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| Lucy Benjamin as Velma Von Tussle Photo Credit: Hugo Glendinning |
The producers of Hairspray have announced that EastEnders star Lucy Benjamin will join leading man Mark Benton on the show’s forthcoming UK tour, which opens at Manchester’s Lowry Theatre in February next year.
Lucy Benjamin will play the role of scheming TV executive and archetypal ‘showbiz mom’ Velma Von Tussle (played on film by both Debbie Harry and Michelle Pfheiffer) and is joined by previously announced stage and screen star Mark Benton as Edna and Freya Sutton as big-hearted, big-haired teen heroine Tracy Turnblad.
Lucy Benjamin said: “Hairspray is an absolute dream come true for me. I’m so excited to be returning to my musical theatre roots and to be cast in one of the biggest and best shows around, well, it was worth the wait! I’m a huge fan of the films and loved the show in the West End. Velma is a great character too, a piece of work of course but she’ll be a wonderful challenge and to play opposite Mr Mark Benton, he’s the icing on the cake!”
It’s 1962, the 50s are out and change is in the air. Baltimore’s Tracy Turnblad, a big girl with big hair and an even bigger heart, has only one passion – dancing. She wins a spot on the local TV dance programme, The Corny Collins Show and, overnight, is transformed from outsider to irrepressible teen celebrity. But can a trendsetting hair-hopper like Tracy get her massively shy Mom out of the apartment, beat evil Amber to be crowned Miss Hairspray, integrate Corny’s show for good AND win the heart of local heartthrob Link Larkin, all without denting her super high ‘do’? If anyone can, Tracy can!
