newportbeachindy . com APRIL 14 , 2023 7
STEPPING OUT
Hit Musical ‘ Hairspray ’ Dances It ’ s Way to Segerstrom Center April 18-30
By Pete Weitzner | Special to the NB Indy
If ever there was an unlikely movie to be made into a Broadway musical , it ’ s “ Hairspray .”
This 1988 comedy comes from the mind of filmmaker John Waters , whose other cinematic creations include “ Pink Flamingos ,” “ Female Trouble ,” “ Desperate Living ,” “ Polyester ” and “ Cry-Baby .”
His early films , which have earned cult followings , mixed surrealism with outrageous situations and dialogue that seemed more improved than scripted .
However , “ Hairspray ” was a departure from previous Waters films and was painted with much broader strokes . Set in 1962 Baltimore , Maryland , the film revolves around teenager Tracy Turnblad as she pursues stardom as a dancer on a local TV show and rallies against racial segregation .
The eclectic cast included Divine ( a frequent collaborator with Waters ), Sonny Bono , Debbie Harry of Blondie , Ricki Lake , Jerry Stiller , Ric Ocasek ( The Cars ) and Pia Zadora .
The movie was a minor hit but gained enough of a following that “ Hairspray ” was turned into a Broadway musical in 2003 with music by Marc Shaiman and lyrics by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman , with a book by Mark O ’ Donnell and Thomas Meehan . John Waters served as a
Garden
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rainwater . Vibrant and colorful low water plants add to the fun , while muted color stones and pavers pick up the hues of the surrounding furniture . Created by Perfect Circle Gardens in collaboration with Crate & Barrel .
A LITTLE PIECE OF CHANGE : Lovingly tend to your herb garden then take a breather in the charming garden shed . Sink into the comfy sofa while enjoying the sweet aroma of garden scents . Listen to the rain , watch the water run down rain chains and collect in a barrel that will later be used to water the garden . Stroll down the cobblestone path surrounded with colorful succulents and lose yourself in a book under the shade of the grand old tree . Created by Lisbeth Castaneda Design in collaboration with Pottery Barn Teen .
Another focal point of the Garden Show : three dozen unique vendors offering exotic plants and flowers . Located on Levels 2 and 3 of the Crate & Barrel wing , the vendors will offer an incredible array of unusual , uncommon and / or highly desirable perennials , carnivorous , unique flowering and / or structural shrubs , alpines , air plants , and numerous orchid species and hybrids . Also for sale are books about California native plants , Bonsai trees , landscape paintings , hanging baskets , pots , wreaths , garlands , and a host of accessories .
And if that ’ s not enough , take a tour of the South Coast Plaza palm collection
( center ) Niki Metcalf as “ Tracy Turnblad ” and the Company of Hairspray . Photo : Jeremy Daniel .
creative consultant .
“ Hairspray ” won eight Tony Awards , including Best Musical . It ran for 2,642 performances , and closed on January 4 , 2009 . Hairspray has also had national tours , a West End production , and numerous foreign productions .
And now , a Broadway touring production of “ Hairspray ” makes its way from Baltimore to Costa Mesa and the Segerstrom Center for the Arts April 18-30 .
This new North American tour , helmed by original director Jack O ’ Brien and original choreographer Jerry Mitchell , features Andrew Levitt ( aka Nina West from “ RuPaul ’ s Drag Race ”) as Edna Turnblad , and Niki Metcalf as Tracy Turnblad .
“ It ’ s a brand-new world we find ourselves in today , and ‘ Hairspray ’ is even more relevant than 20 years ago when it first burst
with an expert from Sherman Library & Gardens .
The core of the collection comes from the estate of Dr . A . J . Vance , who began collecting exotic palms in the late 1940s at his canyon estate located off Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles . The collection was recognized for both its size and diversity of plantings .
After Dr . Vance ’ s death in the early 1980s , South Coast Plaza acquired the collection and transplanted it in 1986 to its present location on Bear Street . With the help of palm aficionado Ralph Velez and the International Palm Society , South Coast Plaza continues to add unique specimens to its collection with varieties from all over the world . Particularly noteworthy are the large Cuban Royal Palms ( Roystonea regia ), a large cluster of Slender Lady Palms ( Rhapis humilis ) from Southern China and the Hawaiian Loulu Palm ( Pritchardia hillebrandii ). All palms are labeled with their common name and botanical name and most have their country of origin .
Sherman Library & Gardens will be hosting two guided palm tours . Carol Younger , Senior Horticulturist , will be conducting tours of the Palm Collection on Thursday , April 20 at 10 a . m ., and Sunday , April 23 at 11 a . m . The meeting area is on Level 1 , Macy ’ s Home Store wing , near Hammitt and Tableau Kitchen and Bar at the Garden Show information desk . onto the scene . With the renewed , refreshed energy of the unforgettable ‘ Nina West ’ as Edna and a whole new generation of wildly talented kids across the board , we cannot wait to raise the various roofs once more with dance , joy , music , and that glorious , famous , energy-packed score !” shared Director Jack O ’ Brien .
Choreographer Jerry Mitchell added , “’ Hairspray ’ has always been about all of us dancing together . I am thrilled to welcome this new company of amazing talents to lead the way as we dance across America with a message of inclusion and hope .”
The show is great fun and has an uplifting message . For tickets , visit www . SCFTA . org or call ( 714 ) 556-2787 .
If you miss the Segerstrom Center shows or just want to see it again , “ Hairspray ” moves from Costa Mesa to the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood May 2-21 .
The pièce de resistance of the Garden Show is Fleurs de Villes VOYAGE , which features more than 15 fresh floral mannequins and spectacular installations throughout South Coast Plaza , with an additional mannequin at Sherman Library and Gardens in Corona del Mar .
The displays will celebrate the cultures , people and heritage of global destinations , created by some of some of Southern California ’ s favorite florists . The floral artists will take inspiration from Mexico , China , Paris and Italy — locales creatively interpreted in floral designs .
The goal of Fleurs de Villes VOYAGE is to deliver a feast of cultural storytelling that will connect the world through flowers .
In addition to the Fleurs de Villes ’ signature floral mannequins , there will be stunning storefront installations on display at Canada Goose , REISS and Mikimoto . You can also snap a selfie by a beautiful “ flower-bombed ” Aston Martin . Shop for fresh blooms at the pop-up weekend flower market , watch floral demos , and vote for your favorite mannequin for a chance to win a luxurious staycation at the Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel .
Southern California Spring Garden Show is at 3333 Bear St . in Costa Mesa . Complimentary admission and parking . Visit www . southcoastplaza . com / gardenshow for more information .
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seeking her place in the world . Like Tom , she seems to have matured since the divorce , and both appear more fulfilled and more at peace with themselves than before .
Yet as satisfying as events have made life for these two , for Karen and Gabe , the rapid , drastic changes Beth and Tom undergo only induce one most unwelcome emotion : anxiety . When Beth and Tom ’ s marriage was on the rocks , Gabe and Karen were happy . Now that their friends have found newer , better lives for themselves , Gabe and Karen have become unmoored .
The closing scene ’ s focus on Gabe and Karen mirrors the play ’ s opening scene – only this time , instead of being in their natural habitat , the kitchen , they ’ re in bed at the end of the day , talking about Beth and Tom . Gabe questions his friendship with Beth , and with Beth and Tom as a couple . Change , he realizes , is a given in life , and is natural , yet while it yields much happiness , some of it is also painful .
Kathy Paladino ’ s cast is sensitive to the script ’ s emotional modulations . Margulies ’ script , Paladino ’ s solid direction and staging , and all four actors are simply excellent , bolstered by Jim Huffman ’ s multipurpose set design .
The camaraderie , rapport and connections between Coyan , Renton , Bartlett and Correa are wholly natural . Beth is a sensual free spirit clearly unaware of the often-harsh realities of marriage . Beth ’ s spiky sarcasm and her vitriolic anger toward Tom are just one side of Bartlett ’ s multi-sided portrayal .
Correa ’ s Tom is soft-spoken , calm , low key and even tempered . His embattled Tom has become embittered , dismayed that no one seems capable of understanding what his marriage to Beth has been like from his perspective .
Karen and Gabe are more intellectual , analytical and dispassionate than Beth and Tom , a canny strategy by Margulies that has us viewing the play ’ s events through their eyes – yet Renton and Coyan deftly communicate the confusion their characters feel in trying to sort things out .
The playwright ’ s unerring ear for true colloquial speech yields realism . His script is mature , nuanced and touching , and its adult language makes “ Dinner ” all the more realistic .
Margulies takes no sides in the fights , arguments and debates that encircle all four characters , which forces us to form our own opinions of each character and on the merits of their comments . He ’ s an expert craftsman whose lines flow naturally out of his characters , giving his every scene the spontaneity of real life .
Nothing in “ Dinner ” seems forced , and that makes everything about it a pleasure . NTAC ’ s production is a great one of a great play by the perceptive , insightful Margulies . You won ’ t know you missed a good bet until you hear that the show ended its run and now realize you passed up a chance to see some truly extraordinary theater .
Newport Theatre Arts Center , 2501 Cliff Drive , Newport Beach . Through April 23 . Running time ( including intermission ): Two hours , 20 minutes . 8 p . m . Thu . -Sat ., 2 p . m . Sun . Tickets : $ 20- $ 25 . Ticket purchase / information : ( 949 ) 631-0288 , www . ntaconline . com .