In a world where musicals often trip over their own sequins trying to be timely, “Hairspray” continues to prove that a teased bouffant and a civil rights anthem can indeed share the same stage. Set in 1962 Baltimore, the show follows teenage Tracy Turnblad as she dances her way from outsider to icon, challenging the rigid norms of beauty, race, and rhythm on her journey to integrate “The Corny Collins Show.”

Theatre By The Sea ’s recent production, running July 23 – August 16, meets the high expectations that come with a popular musical sending the audience spinning in a beehive of joy, talent, and tight choreography.

At the center of it all is Niki Metcalf as Tracy Turnblad, whose performance is a buoyant force of nature. She doesn’t just sing “Good Morning Baltimore”—she owns Baltimore. With boundless energy and a voice that’s equal parts sunshine and steel, she anchors the show with the kind of charm you can’t fake and the stamina you wish you had.

As Edna Turnblad, Tracy’s mother, Marc Christopher avoids the cartoon trap and brings dignity, warmth, and gloriously deadpan timing to the role. Whether adjusting a brassiere or having a full-blown emotional arc in a department store, the chemistry with Kevin B. McGlynn, as Wilbur, Tracy’s father, is delightfully off-kilter and touching. The duo performance of Christopher and McGlynn in “You’re Timeless to Me” had the audience in stitches and unexpectedly moved.

Sam Yousuf as Seaweed J. Stubbs electrifies every scene he enters. With vocals that slide like butter and moves that defy gravity, he captures the heart of the show’s message with both cool confidence and grounded vulnerability. His scenes with Madeline Glave as Penny are sweet without being saccharine—she’s a delightfully awkward rebel in training, turning from porcelain to powerhouse before our eyes.

In the role of Motormouth Maybelle, Alana Cauthe, delivers the show’s emotional core with a performance of “I Know Where I’ve Been” leading the audience into thunderous applause. Maybelle’s grace and gravity are electrifying with vocals that both shake the house and move the heart.

Amber and Velma Von Tussle (played with sneering precision and comic flair by Dylan Lugosi and Ginger Kroll are the villains we love to loathe)—each hiss-worthy entrance paired with enough camp and choreography to keep it deliciously fun. Andrew Holder’s Corny Collins has just the right touch of smarm and sincerity to make his character more than just a hairspray-happy MC—he’s an instigator of change, however reluctantly.

Director and choreographer, Christopher Campbell,  keeps the pace and the tone balanced, letting the show’s moral spine shine without ever letting it weigh the joy down. It’s bold, brisk, and delightfully messy in all the right ways. The choreography brings the floor to life with movement that’s both era-authentic and packed with personality. From the ensemble’s tight harmonies and synchronized steps to Tracy’s uncontainable groove, the dancing never feels like filler—it tells its own story. The numbers pop with purpose and polish, and the finale could power a small city on sheer kinetic energy.

Music Director Nathan Urdangen leads a well-oiled orchestra that gives Marc Shaiman’s score all the bounce and brass it deserves. The band pulses with energy but never overpowers the singers—tight, crisp, and clearly having just as much fun as the audience.

The technical team deserves its own curtain call. Costumes are pitch-perfect: period-accurate with just enough sparkle to make you believe the ’60s really were this fabulous. Paul Johnathan Davis’ lighting uses bold color blocks and subtle cues to keep the mood shifting with the story, and the set design by Cassie McKnight cleverly transforms without ever breaking the show’s momentum.

In a time still marked by inequality and exclusion, “Hairspray’s” message is as urgent as ever: true progress begins when we make room at the table for everyone, not just those who look or sound like us. “Hairspray” is more than just a nostalgia trip—it’s a reminder that musicals can entertain and enlighten at the same time.

What:      “Hairspray”

Where:    Theatre By The Sea
364 Cards Pond Rd., Wakefield

When:     July 23 thru August 16

Tickets
Box Office: 401-782-8587
www.theatrebythesea.com
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