Morning host Luis Hernandez spoke with two of the performers from the musical “Hairspray” at Theatre by the Sea through August 16, 2025.
Interview highlights:
On her character, Tracy Turnblad
Niki Metcalf – In a lot of ways, I bring so much of myself to Tracy every night just because she feels like me. She has a big heart, big hair, but also she is so confident in who she is and she is not afraid to bring all of herself to everything. And that’s something that I was always very inspired by. And she’s not afraid to stand up for what’s right and she doesn’t understand why people who are different can’t be included. Why can’t we learn from each other’s differences rather than making it separate us?
On his character, Edna Turnblad
Marc Christopher – Edna, is first and foremost a, a woman who is in love with her husband and loves her child. She’s very protective and very insecure about herself. And I feel like she sees what Tracy does and it kind of inspires her to kind of like, “Oh, if Tracy could do it, I can do it.” I feel like with Edna having that huge arc from the beginning to the end, like you see her going from this very, like frumpy, I don’t wanna say frumpy, horrible word to say, but like, she’s very simple going into this extravagant woman who has full confidence and really takes in what Tracy has brought into the world.
How a story from the 80s about the civil rights movement of the 60s is still relevant
Metcalf – Throughout the story, we learn how to learn from each other’s differences and to come together and be stronger and to stand up for what’s right, even when it’s hard. And I mean, it’s something we still have to learn today. So obviously, the audiences do get the laughs, the comedy, the big musical numbers, but we also get the heart of this story, which is inclusion. And anyone is worthy of following their dreams and being exactly who they are and not changing. And that’s something we still need to learn.
Christopher – It’s like a big thing about body image. But seeing Nikki just like dance like crazy. I think it’s like eye-opening for everybody to say, ‘Oh, okay. My prejudice against people of size is wrong because they can do just as much.’
Metcalf – I just hope that people, audiences who come to see the show can look inwards and be hopefully inspired, have the confidence to find their own dreams and follow them no matter what age they are, no matter what they look like and who they are. And also just to look a little deeper and be kinder to each other and to include and to stand up for what’s right.
Christopher – It is so great that it’s also telling all these serious things, but with comedy, you know? Yes. I think people listen more when they laugh. It’s not like if you’re listening to a dramatic show, sometimes you just kind of space out. You’re like, okay, they’re crying. But this uses comedy as like a, hello, this is what’s happening. You know, this is a real deal. But I think they listen more when they laugh.
