Theater News

Karen Mason, Jenifer Lewis to Join Broadway’s Hairspray

Jenifer Lewis
Jenifer Lewis

Karen Mason will take over the role of Velma Von Tussle from Mary Birdsong in the Broadway musical Hairspray on Tuesday, April 8, while Jenifer Lewis will take over the role of Motormouth Maybelle from Darlene Love on Tuesday, April 22.

Mason’s Broadway credits include Mamma Mia!, Sunset Boulevard, and Jerome Robbins’ Broadway; her other stage credits include Gypsy, Carnival!, Torch Song Trilogy, and And the World Goes ‘Round. She is an award-winning recording and cabaret artist, and will perform next month at the Metropolitan Room (April 2, 3, 4, 10, 11, and 13) in celebration of her new CD, Right Here Right Now.

Lewis last appeared on the New York stage in Mother Courage and her previous Broadway credits include Eubie and Comin’ Uptown. Her many film credits include What’s Love Got to Do With It?, The Preacher’s Wife, Antwone Fisher, and the current hit movie Meet the Browns. She starred on the long-running television series Strong Medicine and has appeared on Friends, Murphy Brown, and The Cosby Show.

Based on the hit film by John Waters, Hairspray has music by Marc Shaiman, lyrics by Shaiman and Scott Whitman, and a book by Mark O’Donnell and Thomas Meehan. The show is directed by Jack O’Brien and choreographed by Jerry Mitchell.

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Hairspray

Closed: January 4, 2009