Visionary Centre mounts Hairspray Jr.

The 1960s was probably the most powerful decade of the 20th century. What started as a time of innocence morphed into anger and violence.

People demanded an end to the unfair treatment of blacks. They protested the Vietnam War and called for the equality of women.

It was a time when youth questioned their beliefs and rebelled against the status quo imposed by parents and authority figures.

It was the beginning of an ardent movement that continues today, and is remembered in the likes of Hairspray Jr. Visionary Centre for the Performing Arts mounts the musical on May 13 and 14 at L’UniTheatre.

In Hairspray Jr., the rhythm of the ’60s is unstoppable for a young girl who fancies dancing. Instead, she steps out of her comfort zone and upends ingrained racist beliefs.

It’s Baltimore 1962 and Tracy Turnblad has one big dream: dance on the nationally televised Corny Collins Show. At an audition, the plump Tracy is ridiculed and turned away because of her plus size.

While sitting in detention at school, she meets Seaweed Stubbs, a black student whose mother is Motormouth Maybelle, a DJ who hosts a once-a-month Negro Day on the Corny Collins Show. Blacks are only permitted to be part of the show one day a month.

Seaweed teaches Tracy a few cool dance moves. At the next school dance hosted by Corny, Tracy performs her groovin’ moves and is invited on his show.

The teenager becomes an instant celebrity, but when she realizes how blacks are discriminated against, Tracy hatches a plan to crash the Miss Teenage Hairspray contest broadcast by Corny.

For director Cassie Muise, a thespian with more than 20 years experience as an actor and director, Hairspray Jr. presents several major themes.

“It’s about believing in yourself. People tell her she can’t dance because she’s different. She does it anyway and she stands up for what is right and important,” says Muise.

A subplot in the production is Seaweed and Penny’s – Tracy’s best friend – developing romance. But because it’s an interracial romance, it is prohibited.

“And love is love. What Seaweed and Penny was not just about interracial couples back then, but today we see it in same sex couples,” Muise says.

Of the 22-member cast, five St. Albert actors landed main roles. They are Hannah Hughes (Penny), Brooke Bonin (Prudy Pingleton), Jonah Osbourne (Wilbur), Kyah Wirsch (Motormouth Maybelle) and Portia Nyberg (Edna Tumblad).

Using the ’60s rockin’ beats, Muise also choreographed eight big cast showstoppers that borrow moves from the Pony, the Mashed Potato, the Twist and an Elvis-styled tribute.

Some of the showstoppers are songs such as Mama, Welcome to the ’60s, You Can’t Stop the Beat and Nicest Kids in Town.

“I hope people will leave feeling upbeat and realizing that if they stand up and do what is right, it can be exciting even if it’s at a personal cost.”