Dundalk Community Theatre is excited to announce auditions for Hairspray. Everyone’s favorite plus-size teen, Tracy Turnblad, dreams of dancing on the beloved ‘Corny Collins Show.’ When her dream comes true, she transforms from outcast to star, while keeping her iconic hairstyle intact!
PRODUCTION STAFF
Director: John Desmone
Musical Director: Jim Kraus
Choreographer: Bambi Johnson
Stage Manager: TraceyAnn Smith
Technical Director: Marc W. Smith
Set, Lights & Sound: Marc W. Smiith
Props Manager: Amy Vickers
AUDITION DATES AND TIMES
Saturday, November 9, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Sunday, November 10, 1:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
CALLBACKS: Tuesday, November 12 from 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
AUDITIONS ARE BY APPOINTMENT ONLY
LOCATION
John E. Ravekes Theatre, CCBC Dundalk
7200 Sollers Point Road, Baltimore, MD 21222
PRODUCTION INFORMATION
There will be one cast meeting (read-thru & measurement session) in mid-December or early January but rehearsals will begin in earnest in February and will generally be held 3 – 4 times per week. Conflicts will be taken into consideration when scheduling specific days/times for rehearsals. There will be at least one weekend rehearsal each week until tech week.
Tech week will be May 3 – 8, 2025
Performances are May 9, 10, 16, 17, at 8:00 p.m., as well as May 11 and 18 at 3:00 p.m.
Actors will not be cast who have conflicts during tech week (Saturday, May 3 – Thursday, May 8). We ask that actors bring a list of ALL conflicts they have from now until the closing of the show to auditions.
AUDITION INFORMATION
Dundalk Community Theatre is committed to growing our diversity and inclusion at all levels: on our stage, in our audience, on our staff and within our leadership. We seek to be inclusive and color-conscious not only in our casting but also in the works we choose to present. We aim to keep performers from historically underrepresented backgrounds visible and valued in the casting process. As such, we encourage performers of all races and ethnicities, gender identities, sexualities, abilities, and ages, to attend auditions.
Song – Actors should prepare 16 – 32 bars of a contemporary musical theater song that showcases range and acting ability. Actors should bring sheet music. If auditioning for a specific role, actors should be familiar with the song listed within each character description and can use that song as their audition piece if they choose. An accompanist will be provided.
Monologues/Readings – Actors will not need to prepare monologues. Actors may be asked to read sides or sing selections from Hairspray.
Dance – Actors should wear comfortable clothing and/or dance attire as well as appropriate footwear to learn a dance combination.
Headshot and Resume – These are not required, but are highly recommended.
Auditions will be scheduled in 60-minute blocks. Those auditioning for a role are expected to stay for the entire 60 minutes.
For more information about the show, please visit https://www.https://www.mtishows.com/hairspray
Sign Up Here
If you can’t make either audition day, please email lboeren@ccbcmd.edu for video audition instructions.
CHARACTER BREAKDOWN – ALL ROLES ARE OPEN
Hairspray Character Descriptions
As required by MTI’s Production Contract, cast members in DCT’s production of Hairspray must accurately reflect the character descriptions contained in the script.
Tracy Turnblad
Our story’s unsuspecting protagonist, she is large and in charge. Confident, talented, and incredibly determined. A romantic with a good heart and desire to cut up the dance floor. Always on top of the latest trends.
Song: “Good Morning Baltimore”
Seeking an excellent actress, singer and dancer with wonderful stage presence and a great personality. This role should be played by a white actress.
Gender: Female
Age range: 16+ but should be able to play a high school student
Vocal range top: G5
Vocal range bottom: G3
Edna Turnblad
Tracy’s big, boisterous and loving mother. She is a working housewife who has lost her confidence and dream to be a plus-size clothing designer. Typically played by a male in drag.
Song: “Timeless to Me”
Seeking an experienced comic actor who sings and moves well and can command the stage. This role should be played by a white performer.
Gender: Male Preferred
Age: 35 to 55
Vocal range top: G5
Vocal range bottom: F3
Penny Pingleton
Tracy’s best friend and sheltered sidekick. Slow on the pick-up but sweet and with good intentions. Bursting to get free of her mother’s dominating control, she falls for Seaweed with childlike curiosity.
Song: Penny’s portion of “You Can’t Stop the Beat”
Seeking a good comic actress who sings and dances well. This role should be played by a white actress.
Gender: Female
Age: 16+ but should be able to play a high school student
Vocal range top: G5
Vocal range bottom: A3
Link Larkin
The charismatic star heartthrob on Corny Collins’ show and Tracy’s dream guy. He is extremely attractive and talented. Hoping to get his big break with a recording contract, he unexpectedly falls for Tracy.
Song: “It Takes Two”
Seeking a great pop singer with a vocal sound of the period who can act and dance well. This role should be played by a white actor.
Gender: Male
Age: 16+ but should be able to play a high school student
Vocal range top: A5
Vocal range bottom: G3
Amber Von Tussle
Link’s girlfriend and Tracy’s nemesis. She is a pretty, thin, shallow, and snobby prom queen nightmare. Always feels the need to be the center of attention. Can’t match Tracy as a dancer but, with the help of her mother, is expected to win Miss Teenage Baltimore.
Song: “Cooties”
Seeking a very good actress, singer and dancer who can play the lead “mean girl” of the show. This role should be played by a white actress.
Gender: Female
Age: 16+ but should be able to play a high school student
Vocal range top: F5
Vocal range bottom: A3
Velma Von Tussle
Amber’s mother and the director of Corny Collin’s show. She is a devious and snobby taskmaster not interested in change. The former Miss Baltimore Crabs will go to any length to ensure her daughter is the next big thing.
Song: “Miss Baltimore Crabs”
Seeking an actress who has no trouble playing a villain and a very good singer who moves well. This role should be played by a white actress.
Gender: Female
Age: 35 to 55
Vocal range top: E5
Vocal range bottom: G3
Corny Collins
The charismatic host of the Corny Collins’ Show. Good looking and smooth talking, he is a genuinely nice guy both on and off camera.
Song: “It’s Hairspray”
Seeking an experienced singer and actor who moves well. This role should be played by a white actor.
Gender: Male
Age: 25 to 40
Vocal range top: A4
Vocal range bottom: D3
Seaweed J. Stubbs
Tracy’s classmate and friend, who is discriminated against due to his skin color. He is cocky but lovable. Talented in song and dance. He falls for Penny. Song: “Run and Tell That”
Seeking a charismatic performer who can sing, dance and act well. Seaweed should be played by a black actor.
Gender: Male
Age: 16+ but should be able to play a high school student
Vocal range top: D5
Vocal range bottom: F3
Little Inez Stubbs
Seaweed’s little sister who gets her moment in the spotlight. She has a quiet exterior who can and will be bold when the opportunities come.
Seeking a dynamic young performer with a strong belt voice and very good dancing skills. Little Inez should be played by a black actress.
Gender: Female
Age: Young Teen
Vocal range top: E5
Vocal range bottom: C5
Motormouth Maybelle
Seaweed and Little Inez’s mother who appears as the Guest DJ on the Corny Collin’s “Negro Day” shows. “Big, Blonde and Beautiful” and proud of it. She is sassy and confident.
Song: “I Know Where I’ve Been”
Seeking a performer with strong stage presence and a great soulful gospel toned singing voice who moves well. This role should be played by a black actress.
Gender: Female
Age: 35 to 55
Vocal range top: E5
Vocal range bottom: F3
Wilbur Turnblad
Edna’s loving husband and Tracy’s kind and caring father. He is the silly and simple owner of a joke shop who just wants the best for his girls.
Song: “Timeless to Me”
Seeking a joy filled actor who sings and dances well. A physical stature complimentary to the actor playing Edna could be helpful. This role should be played by a white actor.
Gender: Male
Age: 35 to 55
Vocal range top: A5
Vocal range bottom: A3
Prudy Pingleton
Penny’s somewhat eccentric and strict mother. Very controlling and closed minded.
Seeking an experienced character actress with a good singing voice capable of capturing her conflict while being more than a caricature. This role should be played by a white actress.
Gender: Female
Age: 35 to 55
Vocal range top: B4
Vocal range bottom: D4
Council Members
Brad, Tammy, Fender, Sketch, Shelley, IQ, Brenda and Lou Ann – the famed “Nicest Kids in Town” teenage performers on the “Corny Collins Show.” They will emulate some of the most famous dance moves of the 60s.
Looking for very good singers and dancers who have a lot of personality and can be bold in their characterizations of teenagers of the time. These roles should be played by white performers.
Gender: Female (4) and Male (4)
Age: 16+ but should be able to play a high school student
Vocal range top: soprano
Vocal range bottom: bass/baritone
Negro Day Dancers
Lorraine, Gilbert, Thad, Duane, Stooie, Cindy, Etta and Nina – the teenage performers on Corny Collins’ “Negro Day” shows. They will emulate some of the most famous dance moves of the 60s.
Looking for very good singers and dancers who have a lot of personality and can be bold in their characterizations of teenagers of the time. These roles should be played by black performers.
Gender: Female (4) and Male (4)
Age: 16+ but should be able to play a high school student
Vocal range top: soprano
Vocal range bottom: bass/baritone
The Dynamites
The Dynamites (Judine, Kamilah, and Shayna) are a dynamic musical trio, iconic of the Motown era and the 1960s. Think the Marvelettes, Shirelles, and the Crystals. They also double as part of the Negro Day Dancers.
Song: “Welcome to the 60’s”
Seeking performers who are very good singers and dancers who can harmonize and complement each other. Roles are played by black female performers.
Gender: Female
Age range: 20 to 30 but should also be able to play a high school student.
Vocal range top: A5
Vocal range bottom: E4
Ensemble
The ensemble consists of roles for performers who sing and move well. In addition, actors who enjoy the opportunities to explore being multiple characters in a show are encouraged to audition. Some of the cameo roles are featured in various musical numbers.
Roles available to ensemble members include the following:
Mr. Pinky
Mr. Pinky owns a ladies’ clothing shop and is a salesperson inside and out – he is always the first to give a compliment. Featured in “Welcome to the 60’s.”
Mr. Spritzer
Mr. Spritzer owns the company that produces Ultra Clutch Hairspray, sponsor of the Corny Collins television program. A bigot until it benefits him not to be. Featured in multiple scenes and numbers.
Female Gym Teacher
Think Sue Sylvester. Featured in the dodge ball scene.
Prison Matron
Think Mamma Morton.
Song: “The Big Doll House.”
Male School Principal, Male Prison Guard, Newscaster, Beatnik Chick,
Policemen, Mothers of the Council members, Flasher, Bum, Hookers, Protestors, Citizens on the street
Questions about this audition or production should be sent to:
Lisa Boeren, DCT Interim Administrative Manager lboeren@ccbcmd.edu
Tickets may be purchased online: www.ccbctickets.com or by calling the Box Office (443) 840 – ARTS
Directions to CCBC Dundalk | College Community Center, John E. Ravekes Theatre | www.ccbcmd.edu/dct
Hairspray is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. 423 West 55th street, New York, NY 10019 Phone: 212-541-4684 | Fax: 212-397-4684 www.MTIShow.com