Big dreams, Big hair, and Bigger heart (Derby Dinner Playhouse)

Pictured from left to right: Leilani Bracey as Little Inez, Katelyn Webb as Tracy Turnblad, and Shaquille Towns as Seaweed J. Stubbs

Hairspray Book by Mark O’Donnell and Thomas Meehan

Music by Marc Shaiman

Lyrics by Scott Whittman and Marc Shaiman Directed by Tina Jo Wallace

Review by Regina Harris

Entire contents are copyright © 2026 Regina Harris. All Rights Reserved.

Whether or not you are of age to remember after school dance shows, know that image was everything: mini-skirts and go-go boots, hair flipped and shellacked into place for girls; suits and skinny ties for boys; all moving in sync to the latest beat. The look was polished, picture-perfect, and unmistakably rooted in the 1960s ideal of middle-class life. And just as unmistakably it was entirely white.

Into this carefully curated world steps Tracy Turnblad, a teenager who turns that glossy image on its head. With big dreams, big hair, and an even bigger heart, she challenges not only the narrow standards of beauty and popularity, but also the deeply ingrained racial divisions of the time. Hairspray uses its bright lights and infectious energy to tackle serious issues such as segregation, body image, and belonging without ever losing its sense of joy.

Onto this vibrant stage tumbles a talented ensemble, bursting into raucous song and twisting with a spontaneity and spirit that feels utterly joyful. At Derby Dinner Playhouse last Tuesday night, fictional Baltimore TV station WZZT’s 'The Corny Collins show' sprung to life in an unmistakably 60’s dance show setting, complete with dazzling lights and a shimmering tinsel curtain. As the kids belt out “The Nicest Kids in Town” actor Bobby Conte’s show host Corny Collins brings impeccable grooming, a bright smile and eager drive to keep the show running smoothly, but he isn’t just a slick host. Over time, he shows a quiet integrity and willingness to evolve, essential to the story’s message of transformation.

Enter Tracy played by Katelynn Webb, a plucky and idealistic high schooler looking to snag a coveted spot on the show. While she may not fit the dancers’ conventional mold, she enthusiastically puts herself out there for a chance to shine. During her audition, Tracy falls for the handsome and seemingly unattainable popular boy, Link (Lars Hafell) even as her hopes of being on the show are dashed. It’s only when Tracy learns some hot new dance moves from the other kids in detention that her dream to be selected for the show comes true. But she quickly realizes the kids from whom she learned the star making moves, black kids, will not be allowed on the show with her; at the least, they must stay at the back. This unfairness prompts Tracy to try to turn this systemic disparity around which she quickly learns is a lot easier said than done. This teenybopper musical takes a radical turn in which it begins to examine issues of inequality across the board.

Onstage, Tracy’s best friend, Penny Pingleton-hilariously portrayed by Ava Whitaker-is a girl desperate to please her overbearing mother yet quietly harboring an independent streak. When she falls for Seaweed, a black teen portrayed with effortless charm by Shaquille Towns, their connection feels as immediate and all-consuming as only teenage love can. The reality of how forbidden that relationship would have been at the time as a chilling undercurrent.

The show moves quickly from naïve nostalgia to pointed social commentary. At the heart of that shift is standout performer Tasha J. Wilson Hatchett as Motormouth Maybelle, a local DJ to whom the black kids turn for maternal guidance and hard-earned wisdom. Wilson delivers “Big, Blonde & Beautiful” with electrifying sass and brass. In “I Know Where I’ve Been” she breaks hearts with her pitch-perfect blues style. In two short numbers, she not only uplifts the kids on stage but empowers the audience as well.

Shout out to J.R. Stuart deftly switching identities as multiple “authority figures” with flair; as well as the entire ensemble, in which there was not a weak link to be seen. Between the high-octane vibrancy of the choreography to the masterful vocals, Hairspray is not to be missed. And in the end, the thoughtful story reminds us that the real change often begins with someone willing to stand out rather than fit in, and that sometimes, the most powerful revolutions come with the soundtrack you can’t help but dance to.

Hairspray

April 1-May 17, 2026 (see website for exact times and dates)

Derby Dinner Playhouse

525 Marriott Drive

Clarksville, IN 47129

812-288-8281

www.derbydinner.com