‘The Voice’s Toneisha Harris to Star in ‘Hairspray’ with Drag Queen Nina West
Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images/NBC Reading Time: 2 minutes
There’s some seriously groovy news for Hairspray fans who sing “Good Morning Baltimore” while fixing their morning cup of coffee. A brand new North American tour of the show will be launching in Fall 2021. Some of our favorite talent show stars, The Voice’s Toneisha Harris, and RuPaul’s Drag Race star Nina West, have joined the cast.
National ‘Hairspray’ Tour Taps Two Talent Show Favorites to Play Starring Roles
Toneisha will be playing the role of Motormouth Maybelle and Nina will be playing Edna Turnblad. Niki Metcalf will star as Tracy Turnblad in the revival of this Tony Award-winning musical. Opening performances for Hairspray will take place at The Capitol Theatre in Washington in early November. The first official tour date is November 17 at Broadway San Diego’s Civic Theatre. Ticket information for all dates can be found on the tour’s official website.
The Hairspray tour will visit more than 60 cities across the U.S. aiming to bring the classic 1960s story to fresh audiences. Bringing in Toneisha and Nina to portray the iconic characters was a great call because they both have huge fanbases. Toneisha finished Season 18 of The Voice in second place. The Team Blake powerhouse even got the opportunity to sing with Nick Jonas on Saturday Night Live in February.
“With the renewed, refreshed energy of the unforgettable ‘Nina West’ as Edna and a whole new generation of wildly talented kids across the board, we cannot wait to raise the various roofs once more with dance, joy, music, and that glorious, famous, energy-packed score! Come feel great and grateful once more!” Director Jack O’Brien said.
Nina has also stayed booked and busy since competing on Season 11 of RuPaul’s Drag Race after winning the Miss Congeniality title during the season finale. RuPaul even dubbed Nina as “the pride of Season 11.” Since the show, Nina has starred in a plethora of commercials and released a children’s music album.
“It is a dream come true to share the news that I will be hitting the road in November to tour the United States in Hairspray, and in the dream role of EDNA TURNBLAD!” Nina wrote in an Instagram post.
Hairspray first premiered in Seattle in June 2002 before making its way to the iconic Broadway stages. The show ended its Broadway run in 2009 but inspired a movie adaption starring Nikki Blonsky and Zac Efron. The excitement behind the show’s revival proves that you really can’t stop the beat after all.
