The Muny Announces Full Cast for Season

Opening Production of ‘Hairspray’ June 15-21

The Muny has announced the full cast for its production of Hairspray, which is back by audience demand to open the theatre’s 108th season this summer in Forest Park. Hairspray, the musical comedy based on John Waters’ cult classic 1988 film and winner of eight Tony Awards, runs June 15-21 and is presented by Emerson.

“What a thrill to kick off Muny 108 with this brilliant, bold, funny show,” said Muny Artistic Director & Executive Producer Mike Isaacson. “Hairspray gives us all a chance to begin this epic season knowing ‘we can’t stop the beat.’”

Joining previously announced principals Katy Geraghty (Tracy Turnblad), Richard Kind (Edna Turnblad), John Bolton (Wilbur Turnblad), Sara Gettelfinger (Velma Von Tussle), Charity Angél Dawson (Motormouth Maybelle), Paul Schwensen (Corny Collins), Madison Thompson (Amber Von Tussle), Ben Jackson Walker (Link Larkin), Ashlyn Maddox (Penny Pingleton), Nicholas A. Wilkinson (Seaweed J. Stubbs), Hannah Solow (Female Authority Figure), Kevin Zak (Male Authority Figure) and Joy Elizabeth Rhodes (Little Inez) are Caira Carmelle, Chloe Chamberlin, Taylor Colleton, Brooke Cox, Audrey Curdo, Matt Dean, Jennifer Florentino, Trevor “Tjay” Groce, Leah Joy Ifill, McKinley Knuckle, Indya Lincicome, Tatiana Lofton, TJ McCarthy, Jack Sippel, Jonah Taylor, Matthew Varvar, J’Khalil and Olivia Windley.

The production is led by Seth Sklar-Heyn (director), Jesse Robb (choreographer) and Evan Roider (music director/conductor).

The design team for Hairspray includes Paige Parkhill (associate choreographer); Jennifer Florentino (assistant choreographer); Derek Shorter (associate music director); Christine Peters (scenic designer); Tristan Raines (costume designer); Rob Denton (lighting designer); Joshua Hummel (sound designer); Nathan Scheuer (video designer); Ashley Rae Callahan (wig designer); Bonnie Panson (production stage manager); and The Telsey Office/Rashad Naylor, CSA (casting).

Principal Cast Bios

KATY GERAGHTY (Tracy Turnblad) returns to The Muny after appearing in Bring It On (Bridget) last summer and Sister Act (Sister Mary Patrick) in 2023. Broadway: Into the Woods (Little Red, Broadway replacement and national tour), Groundhog Day (original Broadway cast). Favorite theatre credits: Oklahoma! (Gertie Cummings, Carnegie Hall), & Juliet (pre-Broadway Toronto run), Bliss (world premiere at 5th Avenue Theatre), Hairspray (Tracy Turnblad, Oregon Shakespeare Festival) and Shrek The Musical (Gingy, North Shore Music Theatre).

RICHARD KIND (Edna Turnblad) Broadway: The Big Knife (Drama Desk Award, supporting actor; Tony nomination, featured actor in a play); The Producers (Broadway, Hollywood Bowl, West End); Dirty Rotten Scoundrels ; Sly Fox; The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife; Kiss Me, Kate; All In. Regional: Sondheim’s Bounce (Goodman Theatre, Kennedy Center); Candide (New York City Opera at Lincoln Center); Once in a Lifetime (Guthrie Theatre); Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead, The Front Page (Williamstown Theatre Festival); Power Failure (Actors Studio Free Theatre Co.); The Seagull (Matrix Theatre); The Second City in Chicago, New York and Los Angeles; 12 Angry Men; Enemy of the People. Film: Argo, Inside Out, Hereafter, Beau Is Afraid, Bombshell, A Serious Man, The Visitor, Cars, The Station Agent, A Bug’s Life, Mr. Saturday Night , Clifford, Stargate.

JOHN BOLTON (Wilbur Turnblad) returns to The Muny after playing Nick last season in Come From Away. He starred on Broadway in Anastasia, Dames at Sea, A Christmas Story, Curtains and How to Succeed and was in the original Broadway companies of Spamalot, Contact and Titanic, all of which won the Tony Award for best musical. He made his Broadway debut alongside Jerry Lewis in Damn Yankees. Mr. Bolton toured the US as The Wizard in Wicked and as Horace Vandergelder in Hello, Dolly! Nominated for Drama Desk, Outer Critics, Astaire, Chita Rivera and Lortel awards, Mr. Bolton headlined several NY Pops concerts at Carnegie Hall and was a soloist with the NY Philharmonic at Lincoln Center..

SARA GETTELFINGER (Velma Von Tussle) most recently starred as Robyn in The Roommate at ATC (directed by Marsha Mason) and as Mother! in the critically acclaimed world premiere of The Last Bimbo of the Apocalypse at The New Group NYC. Other Broadway/national tours: Water for Elephants (Barbara), The Addams Family (Morticia), A Free Man of Color (Dona Athene), The 101 Dalmatians Musical (Cruella de Vil), Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Jolene Oakes), Nine (Carla), The Boys From Syracuse, Seussical, Fosse.

CHARITY ANGÉL DAWSON (Motormouth Maybelle) Broadway credits include & Juliet (Nurse/Angelique), Chicago (Mama Morton), Mrs. Doubtfire (Wanda Sellner), Waitress (Nurse Norma/Becky, including the filmed production streaming on HBO), Side Show (Fortune Teller). Off-Broadway: Disaster (Lavora). Tours: Dreamgirls (Effie White),

Hairspray was last seen at The Muny in 2015, and Tracy Turnblad is ready to move to the beat of a changing world! It’s 1962 in Baltimore, and the lovable plus-size teen dreams of dancing on The Corny Collins Show. When her wish comes true, Tracy rockets from social outcast to sudden star. But she’ll need more than great moves to dethrone the teen queen, win the affections of heartthrob Link Larkin, and integrate the popular TV show once and for all. Winner of eight Tony Awards,

Hairspray is a rockin’ dance-filled, joyous musical with big hair, big heart and big fun.

Hairspray is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International. All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI.

Performances of Hairspray begin at 8:15 p.m. nightly, June 15-21.

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