemberrolesareintendedforstageage1619yearsold.Stageageisthe ageyoulookonstage.ThatmeansyoumustlooklikeyouareaJuniororSeniorinhighschoolwhenyouareon theFlynnstage. Youmustbeatleast15yearsoldasofthefirstdayofauditions(bornonorbeforeApril25,1996)toauditionfor theseroles.LittleInezistheonlyexception.Youmustbeatleast11yearsoldasofthefirstdayofauditions(born onorbeforeApril25,2000)toauditionforLittleInez. .