HAIRSPRAY
PRESENTED BY SOLOMON ARTISTS
Palace Theatre, Southend-on-Sea
Wednesday 27th - Sunday 31st May 2015
PRESENTED BY SOLOMON ARTISTS
Palace Theatre, Southend-on-Sea
Wednesday 27th - Sunday 31st May 2015
Hairspray, the Broadway musical sensation which was later made into the hugely successful movie, starring John Travolta, Michelle Pfeiffer, Nicki Blonsky, Christopher Walken and Queen Latifah in 2007, is now coming to The Palace Theatre, Southend on Sea.
Set in 1962 Baltimore, the show follows the "pleasantly plump" teenager Tracy Turnblad as she pursues stardom as a dancer on a local TV show and rallies against racial segregation. Can this ordinary girl realise her extraordinary dreams, integrate the television show, inspire her mum and still have time to win the boy she loves? I pop along to Solomon Artiste’s rehearsal to see if I can find out, and see how the show is progressing.
I am enthusiastically welcomed into the rehearsal space by Ted Houser, producer of the show, who after introducing me to his lovely wife, Anita, immediately introduces me to Amy Rattenbury, 23, who is playing the coveted lead role of Tracy Turnblad.
“She’s amazing,” Ted tells me, “wait till you hear her sing.” “And you’ll never believe what she does for a living? Go on, tell her Amy.” He smiles, waiting to see my reaction when she tells me. “I’m a college lecturer in Criminology and Forensic Investigation.” Yep, certainly wasn’t expecting that! Amy, who has only lived in Southend for a year, decided to come along and audition having only been part of smaller groups in the past and not really knowing what to expect. She was absolutely thrilled to get the part of Tracy.
Ted enthuses, “We’ve got a great cast for this show. It always takes a lot of hard work and effort putting them on but I love it and we’ve got a great team.” He then introduces me to choreographers, Kerry Jenkins & Lisa Cole who are both equally as enthusiastic. I suggest that it must be tough trying to choreograph a large cast who are all at different levels and Kerry agrees, “It is difficult because lots of the cast have different levels of experience and so we’ve made the dance numbers simple but very effective.” Kerry is a professional dancer and amongst other things has performed at the London Palladium.
I then spy a familiar face - Paul Day. Paul has just recently been the Musical Director for Little Theatre Company’s fabulous production of Sunset Boulevard and will be providing his services later this year for Leigh Operatic’s upcoming production of Ghost in October. “Paul’s such a great musical director,” says Ted, “he’s always in demand.”
Another familiar face on the musical theatre scene and one that Ted says that he can always depend upon to do a great job is Johnny Buxton. He will be playing the part of Wilbur, Tracey’s magic shop owning, loveable dad.
Wait a minute, Ted’s off again, “Oh! You must talk to Promise, he’s doing X-Factor!” Really? Indeed, as well as playing the part of Seaweed in the show, Promise, 21, who lives in Shoeburyness is also in rehearsals with a newly formed band who are preparing to audition for this year’s X-Factor. They rehearse most evenings in London which means that at the end of a busy 9am to 5pm working day in Basildon, Promise then has to whizz straight off for a band session. “It’s all getting a bit stressful” he sighs. I say, “But you love it though, right?” He smiles, “Yeah, course I do!”
Softly spoken and super polite, Promise is no stranger to the X-Factor machine as he and his previous band, The Project, got to the last round of Bootcamp in 2013. Sadly they never got to go to the judges houses but Promise did get to meet Louis Walsh, Gary Barlow, Nicole Scherzinger and Sharon Osbourne; all of whom, Promise assures me with a knowing smile “were really lovely”.
Promise’s new band will have to audition for the X-Factor producers first to see if they can make it through to a second filmed audition with the Judges. Promise says, “All our music is original. I also write songs and I’m currently learning to play the guitar and keyboards. Our music is mostly R&B.” Fingers crossed for them. Promise certainly seems to have his head screwed on and I look forward to seeing how he and his band progress.
Other key members of the cast are Luke Reid, 15, who is playing heartthrob, Link Larkin and who belongs to the Glee Club, Drama Club and Dance Troupe at Shoeburyness High School. “I only went for a part in the chorus originally and then I got a call back to audition for Link.” He was even more surprised to then learn that he had won the part made famous in the Hairspray film by Zac Ephron.
Ryan Looker, 20, from Ockenden will be playing Corny Collins, the handsome host of the Corny Collins Show that Tracy Turnblad desperately wants to be part of. Ryan has appeared in the last 5 shows with Solomons. His first was starring as Fat Sam in Bugsy Malone. “I was a bit bigger then!” he smiles. He has also played Mr Bumble in Oliver and latterly Troy in High School Musical.
The part of the vampy, over-ambitious mum, Velma, will be played by Louise Kempson. Newcastle born and bred, Louise has a great claim to fame. She entered and won a one off national singing competition run, at the time, by Orange Mobile to win a part in the musical Wicked for one night, which she says “was just an amazing experience.” Louise is kept busy as a professional wedding singer and in between gigs has appeared in shows for Southend Operatic Society such as Summer Holiday and Sister Act.
Aisling Norcup, 18, will be playing Velma’s daughter, Amber. She is currently studying Performing Arts, Drama and Psychology. When she was younger she appeared in Solomon’s production of Annie and also starred in Joseph & The Technicolored Dream Coat in the West End. She has also appeared in a Tango commercial. Amber will be sharing the role with Courtney Lentell.
The part made famous by singer Queen Latifah, Motormouth Maybelle will be played by Meg Odegbami, 20, who I find underneath the most amazing blonde wig. Unbelievably, this is Meg’s first EVER show. From what I heard of her singing in rehearsal, I find that astonishing to believe. The 20 year old call centre worker who is doing an Open University Maths Degree did, however, spend 2 years working as a singing waitress in Feelgoods at Adventure Island which meant she got voice coaching from professional musician, Maria Naylor who, Meg says, encouraged her to go for the part of Motormouth in Hairspray.
Little Inez will be played by young Kea Powlette, who at 10 years old is full of confidence. Earls Hall student, Kea, has also had singing lessons with Maria Naylor and goes to Masters Performing Arts. She has performed on the Cliffs Pavilion stage with David Hasselhoff in Peter Pan and also Craig Revel Horwood in Snow White and confides that they were both really nice and that Craig Revel Horwood was “really funny.”
Penny, Tracy’s geeky friend is played by Isabel Oliver, 14. This will be Penny’s fifth show for Solomons. The Cecil Jones school girl says her favourite shows have been Bugsy Malone and Half a Sixpence where she played Helen last year. She loves playing Penny and will be sharing the part with Megan West.
Nineteen year old Reece Johnson will play Mr Pinkey, the boutique shop keeper who gets to dress up Edna, welcoming her into the Sixties. Reece has also appeared in High School Musical and says that his best theatre experience so far has been performing at Her Majesty’s Theatre when he was a member of Pauline Quirke Academy in Wickford.
Vanessa Dumatey, 17, Lashanna Levinne, 31, and Nina Alleyne, 35, play the sensational singers, The Dynamites.
This production certainly has a large cast consisting mostly of school age children who enjoy the experience so much that they come back year after year, whether they are just in the chorus or have worked their way up to be cast in larger roles. They all seem to be having a great time. Auditions are held in September for each show (the next auditions are 13th September for their next production, Grease) and then beginning in February there will usually be a 16 week rehearsal period.
Not one to miss out on a bit of self promotion, Ted proudly informs me that a lot of the children that have performed with Solomons have gone on to drama schools such as Italia Conti, Mountview and Guildhall School of Music.
And so, after chatting with the cast and crew, I am then invited to Shan-elles Unisex Hair & Beauty Salon in Eastwood (www.facebook.com/pages/Shan-elles-unisex-Hair-and-Beauty-Salon), where Jason Markham, 51, will be transformed, in a kind of “Stars in Their Eyes” type scenario, into the larger than life character of Edna Turnblad. This process includes having all of his chest and legs waxed plus a full makeover, complete with false eyelashes, wig, dress and killer heels. Jason is given a painkiller by salon owner, Sharon Douglas, just before his waxing session. This doesn’t instil too much confidence that he will get through this procedure unscathed, and we rather too eagerly set up the video ready to record his reaction to the first wax strip being pulled from his rather hairy chest by beautician, Louise.
Last year Jason played Chitterlow, the mad actor, in Solomon’s production of Half a Sixpence and is thrilled to be playing the coveted role of Edna Turnblad. “It’s a role that has been played by so many great actors - John Travolta, George Wendt (of Cheers fame) and Michael Ball, to name but a few,” he smiles, “and to be able to follow in their footsteps is just amazing!”
Jason has been acting and directing for over 30 years now and has stacks of experience. One of his most favourite roles has been Vandergelder in Hello Dolly, closely followed by Judd in Oklahoma. He is also the director of the show which can be tricky when you’re also in it too and so Angela Davies, his Assistant Director, has been a huge help in guiding him through the part of Edna.
Once you’ve seen the video of Jason’s waxing, I think you will agree, that he was a very brave soldier and certainly put the expression, ‘suffering for your art’ into full effect! I hope that he has managed to cool down a bit since.
I look forward to seeing Jason in his full Edna regalia along with the rest of this talented cast, in which I am sure will be fabulous production of Hairspray.
Click here for Hairspray Review
Solomon’s support Havens Hospice Charity and buckets for donations will be available for collections at the end of every performance.
For tickets contact
www.southendtheatres.org.uk
Adults £15.00* OAPs and Children £13.00*
A £1.50 per ticket booking fee applies, capped at four per order. Groups of 10+ please call 01702 351135 to buy fee-free.
For information about future auditions for Grease or regarding amateur productions contact 01702 437118
www.solomon-artistes.co.uk
Set in 1962 Baltimore, the show follows the "pleasantly plump" teenager Tracy Turnblad as she pursues stardom as a dancer on a local TV show and rallies against racial segregation. Can this ordinary girl realise her extraordinary dreams, integrate the television show, inspire her mum and still have time to win the boy she loves? I pop along to Solomon Artiste’s rehearsal to see if I can find out, and see how the show is progressing.
I am enthusiastically welcomed into the rehearsal space by Ted Houser, producer of the show, who after introducing me to his lovely wife, Anita, immediately introduces me to Amy Rattenbury, 23, who is playing the coveted lead role of Tracy Turnblad.
“She’s amazing,” Ted tells me, “wait till you hear her sing.” “And you’ll never believe what she does for a living? Go on, tell her Amy.” He smiles, waiting to see my reaction when she tells me. “I’m a college lecturer in Criminology and Forensic Investigation.” Yep, certainly wasn’t expecting that! Amy, who has only lived in Southend for a year, decided to come along and audition having only been part of smaller groups in the past and not really knowing what to expect. She was absolutely thrilled to get the part of Tracy.
Ted enthuses, “We’ve got a great cast for this show. It always takes a lot of hard work and effort putting them on but I love it and we’ve got a great team.” He then introduces me to choreographers, Kerry Jenkins & Lisa Cole who are both equally as enthusiastic. I suggest that it must be tough trying to choreograph a large cast who are all at different levels and Kerry agrees, “It is difficult because lots of the cast have different levels of experience and so we’ve made the dance numbers simple but very effective.” Kerry is a professional dancer and amongst other things has performed at the London Palladium.
I then spy a familiar face - Paul Day. Paul has just recently been the Musical Director for Little Theatre Company’s fabulous production of Sunset Boulevard and will be providing his services later this year for Leigh Operatic’s upcoming production of Ghost in October. “Paul’s such a great musical director,” says Ted, “he’s always in demand.”
Another familiar face on the musical theatre scene and one that Ted says that he can always depend upon to do a great job is Johnny Buxton. He will be playing the part of Wilbur, Tracey’s magic shop owning, loveable dad.
Wait a minute, Ted’s off again, “Oh! You must talk to Promise, he’s doing X-Factor!” Really? Indeed, as well as playing the part of Seaweed in the show, Promise, 21, who lives in Shoeburyness is also in rehearsals with a newly formed band who are preparing to audition for this year’s X-Factor. They rehearse most evenings in London which means that at the end of a busy 9am to 5pm working day in Basildon, Promise then has to whizz straight off for a band session. “It’s all getting a bit stressful” he sighs. I say, “But you love it though, right?” He smiles, “Yeah, course I do!”
Softly spoken and super polite, Promise is no stranger to the X-Factor machine as he and his previous band, The Project, got to the last round of Bootcamp in 2013. Sadly they never got to go to the judges houses but Promise did get to meet Louis Walsh, Gary Barlow, Nicole Scherzinger and Sharon Osbourne; all of whom, Promise assures me with a knowing smile “were really lovely”.
Promise’s new band will have to audition for the X-Factor producers first to see if they can make it through to a second filmed audition with the Judges. Promise says, “All our music is original. I also write songs and I’m currently learning to play the guitar and keyboards. Our music is mostly R&B.” Fingers crossed for them. Promise certainly seems to have his head screwed on and I look forward to seeing how he and his band progress.
Other key members of the cast are Luke Reid, 15, who is playing heartthrob, Link Larkin and who belongs to the Glee Club, Drama Club and Dance Troupe at Shoeburyness High School. “I only went for a part in the chorus originally and then I got a call back to audition for Link.” He was even more surprised to then learn that he had won the part made famous in the Hairspray film by Zac Ephron.
Ryan Looker, 20, from Ockenden will be playing Corny Collins, the handsome host of the Corny Collins Show that Tracy Turnblad desperately wants to be part of. Ryan has appeared in the last 5 shows with Solomons. His first was starring as Fat Sam in Bugsy Malone. “I was a bit bigger then!” he smiles. He has also played Mr Bumble in Oliver and latterly Troy in High School Musical.
The part of the vampy, over-ambitious mum, Velma, will be played by Louise Kempson. Newcastle born and bred, Louise has a great claim to fame. She entered and won a one off national singing competition run, at the time, by Orange Mobile to win a part in the musical Wicked for one night, which she says “was just an amazing experience.” Louise is kept busy as a professional wedding singer and in between gigs has appeared in shows for Southend Operatic Society such as Summer Holiday and Sister Act.
Aisling Norcup, 18, will be playing Velma’s daughter, Amber. She is currently studying Performing Arts, Drama and Psychology. When she was younger she appeared in Solomon’s production of Annie and also starred in Joseph & The Technicolored Dream Coat in the West End. She has also appeared in a Tango commercial. Amber will be sharing the role with Courtney Lentell.
The part made famous by singer Queen Latifah, Motormouth Maybelle will be played by Meg Odegbami, 20, who I find underneath the most amazing blonde wig. Unbelievably, this is Meg’s first EVER show. From what I heard of her singing in rehearsal, I find that astonishing to believe. The 20 year old call centre worker who is doing an Open University Maths Degree did, however, spend 2 years working as a singing waitress in Feelgoods at Adventure Island which meant she got voice coaching from professional musician, Maria Naylor who, Meg says, encouraged her to go for the part of Motormouth in Hairspray.
Little Inez will be played by young Kea Powlette, who at 10 years old is full of confidence. Earls Hall student, Kea, has also had singing lessons with Maria Naylor and goes to Masters Performing Arts. She has performed on the Cliffs Pavilion stage with David Hasselhoff in Peter Pan and also Craig Revel Horwood in Snow White and confides that they were both really nice and that Craig Revel Horwood was “really funny.”
Penny, Tracy’s geeky friend is played by Isabel Oliver, 14. This will be Penny’s fifth show for Solomons. The Cecil Jones school girl says her favourite shows have been Bugsy Malone and Half a Sixpence where she played Helen last year. She loves playing Penny and will be sharing the part with Megan West.
Nineteen year old Reece Johnson will play Mr Pinkey, the boutique shop keeper who gets to dress up Edna, welcoming her into the Sixties. Reece has also appeared in High School Musical and says that his best theatre experience so far has been performing at Her Majesty’s Theatre when he was a member of Pauline Quirke Academy in Wickford.
Vanessa Dumatey, 17, Lashanna Levinne, 31, and Nina Alleyne, 35, play the sensational singers, The Dynamites.
This production certainly has a large cast consisting mostly of school age children who enjoy the experience so much that they come back year after year, whether they are just in the chorus or have worked their way up to be cast in larger roles. They all seem to be having a great time. Auditions are held in September for each show (the next auditions are 13th September for their next production, Grease) and then beginning in February there will usually be a 16 week rehearsal period.
Not one to miss out on a bit of self promotion, Ted proudly informs me that a lot of the children that have performed with Solomons have gone on to drama schools such as Italia Conti, Mountview and Guildhall School of Music.
And so, after chatting with the cast and crew, I am then invited to Shan-elles Unisex Hair & Beauty Salon in Eastwood (www.facebook.com/pages/Shan-elles-unisex-Hair-and-Beauty-Salon), where Jason Markham, 51, will be transformed, in a kind of “Stars in Their Eyes” type scenario, into the larger than life character of Edna Turnblad. This process includes having all of his chest and legs waxed plus a full makeover, complete with false eyelashes, wig, dress and killer heels. Jason is given a painkiller by salon owner, Sharon Douglas, just before his waxing session. This doesn’t instil too much confidence that he will get through this procedure unscathed, and we rather too eagerly set up the video ready to record his reaction to the first wax strip being pulled from his rather hairy chest by beautician, Louise.
Last year Jason played Chitterlow, the mad actor, in Solomon’s production of Half a Sixpence and is thrilled to be playing the coveted role of Edna Turnblad. “It’s a role that has been played by so many great actors - John Travolta, George Wendt (of Cheers fame) and Michael Ball, to name but a few,” he smiles, “and to be able to follow in their footsteps is just amazing!”
Jason has been acting and directing for over 30 years now and has stacks of experience. One of his most favourite roles has been Vandergelder in Hello Dolly, closely followed by Judd in Oklahoma. He is also the director of the show which can be tricky when you’re also in it too and so Angela Davies, his Assistant Director, has been a huge help in guiding him through the part of Edna.
Once you’ve seen the video of Jason’s waxing, I think you will agree, that he was a very brave soldier and certainly put the expression, ‘suffering for your art’ into full effect! I hope that he has managed to cool down a bit since.
I look forward to seeing Jason in his full Edna regalia along with the rest of this talented cast, in which I am sure will be fabulous production of Hairspray.
Click here for Hairspray Review
Solomon’s support Havens Hospice Charity and buckets for donations will be available for collections at the end of every performance.
For tickets contact
www.southendtheatres.org.uk
Adults £15.00* OAPs and Children £13.00*
A £1.50 per ticket booking fee applies, capped at four per order. Groups of 10+ please call 01702 351135 to buy fee-free.
For information about future auditions for Grease or regarding amateur productions contact 01702 437118
www.solomon-artistes.co.uk