AUDITION INFORMATION PLEASE read this entire document for helpful information on auditions.

There have been some significant changes from previous years!

Audition Dates and Times: Auditions will be held September 24 – 27 at St. Ursula Academy. To participate in this production, you must be a St. Ursula Academy student or a male enrolled in a Toledo-area high school. Please sign up for an audition slot at http://slottr.com/sheets/16948!

Auditions will be individual, and you will be seen privately by the production team.

Audition song: Because of the style of music in the show, we will accept auditions with or without accompaniment. (a cappella) If you choose to use accompaniment, you must sing one of the four

songs available for download on the St. Ursula Academy Web site. For ladies, you may audition with “Dancing in the Streets” or “Stop In the Name of Love.” For males, you may audition with “I Heard It

Through the Grapevine” or “Love Potion Number 9.” If you sing a cappella, please choose a song from the 1950’s or 60’s. Acceptable a cappella song choices include: “The Shoop Shoop Song – It’s In His Kiss,” “Hopelessly Devoted To You,” “Be My Baby,” “Mr. Postman,” “Greased Lightning,” “Mooning,” “Respect,” “I Will Survive,” “Rock Around the Clock,” “Poison Ivy,” “Rockin’ Robin,” “Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You,” “The Stroll Song,” “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling,” “Locomotion,” “Will You Still

Love Me, Tomorrow?” You MAY NOT sing from the show, you may not sing “Let It Go” and you may not sing from another musical theatre show (GREASE songs are okay).

Dance audition: You may be asked to dance for the audition. Bring comfortable shoes.

Callbacks: Callbacks will be September 30 and October 1 from 7:00PM – 10:00PM. If you are called

back, you will be asked to sing a selection from the show.

Roles Available: Please see the additional cast breakdown below for roles you should consider. This show will also call for a very strong chorus of singers and dancers.

Rehearsals: Rehearsals will start in October and will be held after school at St. Ursula Academy.

Questions? Download the “Frequently Asked Questions” document or email the director, Kirsten

Hinshaw, at khinshaw@toledosua.org.

HAIRSPRAY CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS Tracey Turnblad (Vocal Part: Mezzo, Vocal Range: G below middle C to E above C, Age Range: 14-19)

Tracy Turnblad, a large girl with big hair and a big heart, has only one passion – to dance! Against her mother’s will, Tracy skips school one day and wins a spot on the local TV dance program, The Corny Collins Show and is quickly transformed into a teen icon. She then sets out to vanquish the program's reigning princess (Amber Von Tussle), win the heart of the super-handsome Link Larkin, and racially integrate the television show.

Edna Turnblad (Vocal Part: Tenor, Vocal Range: F below middle C to E above C, Age Range: 35-50)

Edna is Tracy’s mother who owns and operates her own laundry mat from home. She tends to be down on herself and life in general, so she eats to soothe her troubles. Edna is a loving mother and wife and only wants what’s best for her family. She won’t let anyone hurt her beloved daughter.

Wilbur Turnblad (Vocal Part: Baritone, Vocal Range: G below C to E above middle C, Age Range: 40-55)

As Tracy’s supportive father, Wilbur wants nothing more than for his daughter to pursue her dreams. As proud owner and operator of the Har-De-Har Hut, he knows what it means to follow your dreams, and dream big. He tries to balance Edna’s discouragement with his good humor, but sometimes it can be difficult. Wilbur is willing to do anything for his family and friends - including bailing all of the women out of jail! Wilbur may be on the lighter side, but he has a huge heart.

Motormouth Maybelle Typically an actress of color. (Vocal Part: Alto, Vocal Range: A below middle C to E above C, Age Range: 38-52)

Maybelle is all soul! She is the mother of Seaweed and Lil’ Inez and hosts Negro Day on The Corny Collins Show. She also owns a record shop downtown. As the ultimate party-throwing hostess for the black community, she wants to make everyone around her feel welcome and comfortable. You can be sure that wherever Motormouth is, there will be good food, too! Maybelle is also an advocate for integration and helps Tracy get things started in the right direction for change.

Seaweed J. Stubbs (Vocal Part: Tenor, Vocal Range: G below middle C to B above middle C, Age Range: 15-21) Typically an actor of color.

Seaweed is the leading man for The Corny Collins Show on Negro Day. His stylish dance moves and attractive personality help to inspire Tracy’s desire for integration. Seaweed is the light-hearted guy that everyone likes and is never quick to judge anyone else. He’s smooth and very popular within his group. Seaweed attends high school with Link, Tracy, and Penny.

Lil’ Inez Typically an actress of color. (Vocal Part: Belt, Vocal Range: middle C to E above C, Age Range: 14-19)

Lil’ Inez is Seaweed’s sister and Motormouth Maybelle’s daughter. She is small in stature, but has big dreams to one day be a part of The Corny Collins Show and to someday win the Miss Teenage

Hairspray Competition - if she could just get noticed! With Tracy’s help, this lil’ girl gets her turn in the big spotlight, helping to integrate TV forever!

Link Larkin (Vocal Part: Baritone, Vocal Range: E below middle C to G above middle C, Age Range: 18-22)

Link is the teen idol. He stars on The Corny Collins Show, and attends high school with Tracy in Baltimore. Link is that special lady’s man who excels in athletics, is charismatic, and brightens the room with his smile. Amber is his girlfriend at the beginning of the show but as the show progresses Tracey wins his heart and teaches him to be more open to diversity.

Penny Pingleton (Vocal Part: Belt, Vocal Range: middle C to G above C, Age Range: 14-19)

Penny is Tracy’s perky best friend and biggest supporter. She has a fondness for sweets and secretly desires to rebel against her overprotective mother. Penny encourages Tracy to fight for her dreams, even though she initially lacks the bravery to follow her own passions. Penny is all for integration – as long as her mother doesn’t find out. Penny falls for Seaweed and eventually throws her inhibitions aside and lets her love be known!

Corny Collins (Vocal Part: Tenor, Vocal Range: D below middle C to A above middle C, Age Range: 30-45)

You wouldn’t have much of a Corny Collins Show without Corny himself! Corny is the host of his own hit show which is an upbeat TV series featuring the “nicest kids in town.” He and Velma (the show’s producer) don’t always see eye to eye on things, but he makes sure to remind her that he’s in charge. Corny is, well... corny about everything and he is able to sell just about anything to anyone - including hairspray!

Velma Von Tussle (Vocal Part: Belt, Vocal Range: G below middle C to E above C, Age Range: 35-50)

Velma produces The Corny Collins Show and is in charge of casting the show. She is a firm believer that thin is beautiful. Velma is the proud mother of Amber Von Tussle and she’ll do whatever it takes to make sure her daughter attains the stardom that Velma never had. Velma is a scheming career and fame-driven woman, and wants everyone to know that she’s the boss.

Amber Von Tussle (Vocal Part: Belt, Vocal Range: middle C to F above C, Age Range: 15-19)

Amber is Velma’s daughter and in spite of her lack of talent has achieved success on The Corny Collins Show thanks to her mom being the producer. Amber and Link are “an item” and she wants to make sure that the other girls stay far away. Amber is the same age as Tracy and Link, but acts as if she is superior to all the rest of the “nicest kids in town,” because after all, her mother is the producer.

The Dynamites Typically vocalists of color. (Vocal Part: Various, Vocal Range: G below middle C to A above C, Age Range: 18-30)

The Dynamites are a talented and sassy group of women singers. Without them there wouldn’t be much of a Negro Day on The Corny Collins Show. They appear throughout the show at different times and slowly help to transform the world of closed-mindedness to a world of open-mindedness, and welcome us all to the 60’s!