Arts & Entertainment

'Hairspray' Hitting Hatboro-Horsham Stage

The large summer theater production features more than 50 actors from Hatboro-Horsham, as well as Upper Dublin and several Bucks County school districts.

Choreographer Heather Cole likens positioning actors in Hatboro-Horsham High School’s summer theater production to “kind of like running the circus.” 

“It’s a big show. The heart of the show is a big show in general,” Cole, a 2006 Hatboro-Horsham High School graduate, said of the musical, “Hairspray,” which the 55-member cast will begin staging on Thursday. “There’s so many bodies in the space.”

The script for the Marc Shaiman musical production, which is based on the 1988 John Waters film of the same name calls for 20 people, but the high school’s summer theater department had too much of a great thing, according to Pete Barsky, the show’s set designer and technical director.

Find out what's happening in Hatboro-Horshamwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“We got more people than we expected and they were all good,” Barsky said. “There wasn’t a bad one in the mob.”

The huge cast–and crew–which together pushes the total number of participants beyond 70, is comprised of actors ranging in age from 10 to 30, according to Director Lisa Stunder. Besides singers and dancers from Hatboro and Horsham, the show features performers from Upper Dublin, Springfield, Council Rock, Central Bucks, Centennial and Philadelphia school districts. 

Find out what's happening in Hatboro-Horshamwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Having actors from both near and far will help with the troupe recoup the $15,000 cost of staging the production, Barsky said.

“We have kids from all over the place and they bring their parents and they bring their friends,” he said. “We’re hoping that this is going to be a real good box office.”

Just like the circus is oftentimes dubbed the greatest show on earth, Hatboro-Horsham’s production of “Hairspray” too has all the makings of a great show. 

“It used to be you identified a good show if you’re walking out of the theater humming the songs,” Barsky said. “I guarantee people will be doing that.”

If you go

Hatboro-Horsham High School’s summer theater will stage the Marc Shaiman musical, “Hairspray” on Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. at Hatboro-Horsham High School, 899 Horsham Road in Horsham. Cost is $10 for seniors and students; $12 for adults. Click here to see the event on Patch’s calendar. 


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