Playbill News
By Kenneth Jones
June 3, 2004
Matthew Morrison, the original Link of Broadway’s Hairspray, returns to the teen role opposite his original on-stage squeeze, Marissa Jaret Winokur, for the Los Angeles stop of the hit musical’s tour.Winokur will repeat her 2003 Tony Award-winning performance in Hairspray for the Los Angeles run at the Pantages Theatre July 20-Sept. 5. She was named Best Actress in a Musical.
Carly Jibson, who created Tracy on tour (opposite Bruce Vilanch as mama Edna Turnblad), left the traveling troupe April 11 to take time off before rehearsing with the Broadway company, which she joined May 4 (opposite Michael McKean as Edna).
For every city but Los Angeles, Keala Settle plays Tracy. She started with the engagement in Tempe, AZ, April 13.
First seen in the John Waters movie, “Hairspray,” Tracy Turnblad is the portly Baltimore teen who changes the face of local TV forever when she promotes integration on a dance show. She also falls in love with the coolest guy in school (heartthrob Link) and gets her mother, Edna, a fantastic makeover.
The role of Tracy was created in the movie by Ricki Lake.
The smash musical continues on Broadway at the Neil Simon Theatre.
