by Jess Hoffman
Hey there teenage Baltimore! The stage at the Mac-Haydn Theatre has been transformed into a 1960s recording studio for their current production of Hairspray. The feel-good musical about a plus sized teen and her racially mixed group of friends who fight segregation and spread body-positivity by dancing might feel a bit jejune for today’s society and taste, but I found it to be exactly what my jaded heart needed, thanks in large part to and a gifted and high-energy cast.
The play opens on a brightly colored set that brings to mind a television set from the early days of color television and sets the tone for this cheery show. The Mac-Haydn stage is small, and the ensemble cast of Hairspray is large, but the cast makes excellent use of the stage space (and the aisles) with expert direction from Steve Edlund and choreography by Kaitlyn Frank.
Hairspray holds the designation of being one of the few Broadway soundtracks that I will regularly listen to in its entirety without skipping a single song. This means that the play requires a talented cast of singers to pull off the score while performing choreography suited to a play all about dancing. Luckily, this cast rises to the occasion with no exceptions and several standouts.
Shannon Lamy plays protagonist Tracy Turnblad, and from opening number to final note her vocals are unparalleled. Opposite Lamy, Byrce Williamson plays teen heartthrob and budding musician Link Larkin with equally impressive vocals and moves to rival Elvis himself. John Saunders brings humor and humanity to the character of Edna Turnblad, Tracy’s uncouth, heavy-set, and ultimately heroic mother. In an entirely different role, Jeannie Trimboli plays a bigoted beauty queen turned television producer, Velma Von Tussle; Trimboli is cruel, stylish, melodramatic, and hilarious in this role. Bella DePaola plays the bratty and self-absorbed Amber VonTussle with a slightly softer touch, which makes her an effective villain but not so loathsome that you can’t root for her eventual redemption. And of course, no production of Hairspray can stand without the wisdom and charisma of Motormouth Maybelle, played in this production by the bold, bright, and stylish Ashley D. Kelley.
Shannon Lamy as Tracy Turnblad in the Mac-Haydn Theatre production of “Hairspray” directed by by Mark O’Donnell and Thomas Meehand, directed by Steve Edlund. Photo: Ann Kielbasa-Flach. 
Bryce Williamson as Link Larkin in the Mac-Haydn Theatre production of “Hairspray” directed by by Mark O’Donnell and Thomas Meehand, directed by Steve Edlund. Photo: Ann Kielbasa-Flach. 
Colin Pritchard as Wilbur Turnblad and John Saunders as Edna Turnblad in the Mac-Haydn Theatre production of “Hairspray” directed by by Mark O’Donnell and Thomas Meehand, directed by Steve Edlund. Photo: Ann Kielbasa-Flach. 
Shannon Lamy as Tracy Turnblad and Colin Pritchard as Wilbur Turnblad in the Mac-Haydn Theatre production of “Hairspray” directed by by Mark O’Donnell and Thomas Meehand, directed by Steve Edlund. Photo: Ann Kielbasa-Flach. 
Todd Turner, Michael Reed as Seaweed J. Stubbs, Gaby Flores, and Aubrey Dunbar in the Mac-Haydn Theatre production of “Hairspray” directed by by Mark O’Donnell and Thomas Meehand, directed by Steve Edlund. Photo: Ann Kielbasa-Flach. 
Xander James and Council Members in the Mac-Haydn Theatre production of “Hairspray” directed by by Mark O’Donnell and Thomas Meehand, directed by Steve Edlund. Photo: Ann Kielbasa-Flach. 
John Saunders as Edna Turnblad in the Mac-Haydn Theatre production of “Hairspray” directed by by Mark O’Donnell and Thomas Meehand, directed by Steve Edlund. Photo: Ann Kielbasa-Flach. 
Shannon Lamy as Tracy Turnblad and the cast in the Mac-Haydn Theatre production of “Hairspray” directed by by Mark O’Donnell and Thomas Meehand, directed by Steve Edlund. Photo: Ann Kielbasa-Flach. 
Ashley D. Kelley as Motormouth Maybelle in the Mac-Haydn Theatre production of “Hairspray” directed by by Mark O’Donnell and Thomas Meehand, directed by Steve Edlund. Photo: Ann Kielbasa-Flach. 
But what really sets Hairspray apart is the over-the-top hairstyles of Tracy Turnblad and the other teen dancers. Ultimately, the true stars of Hairspray are the hairstyles. The wig and wardrobe specialists for this production, led by costume, hair, and makeup designer Kurt Alger, clearly understood this and rose to the challenge with some of the biggest, and puffiest ‘dos I’ve ever seen on stage.
So if you’re looking for some lighthearted humor with a touch of social comedy and a whole bunch of crazy hairstyles, the Mac-Haydn has everything you need. You can laugh, dance, and feel good about yourself no matter in what shape and color you arrive to the show.
Mac-Haydn Theatre presents Hairspray by Mark O’Donnell and Thomas Meehan, directed by Steve Edlund, runs from August 27 – September 6, 2026 at the Mac-Haydn Theatre, 1925 State Route 203, Chatham, NY. Music direction by Ethan Swanson. Choreography by Kaitlyn Frank. Costume, hair, and makeup design by Kurt Alger. Scenic design by Emma Cummings. Sound design by Sean McGinley. Lighting design by Andrew Gmoser. Props design by Chloe Wiederhorn. Cast: Shannon Lamy as Tracy Turnblad, John Saunders as Edna Turnblad, Bella DePaola as Amber Von Tussle, Xander James as Corny Collins, Ashley D. Kelley as Motormouth Maybelle, Bella Pavia as Penny Pingleton, Colin Pritchard as Wilbur Turnblad, Michael Reed as Seaweed J. Stubbs, Jeannine Trimboli as Velma Von Tussle, Bryce Williamson as Link Larkin; also featuring Jack Gemmell, Liz Bazinet, Will Forrest, Fiona Phelps, Ricky Dobbs, Jessica Cerreta, Jacob Atkins, Claire Flynn, Kitty Baker, Kevin Weldon, Todd Turner, Aubrey Dunbar, Gaby Flores, Nina Laing, Briana Thomas, Taylor Morant, and Michael Daly. Musicians: Ethan Swanson, Sawyer Dahlen, Georgia Holt, Jameel Stephens, and Sarah McCown.
Performances are Wednesday at 2PM, Thursdays at 2PM and 7:30PM and Fridays at 7:30PM, Saturdays at 2PM and 7:30PM, and Sundays at 2PM. Tickets are $58.50. Runs approximately 2 hours and 20 minutes with one intermission. Contains sexual innuendo. Recommended for ages 10+ Tickets are available online at https://www.machaydntheatre.org/2026-season/hairspray, by phone at 518-392-9292, or at the door for any performance. For more information visit https://www.machaydntheatre.org or email boxoffice@machaydntheatre.org.