'Hairspray' Rocks the North Farmington Stage

It isn't quite a cast of thousands, but 's production of Hairspray, set to open Thursday, will bring nearly 100 students to the stage.

"We have 94 cast members," said assistant director Sue Cobb. "It's the largest we've ever done."

In all, more than 130 students are involved in the show, along with about 20 musicians in the pit orchestra. Cobb said 126 students auditioned for the show, which will be the last produced by her and her husband, Dean Cobb, the show's director. Both are retiring at the end of the year.

"It was very hard to turn some kids away," Sue Cobb said. "If you want to keep a good theater program going, you've got to build it, and you build it by putting kids in it. ... That's always been our philosophy, to fill the stage."

All those youths will be seen, too, she said. The tall set piece that provides a backdrop for the show has a second level, and cast members can be seen in the windows. Cobb said parents help build the sets for every North Farmington theater production.

"A number of them have banded together over the years," she said. "Some of them don't even have kids in the shows anymore."

Hairspray tells the story of teenager Tracy Turnblad's efforts to combat racism in a local television dance show for teenagers. Its lively music and energetic dance numbers come straight out of the 1960s, before all cast members (with the exception of school liaison officer Duane Fox) were born.

Students researched some of the references in the show, from 1960s heartthrob Eddie Fisher to Bromo Seltzer, an over-the-counter remedy for indigestion. Students looked at hairdos from the era to find what would work with their hair length and type. And some of the research was quite delicious.

"We had a soul food dinner," Cobb said. "One of the moms volunteered to do it, and got some other parents involved." Disc jockey "Rockin' Ronnie" – Ron Oleksiak – attended and "did a lot of explaining about what the times were like (in the 1960s)," she added.

"We just like immersing them like that ... so they've got something invested in this," she said.

North Farmington alumna Samantha Feldman knows what that kind of immersion is all about. A 2007 graduate, she performed in every show the school produced during her time at the school.

"The best memories I have are in this auditorium," the 22-year-old University of Michigan senior said.

When she decided she wanted to teach, she knew exactly who to consult. After telling the Cobbs that she would be a part-time student in her senior year, "we came up with the idea of me shadowing them," Feldman said.

Working on Hairspray has been both an education and a labor of love, as well as an opportunity to work with her sister, Ryann, who is in the cast. "I want to be able to help (the Cobbs) continue this legacy," Feldman said. "It's so important to so many people."

Lucy Koviak is second assistant director, Kathy Seremet is vocal director and Peter Tolias directs the pit orchestra. Principal cast members are:

Tracy Turnblad: Kelsey Pohl

Corny Collins: Koby Berman

Edna Turnblad: Timmy Matsamakis

Penny Pingleton: Grace Jessop

Prudy Pingleton: Mary Kate Murnen

Velma Von Tussle: Ashley Bronstein

Amber Von Tussle: Makayla McCoskey

Link Larkin: Ethan Gell

Mr. Harriman Spritzer: Duane Fox

Wilbur Turnblad: Colin Knighton

Little Inez: Aaliyah Brown

Principal and Chorus: Michael Higer

Seaweed J. Stubbs: Shammah Carter

Mr. Pinky and Chorus: Nate Strauss

Gym Teacher: Allie Longnecker

Motormouth Maybelle: Kelli G. Smith (Thursday and 7:30 p.m. Saturday) and Milan McLaurin (Friday and 2 p.m. Saturday)

Cobb said tickets were sold out for the Friday and 7:30 p.m. Saturday performances, but tickets remain for the shows at 7:30 p.m. Thursday and 2 p.m. Saturday. All seats are reserved; tickets may be purchased by phone, 248-426-5202, or at the school from 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. through Friday. Cost is $15 for general admission and $12 for seniors, students and children.