The Patriot Players debuted their first-ever production of Hairspray, an award winning musical that follows the life of a teenage girl after her feature on television. Starring freshman Meryl Brown, the musical was a lively and well-executed performance with strong vocals and a colorful set design.

Written and directed by John Waters, Hairspray is set in the early 1960s in Baltimore, appearing on Broadway and earning numerous awards. The play takes place during a time of racism and inequality, focusing on matters such as racial integration, body positivity and social activism. It is an inspiring and meaningful story, perfectly replicated by this school’s theater department.

There were a total of four shows, with opening night on Apr. 16. The shows were highly attended and received praise from audience members, many of whom applauded students’ ability to bring the play to life through expressive performances, body-shivering voices and humorous moments.

Line delivery, projection and expression were all aspects of the play that contributed to its note-worthy reputation. Particularly performances from seniors Mona Olsen and Hazel Goetz stood out for their confident stage presence and impressive vocal ranges. “The students in the play did a great job,” sophomore Reed Gottesman said. “I enjoyed listening to all of the catchy songs.”

Not only were there standout voices, the play consisted of complex dance numbers sprinkled throughout. Whether these students were dancers on the pom pons team, members of Afro Elites or students with a passion for dance, each routine appeared more cohesive and rehearsed than the next. It is evident that students took this opportunity to step outside of comfort zones and immerse themselves in the arts.

Junior Gabriella Estrada attended the first showing of Hairspray, and emphasized her appreciation for the stage direction and individual performances. She did note, however, that the actors were experiencing technical issues with their microphones, but said it did not take away from her overall experience. “I grew up watching Hairspray so I’m familiar with it, and I think our school made a great adaptation and really embraced the story,” Estrada said.

With rehearsal time dwindling due to days off of school, the Patriot Players encountered unexpected challenges. Opening night was pushed back after the breakage of a water pipe flooded the streets outside of the auditorium. Junior Benedict Santos, the actor who played Corny Collins, said that rehearsal was tiring, learning lines was tricky and balancing his schedule became difficult to manage. “We were on crunch time with all of the missed school days and cancelled rehearsals, but we were able to pull it off,” Santos said.

The play successfully depicted important themes and was a fun watch. It was clear that the theater department worked long and hard to put on a great show, from the costume choices to the energetic choreography. If Hairspray were to return to this school’s theaters in the future, I’d be the first one at the ticket stand.