HAIRSPRAY
at South Plantation High School

Reviewed on November 12, 2010

Kimmi Johnson
JP Taravella High School
Submitted for publication to

"Take your old-fashioned fears and just throw them away," pump up your hair, break out several cans of hairspray, and take a trip back to the sixties, and you'll find South Plantation's rendition of the ultra-popular "Hairspray."

Based on a 1988 John Water's film, the musical "Hairspray" follows the life of Tracy Turnblad, a girl with a dream and a huge heart, who wants to audition for The Corny Collins Show, a popular teenage dance phenomenon. After fighting her way through the not-so "nicest kids in town" that initially prevented her appearance on the show, Tracy finds love, fame, and courage as high as the top of her hairdo. Aside from the high-energy musical dance numbers, this musical dances along the themes of unfair racial segregation and not being afraid of standing up for what you believe is right.

This was no ordinary production of Hairspray, however. This talented, quadruple-threat cast incorporated the use of American Sign Language into the entire performance, dance numbers and all, to cater to the deaf and hard-of-hearing. The script was translated, glossed, directed, and taught by student Abigail Cline, who did a fantastic job integrating this powerful dimension into the performance. Every member of the cast executed speaking two languages at one time extremely well, and it was clear to see that their hours of hard work paid off.

Leading the show as Tracy Turnblad was Anneliese Banks, who delivered a high-energy performance from her first appearance onstage asleep in her bed, to her final moments dancing her heart out in "You Can't Stop the Beat." Banks embodied everything that Tracy Turnblad stands for, making the performance believable and enjoyable.

Playing Penny Pingleton's permanently punished persona was Jessica Sassler, whose perfectly consistent characterization from her speaking voice to her facial expressions resulted in the stand out performance of the night. As the prissy, discriminating, former star of The Corny Collins show, Abigail Cline was perfect as Amber VonTussle. Her strong voice and natural dancing talent lit up the stage. Motormouth Maybelle, the expressive R&B record shop owner, was played by Leah Wilson, who delivered a soulful and powerful performance.

Aside from some major sound issues throughout the entire production, the technical elements of this show, such as the sets (designed by Santiago Carrasquilla), hair and makeup (designed by Nia Arnold and Nicole Wood), and costumes (designed by Paulino Mejia) were excellent and sent the style of the show spiraling back to the sixties. These designers paid very close attention to detail and that added to the production's professionalism.

Overall, the cast and crew of South Plantation's production of "Hairspray" did a commendable job, and you could go "run and tell that."

Zack Cagan
JP Taravella High School
Submitted for publication to

Move over hair gel, there's a new sensation that's sticking to the streets of Baltimore and has everybody's hair raised! It's South Plantation High School's interpretation of Hairspray.

Based on the 1988 film of the same title, comprised of a score penned by Marc Shaiman (music and lyrics) and Scott Wittman (lyrics) and a book by Mark O'Donnell and Thomas Meehan, Hairspray delineates the life of a corpulent teen named Tracy Turnblad who's caught up with the fashions of the 1960s. After landing a spot on The Corny Collins Show and becoming an abrupt celebrity, Tracy's support for integration and unconventional ways causes turmoil to ensue among many of the characters.

Exemplifying great energy throughout the whole production, the 51-person cast amalgamated the themes of self-acceptance and social injustice, which brought a great deal of realism to the show.

Playing the pleasantly plump and peppy Tracy Turnblad, Anneliese Banks put on a truly commendable performance that showed she had a firm grasp on her character. With songs such as "Good Morning Baltimore" and "I Can Hear the Bells," Banks exhibited superb vocal abilities and handled the intense choreography with ease.

A brilliant addition, Leah Wilson brought inspiration and vivacity to the show and her character of Motormouth Maybelle. Along with her commanding stage presence, Wilsons' vocal authority in "I Know Where I've Been" left the audience in a fervor-like frenzy.

The droll duo of Tracy's parents, Edna and Wilbur Turnblad (Ricardo Diaz and John Encalada respectively), added ample comedic relief, especially in the romping hit "You're Timeless to Me."

Almost all technical facets of the show were executed with near professional quality. Although the musicians did overpower the actors at times and microphone levels were low, this was compensated by the period-appropriate lighting designed by Ricardo Diaz and John Gonzalez. Possibly the greatest technical feat of the evening was the stage managing of Rachel Gonzalez, who led the tech crew effortlessly, ensuring smooth scene changes and the calling of 220 light cues.

An eye-popping spectacle favored by all, South Plantation High School proved that they 'can't stop the beat' with this extraordinary rendition of Hairspray.

Abigail Hummel
Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School
Submitted for publication to

In a modern city bogged down with outdated social policies, one girl with big hair and a big heart sets out to change the world -- one segregated television show at a time. South Plantation High School's production of Mark O'Donnell and Thomas Meehan's "Hairspray" showed that when it comes to fighting for your beliefs, you just can't stop the beat!

This colorful musical set in 1960's Baltimore centers around Tracy Turnblad, a compassionate teenager whose life's dream is to dance on television. While the plot traces her lighthearted journey from social outcast to local celebrity, it also addresses the darker struggles for racial equality.

Indisputably, the most astounding aspect of South Plantation's production was the incorporation of sign language throughout the entire show. Abigail Cline, in an unparalleled display of effort and dedication, translated all the song lyrics and dialogue into American Sign Language and taught each cast member his or her signs. Seamlessly integrated into the choreography of the show, the fusion of voice and sign was stunning to observe. Performing a show in two languages is certainly no small feat, but the cast tackled it admirably.

Anneliese Banks starred as Tracy, the lovable, optimistic protagonist. Banks artfully captured Tracy's zest for life through enthusiastic facial expressions and endearing interactions with her supporting actors.

Jessica Sassler shone in her role as Penny Pingleton, Tracy's quirky best friend. Sassler's hilarious vocal inflections showed not only an extensive understanding of her character, but also a vivid relish for her time on the stage.

Another notable performer was Leah Wilson as Motormouth Maybelle, whose soulful rendition of "I Know Where I've Been" was the musical highlight of the show.

While at times it seemed that the cast lost focus and directed more attention to their signing than to their characterization, for the most part the ensemble did an excellent job of balancing difficult signs with their acting, singing, and dancing.

The technical aspects of the show were inconsistent in their effectiveness. The slip stage set, designed by Santiago Carrasquilla and constructed by Taylor Hall, created multiple planes with great aesthetic quality. The props and effects, designed by Tamara Saenz-Marmol, were not only indicative of the time period but also conducive to the upbeat feel of the show. However, both the sound and the lighting seemed too complex to handle. Frequently, the actors were impossible to hear and some missed lighting cues made them difficult to see.

South Plantation's production of "Hairspray" was, quite simply, an extraordinary high school performance. The cast's utter devotion to a difficult, bilingual show was outstanding, and their signing proficiency was remarkable. Captivating from beginning to end, "Hairspray" was truly an unforgettable presentation of high school theatre.

Skyler Evans
Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School
Submitted for publication to

The audience files in and before them is Tracy Turnblad asleep in an upright bed atop the stage. Music swells and the curtains part to reveal performers on several different levels of the set. Tracy's eyes pop open and every performer joins in singing and signing "Good Morning Baltimore". Thus begins South Plantation High School's performance of "Hairspray".

"Hairspray", based on the 1988 John Walters film, opened on Broadway in 2002 and concluded its run in 2009. "Hairspray" chronicles the adventures of Tracy Turnblad, a teen with big dreams of becoming a dancer on a local television show. Set in the early 1960s; Baltimore, Maryland is corrupt with the shallow concepts of segregation and ideal body image. Despite controversial topics, "Hairspray" continues to bring joy to audiences with its central themes of love and tolerance.

South Plantation High School's "Hairspray" incorporated the use of American Sign Language (ASL) throughout their entire performance. The use of vocals and signing added an extra layer to each actor's performance and enabled the actors to use the extra language to portray what was happening in the scene around them. The direction for the use of ASL was provided by Abigail Cline who also plays Amber VonTussle in the production.

The lead role of Tracy Turnblad was portrayed by Anneliese Banks who breathed new life into the iconic character. While maintaining Tracy's happy go lucky personality, Banks also held onto a maturity towards the issues the performance was trying to address. Opposite Banks was Andrew Terwilliger who played the role of Link Larkin with admirable charisma. Jessica Sassler as Penny Pingleton provided quirky humor with a lot of heart. Leah Wilson as Motormouth Maybelle produced powerful vocals and emotion to anchor the serious issues involved in the play, the greatest example of which is the song entitled "I Know Where I've Been". Other memorable numbers included the hysterical "You're Timeless to Me" and a high energy "You Can't Stop the Beat".

Elaborate stationary and movable sets added many layers to the performance and emphasized the joyous mood of the show. Although the music occasionally overshadowed the vocals, every actor remained in character and continued on with their performance. Lighting was powerful in capturing the essence of every moment with the use of multiple moving lights and follow spot lights.

South Plantation High School's rendition of "Hairspray" was light-hearted and extremely powerful. The show played an excellent messenger for the concepts of equality and tolerance.

Chelsea Santiago
Flanagan High School
Submitted for publication to

Set in an age before people became concerned by the damage to the ozone layer of aerosols, South Plantation High School's production of "Hairspray," book by Mark O'Donell and Thomas Meehan, and music and lyrics by Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman, was fast-paced and entertaining from start to finish.

This eight-time Tony Award-winning musical depicts the life of the young Tracy Turnblad, a big girl with big hair and even bigger dreams, whose only passion in life is dancing. After winning a spot on her favorite afterschool dance program, The Corny Collins Show, she is transformed overnight into a teen sensation. Despite her newfound celebrity status, however, Tracy still can't seem to avoid detention. While she's there, she meets a group of "negroes" who introduce her to exciting new dance moves and Tracy instantly befriends them, despite their race. Tracy then decides that it's not fair that the black kids can only dance on the Corny Collins Show once a month, and with the help of her parents, her new friends and her even newer boyfriend, Link Larkin, she attempts to integrate the show and put an end to the racial injustice... all without denting her 'do, of course.

Unlike other presentations of this dynamic show, South Plantation High School's rendition of Hairspray is unique in that it incorporates the use of American Sign Language (ASL), an impressive task for students to achieve.

With its continuous and upbeat dance sequences, Hairspray proves to be a difficult and tiring performance; however, the South Plantation High School cast executed it beautifully with immense amounts of energy, all while brilliantly maintaining the use of ASL for the entirety of the show. The ensemble did an admirable job working together and what they lacked in vocal strength, they definitely made up for with commendable dancing and acting abilities.

Although several lines were lost due to unexpected sound glitches, the cast handled it with consistent poise and never allowed it to negatively affect the production. Anneliese Banks gave a praiseworthy performance as Tracy Turnblad. Her energy was consistantly up and her voice, when it could be heard, was lovely. Leah Wilson also gave a powerful performance as the "Big, Blonde, and Beautiful" Motormouth Maybelle, and wowed the audience in songs such as "I Know Where I've Been." Other memorable performances came from Ricardo Diaz and John Encalada, who interpreted their characters hilariously as Tracy's parents, Edna and Wilbur Turnblad, and had the audience roaring with laughter in their duet "You're Timeless To Me."

The technical crew worked effienciently throughout the show, handling the set with great care; although when set changes were made in the middle of a musical number, it could be quite distracting. Unfortunately the complications with the microphones grew increasingly worse as the musical progressed; however, the live orchestra did a commendable job at maintaining the high-spirited and fast past energy on stage.

South Plantation High School's production of Hairspray was both well executed and entertaining, a true achievement for the cast and crew.