Hairspray: Big Musical, Big Dreams, Big Hair

“The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries or the way she combs her hair.” --Audrey Hepburn

The early 1960s brought the heights of change in American culture. The advent of the civil rights movement spawned a melting pot of social and economic standards. Politics, pop-culture, fashion, drugs and rock-n-roll birthed new ideals for the social identity of America’s youth. And more often than not you could follow each strand of hair to such heights.

Perhaps the best way to bid farewell to the Omaha Community Playhouse’s outstanding 2011-2012 season is an upbeat celebration of what makes this country and our identity so unique. Hairspray opens in the Howard and Rhonda Hawks Mainstage Theatre on May 25 and runs until June 24.

Based on the 1988 John Waters film, Hairspray is a musical that redefines beauty, as a big girl with bigger aspirations becomes the newest local TV star.

“The dialogue is very funny and it’s really a tribute to the writers and the way they adapted the original movie,” said Director Susan Baer Collins. “Getting everyone to rehearsal,” she said is her biggest challenge. “30 people. A cast of 13 leads and the ensemble, and the ensemble is busy all the time.” Between staging a show of this magnitude and choreographing all the musical numbers, rehearsals can get a little tangled, much like hair.

Since early April, Kaylan Paisley, the show’s wig designer, has been bobbing and weaving wigs for nearly every cast member in the show. Some get more than one. “Hairspray is one of my favorite shows on the planet,” said Kaylan. “Hairspray has always been an inspiration to me. I got to see it on Broadway when I was in high school. The wigs in this show are characters all themselves. The main design behind it all is the bigger the better. Larger than life.”

No stranger to creating wigs for musicals, Kaylan has worked on the professional Broadway tours of Cats, 101 Dalmations, the Musical and Legally Blonde. A section of the OCP costume shop has been transformed into a beauty salon where Kaylan leads a team of seven Omaha hair stylists who have volunteered to work on the show. Together, the team will construct 40-50 wigs before opening night.

When working with such large wigs, movement becomes an obstacle. Georgiann Regan, the show’s costume designer, ensures the wigs and the wardrobes are manageable for all the musical numbers and dance routines. “We use big zippers,” she said with a chuckle. “Just step in and out.”

Between the music, staging, choreography, wardrobe and the colorful mix of characters, it’s important that the entire mix blend well together so the inspirational message that Hairspray sends can be received: Love, peace and hair-grease.

Hairspray runs May 25-June 24 in the Howard and Rhonda Hawks Mainstage Theatre. Tickets are $40 for adults and $24 for tickets. For groups of 15 or more, tickets are $29 for adults and $18 for students. For tickets or for more information, visit the OCP Box Office, call (402) 553-0800 or click here.

Article by Chad Cunningham

Discount Tickets to Hairspray Memorial Day Weekend

Receive 25% off adult tickets to Hairspray Memorial Day weekend (May 25-27). Visit the Box Office, call (402) 553-0800 or click here and use the code MEMORIAL for a 25% discount. Tickets are normally $40 and with the discount are $30. Hairspray is May 25-June 24 in the Howard and Rhonda Hawks Mainstage Theatre. Tickets are subject to availability and not valid for previously purchased tickets.

Wig Volunteers needed for upcoming production of Hairspray

The Omaha Community Playhouse costume department is looking for a team of talented hairstylists to assist with the fabulous 60s wigs in Hairspray. For this volunteer opportunity, you will be working under the direction of Kaylan Paisley. Originally from Omaha, Kaylan started her theater career as an apprentice at OCP. She went on to graduate from the North Carolina School of the Arts with a B.F.A. in Wig and Makeup Design for Theater and Film. Kaylan’s credits include wig construction and design for the first national tour of 101 Dalmatians, the Musical, wig stylist for national tours of CATS and most recently, Legally Blonde, the Musical. She has designed and constructed wigs for OCP’s A Christmas Carol, Chicago and Flyin’ West. Before she returns to national tours, we are thrilled to have her here as the wig and hair designer for Hairspray.


If you are a hairstylist with an interest in theatre and period hair design, we hope you will consider working on this show! Most work will be done in the evenings and on weekends. We are also looking for people interested in working backstage during the actual production helping the actors with their wig changes and styling touch-ups. Call the Omaha Community Playhouse costume shop at (402) 553-4890, ext 138 and ask to speak with Georgiann or Paula. We are setting up times through March to meet with Kaylan to talk about volunteering your time on this exciting show. Hairspray runs May 25–June 24, 2012, and we will begin work on styling the wigs during the first week of April.