Wilbur Turnblad (Mel Smith), Leanne Jones (Tracy Turnblad), and Michael Ball (Edna Turnblad).
The original West End Production of Hairspray ran from October 11, 2007 to March 28, 2010.[1]
Awards[]
The original West End production was nominated for a record breaking eleven Laurence Olivier Awards in 2008.[2]
It won four awards, including Best Musical.[3] Leanne Jones won Best Musical Actress for her role as Tracy Turnblad.[3] Michael Ball won Best Musical Actor for his role as Edna Turnblad.[3] Finally, Tracie Bennett won Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical for her role as the villainous Velma Von Tussle.[3]
2021 Revival[]
The revival was scheduled for 2020, but due to the global Covid-19 pandemic, it was rescheduled twice.[4] The revival has now been rescheduled for April 22nd - August 28th, 2021.[4]
Cast[]
| ROLE | ORIGINAL PERFORMER[5][6][7] | REVIVAL PERFORMER[4][2][8] |
|---|---|---|
| Tracy Turnblad | Leanne Jones | Lizzie Bea |
| Edna Turnblad | Michael Ball | Michael Ball |
| Penny Pingleton | Elinor Collett | Mari McGinlay |
| Seaweed J. Stubbs | Adrian Hansel | Ashley Samuels |
| Motormouth Maybelle | Johnnie Fiori | Marisha Wallace |
| Link Larkin | Ben James-Ellis | Jonny Amies |
| Amber Von Tussle | Rachel Wooding | Georgia Anderson |
| Velma Von Tussle | Tracie Bennett | Rita Simons |
| Corny Collins | Paul Manuel | Michael Vinsen |
| The Dynamites | Kate Gillespie as Pearl | Holly Liburd
Mireia Mambo Robyn Rose |
| Wilbur Turnblad | Mel Smith | Paul Merton |
| Inez Stubbs | Natalie Best | Kimani Arthur |
| Gilbert | Lewis Davies | Christopher Gopaul |
| Lorraine | Sandra Marvin | Kibong Tanji |
| Thad | Michael Peters | Kody Mortimer |
| Brenda | Jenii Hicks | Madeleine Lawton |
| Tammy | Zara Warren | Hannah Grace Lawson |
| Lou Ann | Nicky Griffiths | Lily Laight (as Lou-Ann)[8] |
| Brad | Michael Vinsen | Joel Cooper |
| Fender | Neil Toon | Luke George |
| Sketch | Gavin Alex | Nicholas Collier |
| Duane | Terel Nugent | Jordan Benjamin |
| IQ | Philip Catchpole | Pearce Barron |
| Shelly | Fem Belling | Imogen Bailey |
| Female Authority Figure | Wendy Somerville | Lori Haley Fox |
| Male Authority Figure | Dermot Canavan | Dermot Canavan |
| Other cast members | Lewis Davies
Helen Dixon Emma Dodd Tim Frater Kate Gillespie Ewan Gillies Holly James Sandra Marvin Adam Price Charlotte Riby Dominic Shaw Jacqui Zvimba |
Mari McGinlay
Ashley Samuels Winny Herbert Chris Howell Holly Liburd Will Luckett Kody Mortimer Tinovimbanashe Sibanda Amy West Natalie Woods |
Trivia[]
West End 2021 Revival
Michael Ball, who plays Edna Turnblad in both the original West End production and the 2021 revival, is one of only two cast members to return from the original production.[8][7] The other actor is Michael Vinsen who in 2007 made his West End debut as Brad, a council member on The Corny Collins Show.[7] Vinsen now returns to Hairspray in the role of Corny Collins.[7]
References[]
- ↑ https://gariwellingham.co.uk/2010/01/28/hairspray-west-end-to-close-28-march-2010/
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 https://stagechat.co.uk/news/west-end/6578-hairspray-west-end-cast-confirmed-confirmed-in-full-with-michael-ball-paul-merton-and-rita-simons.html
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 https://www.playbill.com/article/hairspray-wins-four-2008-laurence-olivier-awards-including-best-musical-com-148258
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 https://www.londontheatredirect.com/news/london-hairspray-tickets-2021-now-on-sale
- ↑ https://www.playbill.com/article/photo-call-london-hairspray-sneak-peek-com-143160
- ↑ https://www.broadwayworld.com/westend/article/Full-Cast-Announced-for-West-End-Hairspray-20070906
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 https://web.archive.org/web/20080102055746/http://www.hairspraythemusical.co.uk/cast.html
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 https://www.hairspraythemusical.co.uk/cast/