Who plays Edna Turnblad in Hairspray?
The show also continues another time-honored tradition of the musical itself: the role of Edna Turnblad is played by a man — Harvey Fierstein reprises the character he played in the Broadway version and for which he won a Tony. But why is Tracy's mom always played by a man in Hairspray and not a woman?
Who are the actors in the movie Turn Blad?
The film was directed and choreographed by Adam Shankman and starred John Travolta as Edna Turnblad, Christopher Walken as Wilbur Turnblad, Queen Latifah as Maybelle, Michelle Pfeiffer as Velma Von Tussle, James Marsden as Corny Collins, and Nikki Blonsky as Tracy Turnblad.
Who played Edna Turnblad on American Idol?
A Dutch production ran during the 2009/2010 season. Edna Turnblad was played by Arjan Ederveen and Link was Jim Bakkum (runner-up in the first season of the Dutch American Idol). On December 6, 2009 a German production opened in Cologne. Edna is played alternately by Uwe Ochsenknecht and comedian Tetje Mierendorf.
Why is Edna Edna always played by a man?
"It has become a tradition for men to play her, as with Peter Pan, where it is always played by a woman. Why, I don’t know. It gives it an edge." According to The Baton Rouge Advocate, though, there is no definite rule that Edna must be played by a man.
Who played Edna in Broadway?
Blake Hammond played the Male Authority Figure (Prison Guard/High School Principal) on the road, and then he played Edna on Broadway. I love it when someone claws their way up from the man’s part to play the female lead. That is beyond any kind of behind-the-scenes backstage Broadway story I’ve ever seen.
Who played Edna Turnblad in Hairspray?
In the beginning, Divine played the role of Edna Turnblad. And the first day on the set of “ Hairspray ,” I didn’t recognize him. I thought it was another neighborhood woman watching the shoot. We were filming in East Baltimore, and all the housewives were talking to him. Divine looked normal, not weird. It was a moment of truth. It was so anti-the-Divine-character that we started with. Divine said, “Nobody can call me a drag queen, because what drag queen would allow themselves to look like this?”
Who played the male authority figure in Hairspray?
But Michael made it more of a kitchen-sink drama, which ‘Hairspray’ is. Blake Hammond played the Male Authority Figure (Prison Guard/High School Principal) on the road, and then he played Edna on Broadway. I love it when someone claws their way up from the man’s part to play the female lead.
Who played Edna in John Waters?
Baltimore drag queen Divine played the role in the original 1988 John Waters film, and John Travolta played Edna in the 2007 movie musical. So why is Edna always played by a man? Waters shared the secret with WBAL-TV 11 News, saying, "People say, 'Why is Edna always a man?'.
Who plays Tracy Turnblad's mom?
The amazing Harvey Fierstein is reprising his role as Tracy Turnblad's mom in NBC's Hairspray Live! Fierstein won a Tony Award for "best actor in a musical" for playing Edna Turnblad in Hairspray on Broadway. Advertisement.
Why is Tracy Turnblad always a man?
But the reason it's always a man is because that's a secret the audience has. The cast, Tracy Turnblad doesn't think her mother is a man. It's a secret the audience has. The cast doesn't know.".
Who played Edna in John Waters?
Baltimore drag queen Divine played the role in the original 1988 John Waters film, and John Travolta played Edna in the 2007 movie musical. So why is Edna always played by a man? Waters shared the secret with WBAL-TV 11 News, saying, "People say, 'Why is Edna always a man?'.
Who plays Tracy Turnblad's mom?
The amazing Harvey Fierstein is reprising his role as Tracy Turnblad's mom in NBC's Hairspray Live! Fierstein won a Tony Award for "best actor in a musical" for playing Edna Turnblad in Hairspray on Broadway. Advertisement.
Why is Tracy Turnblad always a man?
But the reason it's always a man is because that's a secret the audience has. The cast, Tracy Turnblad doesn't think her mother is a man. It's a secret the audience has. The cast doesn't know.".
Who played Edna in the Broadway show?
Fierstein auditioned and won the role for the Broadway production with Waters' blessing, according to The Advocate in 2002, a casting choice that seemed to cement the tradition of Edna being played by a man. "From the moment they offered the role I knew that Edna was not a drag role ," Fierstein wrote in Playbill in 2003.
Who played Edna in Hairspray?
The tradition carried on with actors such as Michael McKean, Bruce Vilanch, Blake Hammond, and George Wendt playing Edna on Broadway. In the 2007 movie version of Hairspray, John Travolta took on the role, which was a task the Grease actor took very seriously, he told the New York Times.
Who was Edna in Hairspray Live?
The 2007 movie version was produced by Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, who are also the executive producers of NBC's Hairspray Live! In 2007, the Chicago Tribune reported that Meron said Travolta was cast as Edna in order to continue the tradition of the musical, which has continued years later in the NBC live version of the musical.
Who plays Edna in Peter Pan?
The tradition carried on with actors such as Michael McKean, Bruce Vilanch, Blake Hammond, and George Wendt playing Edna on Broadway. ...
Is Edna Turnblad a drag queen?
But Waters wrote in Variety in 2007 that even he is unsure of how the tradition started. "Edna Turnblad isn’t a drag-queen part," the director wrote in the publication. "It has become a tradition for men to play her, as with Peter Pan, where it is always played by a woman. Why, I don’t know. It gives it an edge.".
Who played Edna in Hairspray?
On December 6, 2009 a German production opened in Cologne. Edna was played alternately by Uwe Ochsenknecht and comedian Tetje Mierendorf. Tracy was played by Maite Kelly, a former member of The Kelly Family and Penny was Jana Stelley. The first production of Hairspray in the German language, however, took place at the Theater St. Gallen, Switzerland. A re-creation of the Broadway/West End production of the show opened in Dubai in July 2010 with Leanne Jones, from the West End production, reprising her role as Tracy and Antony Stuart-Hicks as Edna.
Who plays Tracy Turnblad in Hairspray?
Hairspray was the next live musical to be produced by NBC, and was broadcast on December 7, 2016. Newcomer Maddie Baillio was chosen to play Tracy Turnblad. Jennifer Hudson and Harvey Fierstein starred as Motormouth Maybelle and Edna Turnblad, respectively.
Why did the actors in the original Broadway show play musical instruments?
In the original Broadway production, a few of the actors mimed on musical instruments in order to fulfil a minimum musician requirement at the Neil Simon Theatre.
Who played the Dynamites in the movie Hairspray?
Kamilah Marshall, Shayna Steele, and Judine Richard played the Dynamites. Hairspray received Tony Award nominations in 13 categories, winning eight, including for best musical, book, score and direction. Winokur, Fierstein and Latessa received awards for their performances.
Who is Tracy's mother in Hairspray?
Notably, Tracy’s mother, Edna Turnblad, is performed in drag during the shows. Allowing a drag role for Edna adds a queerness to the musical as it does not include any gay characters. Edna is considered to be the non-racialised other that is part of the story in Hairspray.
Who wrote the music for Hairspray?
Tony Award for Best Score. Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Musical. Hairspray is an American musical with music and lyrics by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman and a book by Mark O'Donnell and Thomas Meehan, based on John Waters 's 1988 film of the same name.
Who is the voice of Nina West?
On stage, he starred in the regional premieres of Buyer and Cellar (Alex More) and Peter and the Starcatcher (Betty Bumbrake) with CATCO Theatre Columbus. In 2019, Andrew appeared in The Little Mermaid (Ursula) with the Butterfly Guild of Nationwide Children’s Hospital. Other TV credits: RuPaul’s Celebrity Drag Race, Dragging the Classics: The Brady Bunch (Alice, Paramount+), This Is Me’ Pride Celebration Spectacular (Disney+), “The Blue’s Clues Pride Parade Singalong” and “The Meaning of Pride” (Nickelodeon). He provided the voice for the animated short Coaster. Andrew has released music EP’s “Drag Is Magic,” “The West Christmas Ever,” and “John Goodman” as Nina West; all have charted on Billboard’s Top 10 for Children’s Music and Comedy. Throughout his drag career, he has raised over $4 million dollars and started his own foundation, The Nina West Foundation, primarily serving LGBTQIA+ organizations and causes. Thanks to Mom, Dad, PT. Andrew would like to dedicate this performance to the memory of Kathy Ringley.
Where is Toneisha from?
Toneisha was the Season 18 runner-up on NBC’s The Voice (the highest-placing African American woman in the show’s history), and performed an original song, “My Superhero,” written for her youngest son during his battle with leukemia, which reached #8 on iTunes. She then released “Forgive Me” and “Let’s Change the World,” in addition to singing background vocals for Nick Jonas’ 2021 SNL appearance. Her acting credits include Avenue X (Julia), The Gospel at Colonus (Antigone), and Little Shop of Horrors (Audrey II). Toneisha resides in Atlanta with her husband and two sons. As a survivor of abuse, she strives to be a positive role model to other survivors, and she looks forward to using her expanding platform to offer messages of unity and positivity at a time of social turbulence and strife.
Who is Mea from the Wrong Highschool Sweetheart?
Theater: Mirandy and Brother Wind (Best Female Actress). TV/Film: Brainchild (Netflix, producer Pharrell Williams), The Wrong Highschool Sweetheart (Lifetime, starring Vivica A. Fox), Keeping up with the Joneses, The Wrong Cheerleading Coach. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for coming out and supporting Hairspray!
