Producers' Note
Welcome to the '60s, fifty years later! It is a time of big hair, big dreams, and big social problems. Filmmaker, Writer, Director John Waters, sometimes called the "king of bad taste" for some of his work, went a bit more mainstream when he introduced us to the world of Tracy Turnblad in his 1988 non-musical movie, Hairspray, starring an overweight teen who's primary goal was to join the cast of a television dance show and who, along the way, ended up fighting against racial discrimination in Water's own, very segregated hometown of Baltimore, Maryland. In 2002, Waters' story was adapted into what became a Tony Award-winning Broadway musical, followed by a commercially successful, star-studded 2007 movie.
The story of the attempt by high-schoolers to achieve a small measure of social justice, told through pop, rock, and rhythm and blues music, speaks to many students at Westhill. We have a large number of students participating in their first school musical and we are thrilled to welcome new actors, tech crew, and musicians to our stage, along with our veterans. In fact, more than 100 students have been involved in bringing this production to life.
We also had an opportunity for students to learn about the actual events that are fictionalized in the show by a very moving presentation by Stamford resident, Rabbi Philip Schechter, who came to speak with our cast and crew. While serving as a rabbi in Baltimore, Rabbi Schechter was a member of an interfaith coalition that successfully engaged in a march and sit-in in order to integrate a whites-only amusement park in Baltimore in 1963. He explained that The Corny Collins Show was based on an actual afternoon show, The Buddy Deane Show, on a local television station which was also segregated in the early 1960's. Rabbi Schechter helped draw parallels between the Civil Rights movement of the '60's and the continuing struggles we see today.
We want to thank our creative team lead by Linda Duci, director and choreographer, Jonathan Curri, vocal director, and Michael Wyatt, music director and conductor. The preparations were long and arduous and made more difficult by the cancellation of numerous rehearsals due to seemingly never-ending snow. We are in awe of our strong cast and dedicated crew, who had the opportunity to work with the National Touring set, costumes and props, which added a level of professionalism to the look and feel of our show, and presented many challenges getting it all to fit and work on our stage. We also wish to acknowledge Principal Camille Figluizzi for her unwavering support of the arts at Westhill and the custodians for their help.
Finally, thanks to our dedicated group of parents who provide much needed support to help pull off a production of this size and complexity. They are too numerous to name, but we want them to know that their efforts are greatly appreciated.
Enjoy the show!
The Northstar Parent Production Group Executive Board
Nancy Freedman, Dave Hart, Randy Skigen, Stacye Nekritz, Dom Bria, Ellen Hart, Mike Bruno
