Filled with color, music and energy, the Bill Mutimer Summer Theatre Series’ “Hairspray” joyfully explodes off the stage. This fun, exuberant musical ends the series’ summer season on a definite high note with great performances, high energy dancing and memorable singing.
“Hairspray” continues through July 27 at Lipkin Theater, Northampton Community College, 3835 Green Pond Road, Bethlehem Township.
Katelyn Morgan is a powerhouse Tracy Turnblad with a big belty voice and a personality to match.
She shines in all her songs from the upbeat show opener “Good Morning Baltimore,” to the humorously poignant “I Can Hear the Bells,” as well as leading the cast in big dance numbers like “Welcome to the 60s” and “You Can’t Stop the Beat.”
As Tracy’s best friend Penny Pingleton, Jenny Bianchini is adorably gawky, which makes her transformation at the end all the more fun.
Morgan, Bianchini and Lindsey Fountain (a humorously arrogant Amber Von Tussle) are a hilarious trio (with their respective mothers) in the entertaining “Mama, I’m a Big Girl Now.”
Giovanni Marini is charming and in great voice as Corny Collins, the host of Baltimore’s after school dance show, "The Corny Collins Show".
Richie Warmkessel is a gem as Tracy’s plus-size mother Edna Turnblad. Warmkessel makes the role a lot of fun and his Edna is engaging and heartwarming.
Will Windsor Erwin is appealing as Tracy’s father Wilbur Turnblad, and the two have good chemistry and are delightful in the touching ballad to middle love “Timeless to Me.”
Harrison Fox is on point as teen heartthrob Link Larkin, down to the perfect curl on his forehead.
As the comically villainous Velma Von Tussle, Kate Pistone gets to chew the scenery with relish in her scenes and big song “Miss Baltimore Crabs.”
Nikki Cohen gives a memorable performance as Motormouth Maybelle. Her voice soars in the playful “Big, Blonde and Beautiful” and the poignant “I Know Where I’ve Been.”
As Seaweed who leads the segregated black dancers on "The Corny Collins Show," Jayden McFaddin is dynamic, with great dance moves and a powerful voice. He and Za’Naisha McGuire as a spirited Little Inez, lead the dancers in a powerful “Run and Tell That.”
The ensemble also boasts many outstanding voices and high energy dancing in numbers like “Welcome to the 60s” and “You Can’t Stop the Beat.” Devon Sinclair’s choreography is buoyant and entertaining.
Darah Donaher’s direction is cohesive and fast paced and Nicholas Conti’s music direction keeps everyone in tune.
The two story set by Brett Oliveira features the 12-person live orchestra playing on the upper level, and an eye-catching checkerboard pattern covering the stage. Backdrop projections and set pieces like Tracy’s bed and the giant can of hairspray add to the fun.
Costumes by Heather Sheldon bring back the playful fashions of the 1960s perfectly.
Tickets are $25 for adults; $20 for seniors and students and $15 for children.
Performances are 7:30 p.m. July 23, 24, 25 26; and 2 p.m. July 27.
For information, call 484-484-3412, or go to www.ncctix.org/