The Kokomo Civic Theatre is getting a jump on the 2011-2012 season with an August production of Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman's musical Hairspray, directed by Steve Hughes.
Morgan Michel and Doug Harvey will both be stepping out in the show.
Steppin' Out Of The Chorus, Or Steppin' Out Of His Trousers
Morgan Michel is a Kokomo High Schooler. "I'm in the show choir, and I've been in both straight plays like The Crucible and musicals like Once Upon a Mattress. With Kokomo Civic I was in the chorus of a recent show. Singing is something I've always done. It's really central for me. Like Tracy Turnblad in Hairspray, I am a bit of a ‘dancing fool.' She's so energetic and focused on overcoming both the prejudice about her size and also the racism of the show that it's a real pleasure to play her."
While Michel is stepping out of the chorus into a lead role as Tracy, Kokomo mailman Doug Harvey is stepping out of his trousers into a skirt, as her mom. "Actually, this is my second time in a skirt for Kokomo Civic. I took off the trousers for a part in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum."
Harvey admits that switching genders for this part does take some help. "Two people help me into my costume, and although I'm a pretty big guy, there has to be a lot of rather warm padding on the top." But he relishes the challenges. "Playing a woman, especially a funny one, gives me a whole new set of opportunities. It's kind of a blast."