Hairspray
at Northwood High School

Reviewed on November 22, 2014

Jack Posey
McLean High School
Submitted for publication to Washington Post - Montgomery

Love is a force of nature that cannot be contained, like a rushing river or a tumbling avalanche: it should never be obstructed by the barriers of discrimination, because without it, "life is like the seasons without summer!" Northwood High School brought that love to their audience with their production of the musical comedy Hairspray.

Hairspray, based upon a 1988 cult hit movie of the same name, opened on Broadway in 2002, with a Motown- and 60's pop-influenced score by Marc Shaiman and Scott Whitman. The show was a smash hit, earning 8 Tony Awards, and was adapted into a successful 2007 movie starring Nikki Blonsky and John Travolta. The story takes place in 1962 Baltimore, when the "pleasantly plump" teen Tracy Turnblad defies the racial discrimination and cookie-cutter standards of appearance in her society by becoming a cast member on a popular teen dance program, "The Corny Collins Show," and speaking out in favor of integration.

Blake Johnson brought a sweet, bubbly energy to the role of Tracy Turnblad that was evident in her bright vocals and her enthusiastic, lively movement. As her best friend, Penny Pingleton, Laura Goemann showed steadfast commitment to her lovably dorky character and endearing chemistry with love interest Seaweed J. Stubbs (talented crooner Jamaal Bowman) in the standout number "Without Love." Contrasting those two sweet, giddy girls was the egotistic and venomous teen Amber Von Tussle, played by Yaya Balbed. Balbed commanded the stage with her strong physicality and presence, embodying the "mean girl" archetype splendidly, and lent clear, well-supported vocals to every number she sang. Simon Enagonio put his own quirky, comedic spin on the role of TV show host Corny Collins, speak-singing his songs with the stylized affectation of an over-the-top radio announcer.

Some of the most exciting and humorous moments of Northwood's production were driven by featured and ensemble performers. Celene Daniels hit the stage with bombastic energy as the adorable younger sister of Seaweed, Little Inez, and Ricardo Chicas offered a wacky, Christopher Walken-influenced performance as Wilbur Turnblad. Two hilarious cameos, marked by sharp comedic timing and bold characterization, were given by Briannon DeLuca, playing a gruff gym teacher and a prison warden. Finally, dancer Arturo Arzamendia, of the energetic and polished Council Kids ensemble, was a shining star without pulling focus--his dance technique was superb, and his acting through movement and spirited energy made him a joy to watch.

The show cycled through many settings, including Tracy's house, a TV studio, and a prison. These were comprised of a permanent living room structure occupying stage right, prison bars occupying stage left, and roll-on flats and doors or projected backdrops brought center stage to create other locations. These settings were further made distinct by varying multi-colored LED and gobo lights. One standout set transition was the flying in of the frame of a vintage TV set, giving a sort of window through which Tracy and Penny viewed the Corny Collins show.

Northwood High School's production of Hairspray reminded its audience to find joy through tolerance and acceptance, and to never be "without love."

Lily Habenstreit
Albert Einstein High School
Submitted for publication to Washington Post - Montgomery

In 1962, the streets of Baltimore were filled with hot dance steps, rocking new music, and, unfortunately, ever-escalating racial discrimination. However, when one girl with big hair and an even bigger heart wants to make a difference, it seems that nothing can stop her. With strong energy and fun music, Northwood High School brought this crazy time alive in their production of Hairspray.

The musical, adapted from the 1988 John Waters film by the respected team of Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, opened on Broadway in 2002. It received instant praise, garnered eight Tony awards, and was soon sent back to the movie screen, where it became a blockbuster hit. Hairspray follows the story of Tracy Turnblad, a plump, enthusiastic teenage girl growing up in the segregated world of 1962 Baltimore who just wants to dance. As her dreams begin to come true, she soon realizes that life is not as black and white as a TV screen, and that fighting for what's right can come with a price.

At the helm of the show was Blake Johnson in the role of Tracy. Johnson's strong belt fit her forceful character well, and her energy carried the large cast through the tiring and taxing show. At her side was dorky best friend Penny Pingleton, played by the enthusiastic Laura Goemann. Goemann stayed dedicated to the quirky character throughout the entire show, and added some cute comedy to the inspiring storyline. As Amber Von Tussle, Tracy's spoiled and close-minded rival, actress Yaya Balbed used her admirable voice and committed character portrayal to develop an appropriately obnoxious villain for the story.

The ensemble of the show tackled complex choreography and a complicated score with energy, and were able to produce difficult harmonies nicely. Stand-outs included Arturo Arzamendia, a fierce and spunky dancer who led the large group through countless dance breaks, and Briannon DeLuca, whose strong presence as the Gym Teacher as well as the prison Matron created some prime comedic moments.

Although some of the tech elements lagged, the orchestra proved to be a steady foundation for the rest of the show. The instrumentalists helped to guide the show, performing jazzy numbers with spirit and assisting the sometimes struggling singers in staying on-key.

The performers at Northwood High School approached Hairspray's intricate dance numbers, difficult vocal scores, and deep stories admirably in their energetic production of a modern classic.

Abby Wei
Thomas S. Wootton High School
Submitted for publication to Maryland Theatre Guide

Northwood High school's ambitious production of "Hairspray" enthusiastically brings the audience to a time where girls were sentenced to detention for styling their hair too high, hairspray was inhaled more than oxygen and swimming in integrated pools was frowned upon: welcome to the 60s!

Winner of eight Tony Awards and adapted from the 1988 John Waters film, this eminent and timeless musical follows the bouncy steps of dancing star-wannabe Tracy Turnblad (Blake Johnson)in her quest for fame, as she often finds herself a victim of discriminated because of her weight. When Tracy lands a coveted spot on a local TV dance program, she becomes an overnight celebrity. Tracy's desire for racial equality on the show meets with extreme backlash from the show's perfidious producer, Velma Von-Tussle (Genesis Lemus) and her snobby daughter, Amber (Yaya Balbed). Tracy decides that equality is more important than fame, and, at the risk of losing her spot on the program, recruits the African American dancing community to end Velma's reign of racism on the show.

Laura Goemann, who played Tracy's ditzy sidekick, Penny, was consistently in character throughout the show, something other students had trouble with. Goemann's comic adroitness allowed her to play the part of Penny to a tee, and her chemistry with forbidden love interest, African-American Seaweed Stubbs (Jamaal Bowman), was sweet and believable. Bowman's impressive vocals and smooth dance moves made him an enjoyable performer to watch. Celene Daniels played Seaweed's sister Little Inez with an inordinate amount of sass, eliciting peals of laughter from the audience. Another hilarious actress was Briannon DeLuca, who portrayed both the sadistic Gym Teacher and the commanding Matron with prodigious stage presence and perfect comedic timing. Although at times some performers had trouble finding their pitch in numbers, Genesis Lemus and Yaya Balbed revealed fine vocal abilities in impressive renditions of their respective solo numbers, "Miss Baltimore Crabs" and "Cooties."

Arturo Arzamendia, who portrayed council member Sketch, was one of the best performers in the show. Arzamendia flawlessly executed triple pirouettes and double stag leaps multiple times during the performance with effortless precision. He nailed graceful turns in powerful numbers such as Motormouth Maybelle's "I Know Where I've Been" (sung by Cindy Ndebumadu), and he brought unparalleled energy to upbeat numbers like "You Can't Stop the Beat." Arzamendia's commanding stage presence and keen eye for small dance details lifted the performance quality to another level.

Although there were some problems with the lighting, the set design was well done. A clever T.V. frame was lowered down from the ceiling during the dance program scenes, and the tech crew made good use of the blank screen at the back of the stage, using colors and black-and-white movie clips to enhance scenes. The orchestra was phenomenal; the saxophone and drum solos that were played during scene changes were impressive and above the average high school level. The pit as a whole tried their best to accommodate the singers above in rhythm and in pitch.

Although there were some technical and performance bumps during the show, the students of Northwood High School pulled together a satisfying rendition of this beloved musical, illustrating the power of "Hairspray"- nothing can stop its successful beat.

Hailey Scherer
Flint Hill School
Submitted for publication to Patch.com - ARL/MC/Mont/DC

Northwood High School's production of Hairspray offered an engaging rush of colorful enthusiasm, well supported by a skilled orchestra, passionate vocal performances, and excellent dancing.

Hairspray, originally a 1988 movie of moderate success directed by John Waters, was adapted into a Broadway musical in 2002, winning eight Tony awards. The plot follows rather rotund teenager Tracy Turnblad in segregated 1960s Baltimore, Maryland. Tracy's dream is to dance on The Corney Collins Show (which is based on the real-life Buddy Deane Show), and when she finally lands her dream and quickly gains fame, her goal shifts: she strives to integrate the television show.

Blake Johnson (Tracy Turnblad) lit up the stage with her sunny, bright vocals and upbeat stage presence. The sets, designed by students, cleverly gave insight to Tracy's goals, such as the lowering of a TV frame over the end of "Good Morning Baltimore" to foreshadow Tracy's goal of wanting to be on television, and the romantic dancing behind a screen upstage of Tracy under dimmed lights during "I Can Hear the Bells," which gave the audience a visual example of the romance she dreamed for herself and Link Larson, the teenage heartthrob on The Corney Collins Show.

Laura Goemann (Penny Pingleton) and Yaya Balbed (Amber von Tussle) played their supporting roles with full dedication to character, well-timed comedic moments, and stage presence that captured the audience's attention whenever they walked on stage. Goemann charmed the audience with her adorable portrayal of Penny, playing up the nerdy enthusiasm-meets-anxiety to a perfectly comedic degree. This transformation into character was always complete, convincing the audience of the notion that Goemann simply was Penny. Balbed commanded the stage with her portrayal, and everything from her sassy gestures to the vibrato in her singing voice oozed the vanity that is vital to Amber's character; she played up the haughty diva to just the right level, playing the prissy princess without ever becoming annoying to the audience.

The ensembles propelled the musical forward, always present on stage, each individual actively carrying on his or own character, with or without lines. Through facial expressions, movements, and general demeanor, each ensemble character if tracked could be found to have his or her own story, an impressive aspect of a show for a high school production. Of special note were the specific performances of Briannon DeLuca as the the Gym Teacher and Matron, and Arturo Arzamendia, who played Sketch. DeLuca's perfectly delivered comedic lines (sometimes with just the right amount of suggestiveness) had the audience hanging onto her every word and laughing time and time again. Her energy also brought a lot to ensemble numbers. Arzamendia was a complete joy to watch – between his obvious sense of rhythm and skill as a dancer, all of his energy and vigor in the upbeat numbers, and the beautiful technicality of his lines and form in the ballet-like dancing in "I Know Where I've Been," Arzamendia always had the audience's attention while on stage.

The orchestra also played a huge part in making this musical the delight that it proved to be. Though some singers had trouble with timing, pacing or rhythm, the orchestra proved able every time to adapt to the speed of the singer. The tunes were groovy, captivating even from the very first notes on the piano and trumpet, and carried the musical forward. These qualities, though very often difficult for a high school group to achieve all at once, were certainly achieved by the Northwood High School Hairspray Ensemble.

Cecily Wolfe
Flint Hill School
Submitted for publication to Montgomery Gazette

If the flashy colors and patterns of the 60s, ranging from bright oranges to striking blues, did not provide enough indication as to the identity of Northwood High School's musical, the iconic song "Good Morning Baltimore" instantly cleared up any confusion: it was Hairspray.

Hairspray is the musical adaption of the 1988 film of the same name, with music by Marc Shaiman., lyrics by Scott Wittman and a book by Mark O'Donnell and Thomas Meehan. Set in Baltimore in 1962, Hairspray details the struggles of slightly chubby Tracy Turnblad, who wants nothing more than to be on The Corny Collins Show, a popular teenage dance show on television. After finally earning a spot, Tracy begins to realize that the show is not necessarily all she dreamed; there are still flaws. The lack of an integrated cast causes Tracy to attempt to desegregate the show. Hairspray premiered on Broadway on August 15, 2002, eventually winning eight Tony Awards and becoming a movie in 2007.

Any performance of Hairspray must have a vibrant, colorful cast, and Northwood High School's production was no exception. Led by Blake Johnson as Tracy, the cast transported the audience back to the colorful 60s. Johnson's voice, a strong and sustained belt throughout the show, dominated in songs such as "Good Morning Baltimore" and "I Can Hear the Bells." She continually demonstrated the brassy and determined demeanor of her character, with her bubbly disposition and can-do attitude. Such a "big personality" contrasted perfectly with Tracy's geeky sidekick, Penny Pingleton (Laura Goemann). Goemann perfectly embodied Penny, the girl who is happily shy and adequately comfortable with herself as a dork. Goemann's devotion to her character was reflected in the outward awkwardness and naivete of a teenager who hasn't quite found herself yet. Therefore, Goemann served as a wonderful foil for Tracy, as well as for Penny's love interest, Seaweed (Jamaal Bowman). Bowman's cool self-assurance complemented his character, especially in numbers such as "Run and Tell That." His versatility with both singing and dancing was impressive, as he grooved to the beat and casually did a flip after singing a full song. Both Goemann and Bowman conveyed a certain connection of mutual fascination as these two characters fell in love. The nervous giggles of Goemann and Bowman's suave lines created a believable and adorable relationship.

Compared to the loveliness of these three, the sassy Amber Von Tussle (Yaya Balbed) supplied Hairspray with a much-needed antagonist. Balbed's commanding stage presence and powerful voice allowed her to develop an arrogant yet funny character. Her shameless self-promotion and disdainful pouting generated a believable "mean girl" archetype, one who was whiny and self-centered. Balbed showed great poise as she led her fellow actors and actresses in the ensemble of "The Council Kids," of the Corny Collins Show.

Although all in the ensemble were strong performers, one in particular stood out. Arturo Arzamendia, exuded confidence every time he stepped on the stage. He was always present, reacting to everything happening around him. Even though he had barely any lines, his beautiful and stylized dancing captivated the audience. Arzamendia seemed to thoroughly enjoy himself as he snapped in time and swayed from side to side in lively numbers like "The Nicest Kids in Town". He also exhibited his graceful side in the modern dance accompanying the song "I Know Where I've Been."

With such talented actors, vivid costumes, minimal yet effective sets, as well as the orchestra that accented the singers, Northwood High School's Hairspray opened and closed with a brilliant streak of color.

Nora Alwani
Langley High School
Submitted for publication to Northwood Black and Red

The Broadway musical Hairspray has danced its way into America's heart and has earned its reputation as a "classic", with eight Tony awards and countless professional and school productions over the years, including last weekend's run at Northwood High School.

Hairspray takes place during the Civil Rights Movement, when integration is about as radical a concept as gay marriage. At one point in the show, Prudy Pingleton, Emma-Lea Jacklin, cries out, "Colored people in the house! It'll never sell!" Tracy Turnblad, however, sings a different tune. In her audition for a much coveted position on The Corny Collins Show, she is asked if she would swim in an integrated pool, and what would she do were she to be crowned "Miss Teenage Hairspray". She naively responds, "I would make every day Negro Day!" The revolutionary actions of the outspoken Tracy filled her family with pride and made her friends respect her; they also won her the support of the black community in Baltimore, enabling her to win the title and successfully integrate The Corny Collins Show.

Lead actress Blake Johnson was radiant as Tracy. Ever the optimist, even in the face of rejection and imprisonment, she continued to look on the bright side. Link Larkin, played by Zach Combs, was the typical teen heartthrob of the show, at times more focused on furthering his career than on Tracy. Together, they were never more in sync than in the number "Without Love. In that same sentimental number, Tracy's sidekick Penny Pingleton, played by Laura Goemann, and her African American beau, Seaweed J. Stubbs, Jamaal Bowman, stole the audience's heart with Mr. Stubbs' sensual moves and Penny's dorky persona.

Edna and Wilbur Turnblad, Kailyn Richards and Ricardo Chicas, were always the supportive, well meaning parents Tracy needed, but were characters in their own right, and clearly identified with their roles. Mother-daughter divas Amber and Velma Von Tussle, Yaya Balbed and Genesis Lemus, both commanded the audience's attention as the spoiled brats of The Corny Collins Show. The former with her talented vocals and projection, the latter with comic timing and witty lines, without grating on the audience's nerves.

Some characters with smaller roles certainly made up for the lack of lines in talent, effort, and comic timing. Celene Daniels, Little Inez, and Briannon DeLuca, Gym Teacher/Matron, were always in character, and invested so much energy into their roles that the audience couldn't help but watch them. Arturo Arzamendia, Sketch/Ensemble, Jamaal Bowman, Seaweed, were both excellent. The former in technique, energy, and sass, the latter in his smooth vocal and dance styles.

On the technical front, power outages posed significant challenges to the lighting and sound crews, but they took it in stride considering the difficulty of improvisational tech. All in all, Hairspray was one heck of a show, and the audience truly could not stop the beat!

Carlos Castillo
Albert Einstein High School
Submitted for publication to Northwood Black and Red

Flashy costumes, high energy, big dance numbers, and an exciting escape from our busy, stressful lives - this is what one looks for in a night at the theatre, and Northwood High School's production of Hairspray delivered.

Hairspray has been a favorite for high schools to produce in the past few years, and it's no secret why. Set in the early 1960's, on the cusp of some of the biggest social changes in our nation's history, Hairspray follows Tracy Turnblad, an idealistic teen, in her journey to find fame, romance, and equality in the highly conservative and segregated city of Baltimore, Maryland. Set to a driving rock 'n roll score by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, Hairspray became an instant hit when it opened on Broadway in 2002, and has been lifting audience's spirits ever since.

Carrying the weight of the show on her shoulders is the ever-optimistic Tracy Turnblad, played by Blake Johnson. Johnson did a great job of portraying Tracy's bubbly, infectious personality. Her voice was also just right for the character, and as soon as she sang the opening notes of "Good Morning Baltimore," we knew we were in for a treat.

Also in the production were fantastic supporting performers that carried the show beautifully in their own right. Yaya Balbed, who played Tracy's nemesis, Amber Von Tussle, immediately commanded attention with her stage presence, her powerhouse vocal and her on-target sassiness. Laura Goemann, who played Tracy's best friend Penny Pingleton, showed a commendable dedication to her character, moving every muscle and singing every note as Penny would, effectively portraying the awkward sidekick to the utmost of her considerable ability. The supporting characters were instrumental in simultaneously working together and standing out on their own.

The ensemble performers also did a great job of creating the world of the show, and performed with great energy. Notable standouts among them included Briannon DeLuca as the Gym Teacher/ Matron. Her comic timing and hilarious character dancing left the audience in stitches. Also effective was Arturo Arzamendia as Sketch. His featured dancing in Welcome to the 60's, I Can Hear the Bells, and the gorgeously unique lyrical dance in I Know Where I've Been, was truly breathtaking.

The sets for the show were also quite creative, with a huge frame that dropped from the procenium to entrap the Council Kids in their "TV screen," as well as excellent cages made for the "Big Doll House" number.

All in all, Hairspray at Northwood was just as fun, hilarious and heartwarming as any audience member could hope for it to be, and it serves to manifest why this musical is so popular among high school theatre companies across the country.