Leah Hocking Will Be Hairspray‘s New Velma
(Photo © Joseph Marzullo)
Leah Hocking will succeed Barbara Walsh as Velma Von Tussle in the Broadway production of Hairspray, beginning December 6. In addition, Hocking will play the role October 18-November 13 while Walsh performs in the Transport Group’s Normal.
Hocking was most recently seen on Broadway in All Shook Up. Her other New York credits include Dance of the Vampires, The Thing About Men, the Broadway production of The Wild Party, Jekyll & Hyde, and the revival of Grease.
Hairspray currently stars John Pinette as Edna, Shannon Durig as Tracy, Darlene Love as Motormouth Maybelle, Richard H. Blake as Link, Jonathan Dokuchitz as Corny Collins, Tracy Miller as Penny, Chester Gregory III as Seaweed, Julie Halston as Mrs. Pingleton, and Stephen DeRosa as Wilbur.
The show opened in August 2002, and won eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical. Linda Hart, who originated the role of the Velma, is now appearing in The Great American Trailer Park Musical.
