SMC, Jinkx & All-Star Cast Get “Hairsprayed” At The 5th Avenue

Hairspray is in concert at the 5th Avenue with the Seattle Men’s Chorus through Sunday, June 23, 2013 with Jinkx Monsoon as Velma! (The can of hairspray in the back looks like a Dalek…) Photo from the London cast of “Hairspray”

Pride fever gets a huge kick-off starting tonight, June 20th as the Seattle Men’s Chorus and a wealth of local musical theater talent including Jinkx Monsoon, take to the deliciously decadent stage at The 5th Avenue Theatre for SIX huge performances over the next four days celebrating the Seattle return of the beloved Tony Award winning musical, “Hairspray” based on the original film by John Waters. It’s being billed as “Hairspray in Concert” but you’re pretty much gonna see the entire show, just not fully staged, but expect every cast member to be appropriately costumed and coiffed. It’s also a special treat for Seattle since “Hairspray” originated at The 5th Avenue back in 2002 before taking Broadway by storm.

And, it’s a killer cast. In addition to the much ballyhooed announcement that “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season Five winner and local performance legend Jinkx Monsoon/Jerick Hoffer would be playing the villainess, Velma Von Tussle, a slew of other terrific local musical theater superstars will be playing all the other principal roles:

The cast includes Kat Ramsburg and Eric Polani Jensen as Tracy and Edna Turnblad, along with Allen Fitzpatrick,Louis Hobson, Cynthia Jones, and a host of additional Seattle stars.  Also making a star turn is Jerick Hoffer as the evil Velma Von Tussle. Best known as his drag persona, Jinkx Monsoon, Hoffer is the winner of Season Five of RuPaul’s Drag Race and a critically acclaimed stage performer who was seen in The 5th’s production of RENT last season. Seattle Men’s Chorus’ acclaimed vocal ensemble Captain Smartypants collectively perform a host of featured roles.

Kat Ramsburg returns to Seattle to take center stage as Tracy Turnblad, joined by Eric Polani Jensen and Allen Fitzpatrick as Edna and Wilbur Turnblad.  Ramsburg, who has a blossoming career as a playwright and dramaturg in New York City, has performed previously at The 5th in productions of Mame, Sweeney Todd, The Wizard of Oz, and The Sound of Music.  Eric Polani Jensen and Allen Fitzpatrick are also no strangers to The 5th Avenue stage.  Jensen recently appeared as a member of the Quartet in The Music Man, and was a sensation as Tevye in Village Theatre’s recent production of Fiddler on the Roof.  Fitzpatrick appeared most recently in The 5th’s collaboration with ACT, Grey Gardens, as well as in the holiday hit ELF.  The two have appeared in dozens of productions around Puget Sound and regional houses across the country.

A host of additional 5th Avenue favorites pack this production with enough star power to light up Seattle, including Aaron C. Finley (Link Larkin), Jessica Skerritt (Amber Von Tussle), Kirsten deLohr Helland (Penny Pingleton), Heath Saunders (Seaweed J. Stubbs), Jeff Steitzer (Spitzer), and Bobbie Kotula (Prudy Pingleton), with new-comer Camille Collaco (Little Inez.)  Featured as the Dynamites are Candi Hall, Alexandria Henderson, and Sarah Russell.  Filling out the cast are Jordon Bolden, Sarah Rose Davis, Tori Gresham, Jimmie D. Herrod, Jr., Charlie Johnson, Matthew Steven Lawrence, Kasey Nusbickel, Isaiah Parker, Connor Russell, Patrick Shelton, Katherine Strohmaier, and Madison Willis.

The 5th Avenue’s artistic director David Armstrong is staging the production with musical direction from Seattle Men’s Chorus artistic director Dennis Coleman.

Here’s all the other skinny you need to know including links for tickets which can be purchased through both SMC and The 5th Avenue.

6 Performances Only! June 20-23, 2013

8 PM, Thursday, June 20

8 PM Friday, June 21

2 PM and 8 PM, Saturday, June 22

2 PM and 7:30 PM, Sunday June 23

WHERE:   The 5th Avenue Theatre (1308 5th Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101) 

TICKETS:      Tickets (starting at $23) may be purchased through either organization.

• ·         The 5th Avenue Theatre: Visit www.5thavenue.org or call the Box Office at (206) 625-1900.  Tickets may also be purchased at (888) 5TH-4TIX.
• ·         Seattle Men’s Chorus:  Visit www.seattlemenschorus.org or call the Box Office at (206) 388-1400.