You Can Stop the Beat: Las Vegas Hairspray to Close on June 11
(Photo © Paul Kolnik)
The Las Vegas production of the Tony Award-winning hit musical Hairspray will close at the Luxor Hotel on June 11 after a four-month run. The show officially opened on February 15 with Tony winners Harvey Fierstein and Dick Latessa re-creating their original roles of Edna and Wilbur Turnblad. Paul Vogt and Eddie Mekka took over those roles on May 1.
The show’s original creators, including director Jack O’Brien, choreographer Jerry Mitchell, Marc Shaiman (music /co-lyrics), Scott Wittman (lyrics), book writers Mark O’Donnell, and Thomas Meehan, all worked together to modify the production into a 90-minute intermissionless show, in keeping with the Vegas tradition of shorter shows.
However, business was not satisfactory, said co-producer Michael Gill. “We make this decision with regret and disappointment, but with the reality that the show did not find the audience it needed for us to continue.” Added co-producer Myron Martin. “We have nothing but the greatest admiration for this remarkable cast and crew who never failed to deliver a wonderful performance every time they took the stage.”
In his TheaterMania review, Michael Portantiere wrote: “This is as enjoyable and professional a tab production of the show as anyone could hope to see.”
In other Hairspray news, Variety is reporting that teen film star Amanda Bynes will play Penny Pingleton in the soon-to-be-filmed version of the musical, starring John Travolta.
