After months of preparation by the 65 students involved in the production, the Portage High School spring musical Hairspray opened up on Friday night. It was the first of five performances of the show, which continues April 30, May 1, May 6 and May 7.
The musical is based on the 1988 Hollywood film. Senior Alana Mossell plays the lead role of Tracy Turnblad. Mossell is partaking in her third PHS production. Junior Jacob Cherry serves as the lead male, Link Larkin.
Hairspray is set in the 1960’s in Baltimore. The storyline follows Tracy Turnblad and her quest for acceptance and understanding.
Scott Ershick captured the crowd with a captivating performance in his role as Edna Turnblad, the mother of Tracy. Ershick is a veteran of acting and singing. He made his debut in his first grade musical, The Little Christmas Tree, as Santa Claus.
Aidan Fletcher, Tianna McQueen, Darrion Johnson, Morgan Jackson, Tyler Franklin, Eleanor Bloom, and Kyra Fuller all had key roles as well. Fletcher acted as Wilbur Turnblad, the father of Tracy and husband of Edna. Johnson, a senior, busted out his top notch dance moves as Seaweed Stubbs. Fuller, also a senior, appeared as Motormouth Maybelle, who pushed for a equal rights for all races.
Tyler Franklin filled the role of Collins, who hosts the popular show. Tracy Turnblad starts out as a fan of the show and ends up being on it. She lives her dream of dating Link Larkin, who was previously in a relationship with antagonist Amber Van Tussle (Bloom).
Junior Morgan Jackson acts as the other villain of the play, Velma Von Tussle, who produces the Corny Collins Show but is really only in it for herself.
Freshman Tianna McQueen made an immediate impact on the show in her debut on the PHS stage. She was Penny Pingleton, the final main character in the plot. Other Portage students involved with speaking parts included Lucas Dvorscak (Harriman Spritzer/Flasher), Courtney Mason (Prudy Pingleton/Guard), Jacob Parrish (gym teacher) and Darrion Lindsey (Inez Stubbs).
Many more wowed the crowd with their outstanding dancing and singing abilities. Council members were Briana Maddox, Wesley Engle, Noah Volk, Alyssa Sass, Luke Hayden, Samantha Loza, Isaac Perez, Rachel Stewart, Clarissa Tokash, Jordan Breezley, Crystal Woloszyn, Chris Ticen, Mariah Pol and Amanda Bogolin. The North Avenue kids were played by Morghan Cooper, AJ Laramine, Taylor Leslie, Christopher Owens, Johnna Collins, Shontiel Nunn, DaVonte Williams and Anthony Byrom.
Jacquelyn Arnold, Gigi Chavez, Emily Evans, Mayra Martinez, Olivia Miller and Tori Vaughan were dubbed The Dynamites. This year’s spring musical was directed by Kevin Giese, who is in his second year at the helm of the auditorium for PHS. Band teacher Michael DePasquale was in charge of the music, while senior Jordan Breezley and sophomore Clarissa Tokash were the choreographers. Student director Erin Cassidy did the honors of welcoming the opening night crowd to the auditorium before the performance got underway.
Tireless work went into rehearsals for the musical. The hard work was evident to the crowd, which gave the cast members a standing ovation at the conclusion of the show.