Arts & Entertainment

Haynes Back at the Helm

Former MHS musical director will lead the cast of "Hairspray" in MoorArts Summer Theater production.

In directing the MoorArts production of Hairspray this summer, Jeanne Haynes won’t be glossing over the issues the play addresses.

“Everything that a culture would hope doesn’t exit anymore, existed in the ’60s,” said Haynes. “This was life in the ’60s.”

Haynes, who was the high school musical director for 17 years, directed the 2009 MoorArts production of Into the Woods. She is looking forward to directing Hairspray, a musical she loved the first time she saw it on Broadway.

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“The show has so many interesting elements,” she said. “It has incredible music and dancing. It’s what drew me to it.”

Hairspray got its start in 1988 as a film by John Waters. It is set in 1962 Baltimore and centers on Tracy Tumblad, a plus-size teenager who is pursuing her dream to become a dancer on a local TV show. In 2002, the film was adapted for Broadway, where it won eight Tony Awards, including best musical. A second film version, based on the stage musical, was released in 2007.

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Hairspray addresses such issues as racism, discrimination, gender bias and weight bias.

“There are things people don’t want to face about humanity,” said Haynes.

The show is more militant than the Broadway version, Haynes said and the language is stronger than what is in the movie.

“There’s nothing there for shock value,” said Haynes. “Just reality of life in the 1960s.”

The play, which will be staged July 8-10, 13, 15 and 16, will have the biggest cast MoorArts has ever had. There are more than 60 members in the cast, including double-casting of Tracy, Penny and Amber.

“There were so many really good audtionees,” said Haynes. “And the roles are so demanding.”

It is an extremely diverse cast as well, Haynes said. Members of the cast come from Moorestown, Cinnaminson, Delran, Maple Shade, Bordentown and Philadelphia.

For Haynes, it is good to be back working with a cast at the high school.

“I did this for so long,” she said of directing shows. “I miss the kids. I miss seeing the progress from the start of the year to the end.”

She is happy to be back working with MoorArts, which uses the proceeds from the Summer Theater to fund scholarships for students involved in the arts.

“I believe in their mission so strongly,” said Haynes.

And although it is still more than a month before opening night, Haynes is already getting excited about this year’s production.

“I can’t wait for people to see this,” she said. “They will walk out singing the songs, dancing the dances. This cast is going to be just awesome.”


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