Crana College students and staff are preparing to stage what will be the school’s second whole-school ‘Musical’ production ever.
Hairspray promises to be an even bigger success than last year’s offering Grease when it hits the stage in St. Mary’s Hall, Buncrana this week.
Auditions for the ‘SELL OUT’ show started in May and over the summer break students have been brushing up on their singing and acting skills in preparation for the rehearsals when they returned in September.
Producer and no stranger to the stage themselves, Music teachers Mrs Laura Keogh (Laura Doherty of Pop Idol fame) and Ms Cliare Doherty, have been putting the cast through their paces from week one of the new term and their hard work and dedication is now beginning to pay off.
“This has been a massive undertaking in terms of time and commitment from all of the students and staff involved in the show. But we have a great night’s entertainment ready for parents, grandparents and children next week” said Mrs Keogh.
“Our students have developed so much from this experience. Not just in their musical and acting performances but also their confidence and ability to work as a team has brought them to the point where they have put together something very special. I am very proud of them all – so come and support them!”
Hairspray is a musical based on the 1988 John Waters film Hairspray. The songs include 1960s-style dance music and “downtown” rhythm and blues.
In 1962 Baltimore, Maryland, plump teenager Tracy Turnblad’s dream is to dance on The Corny Collins Show, a local TV dance program based on the real-life Buddy Deane Show. When Tracy wins a role on the show, she becomes a celebrity overnight, and meets a colourful array of characters, such as Corny Collins (The show’s singing host who shares Tracy’s liberal political views) and Velma Von Tussle (The villainous producer of the show who does everything in her power to further her daughter’s career and destroy Tracy’s and Corny’s). She then launches a campaign to integrate the show. Hairspray is a social commentary on the injustices of parts of American society in the 1960s.
The musical’s original Broadway production opened on August 15th, 2002. However, Crana College’s production of the hit show opens Tuesday 17th November and will continue Wednesday 18th and Thursday 19th. Doors open before 7pm and the show starts at 7:30pm. Show Programmes will be on sale for €2 and a DVD recording of the show can be ordered for €8.
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