Hairspray (In The Park)
American Stage American Stage in the Park St. Petersburg, FL
Lighting design for the 2017 production of Hairspray (In The Park) at American Stage, directed by Shain Stroff.
About the Lighting Design
Hairspray In The Park sat at an inflection point of outdoor lighting technology. Before this show, the park rig was mostly incandescent. A few waterproof color scrollers wrapped in trash bags every night gave the design any color flexibility it had, and the rest of the rig was conventional fixtures that didn’t care about the weather. The lighting could only do general illumination, making the actors visible, holding the stage picture together, and not much more.
By Hairspray, waterproof LEDs had matured and were becoming more widely available from rental shops. The rig could change color on cue, push saturation, react to music. For the first time the park design could behave theatrically rather than just keep the stage lit. Hairspray asks for big iconic musical-theater moments, and the rig could finally meet that ask.
The budget was still modest. There were still no waterproof moving lights available, which meant follow spots covered the isolation work and the rest of the rig stayed in fixed positions. But the LED color was enough to let the design open up.
- Music
- Marc Shaiman
- Based on the New Line Cinema film by
- John Waters
- Director
- Shain Stroff
- Choreographer
- Shain Stroff
- Music Director
- Michael Raabe
- Scenic Designer
- Jerid Fox
- Costume Designer
- Tricia Kelly
- Wig Designer
- Scott Daniel
- Lighting Designer
- Mike Wood
- Sound Designer
- JThor Productions
- Associate Lighting Designer
- Dalton Hamilton
- Assistant Lighting Designer
- Anthony LeFebvre
- Programmer
- Dalton Hamilton
- Drafting
- Jessica Creager
- Production Stage Manager
- Miriam Rochford
- Assistant Stage Manager
- Alli GersbachWhitaker Gardner
- Production Manager
- Jerid Fox
- Production Coordinator
- Rachel Harrison
- Technical Director
- Timon Brown
- Master Carpenter
- Robert Creedon
- Master Electrician
- Chris Baldwin
- Production Electrician
- Chris Baldwin
- Lighting Shop
- 4Wall (Rep: Sebastian Yepes ) PRG
About the Show
Set in 1962 Baltimore, the story follows Tracy Turnblad, a pleasantly plump teenager who dreams of dancing on the popular "Corny Collins Show." When her dream comes true, she's transformed from social outcast to sudden star and uses her newfound power to dethrone the reigning Teen Queen, win the affections of heartthrob Link Larkin, and integrate a TV network. Winner of eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical, this family-friendly musical is piled bouffant-high with laughter, romance and deliriously tuneful songs.
Source: MTI
Cast
Matthew McGee as Edna TurnbladAllyson Pace as Tracy TurnbladScott Daniel as Corny CollinsAlison Burns as Velma Von TussleDavid Michael Bevis as Link LarkinJayne Trinette as Motormouth MaybelleDeejay Young as Seaweed J. StubbsThomas Mothershed as Wilbur TurnbladMeredith Pughe as Amber Von TussleKayla Tomas as Penny PingletonAdam Zeph as BradBrianna Mooney as BrendaErin Leigh Knowles as TammyEthan Zeph as FenderEmanuel Carrero as IQXerron Mingo as GilbertTerrence Jamison as DuaneNia Jamison-Sissle as Lil Inez / DynamiteJessica Rebecca as Judine / DynamiteShante Clark as Kamilah / DynamiteTom Bengston as Male Authority FigureMelanie Souza as Female Authority FigureMatthew AcquardSadie Lockhart as ensemble
Orchestra
Michael Raabe on Music Director / Keys 1David Estevez on Keys 2Dave Pate on ReedsPaul Stoddart on GuitarKenny Walker on BassBurt Rushing on DrumsJoe Grady on Bass (Sub)