Chester Gregory To Leave Hairspray December 11th

[popular_elphie]

Posted: 11/24/05 at 3:26pm

Not sure if anyone's posted this, but I got an e-mail from Chester's site the 22nd:

Chester Leaving "Hairspray" to do "Tarzan"
It's official! Chester Gregory is leaving Hairspray to originate the principle role of Terk in the upcoming Disney Broadway production of "Tarzan". Tarzan will open on Broadway in May, 2006. Chester's last performance in "Hairspray" will be Sunday, December 11th. Don't miss his last performance as "Seaweed".

Very happy for him, of course, but sad as well. Any ideas on who could replace him?


Updated On: 11/24/05 at 03:26 PM

[iheartcheyenne123]

Posted: 11/24/05 at 3:28pm

no idea who is going to replace him...but im HAPPY for him! CONGRATS CHESTER! i will miss him as 'Seaweed' though

[DramaDork925]

Posted: 11/24/05 at 3:28pm

The Seaweed on the national tour (can't remember his name...) is phenomenal. I hope it's him!

[BwayTheatre11]

Posted: 11/24/05 at 4:41pm

Alan Mingo, Jr. is a doll and is wonderful in the role.

[loganp37]

Posted: 11/24/05 at 4:59pm

Did Chester Gregory originate the role on Broadway or is my mind playing tricks on me?

[theatreguy]

Posted: 11/24/05 at 5:07pm

Corey Reynolds was the original Seaweed.

[Ebonic_Singer]

Posted: 11/24/05 at 5:07pm

No he didn't, but he has been there for a long time.

[loganp37]

Posted: 11/24/05 at 5:10pm

Did he originate the role on tour?

[popular_elphie]

Posted: 11/24/05 at 5:13pm

No, he didn't. I remember reading somewhere that he performed The Jackie Wilson Story in a venue where there were some Hairspray producers, and they saw him and auditioned him for the role, or something like that.

But no, he didn't originate the role anywhere. He's just been performing it a long time.

[Playbill9117]

Posted: 11/26/05 at 8:56pm

It's really amazing how successful HAIRSPRAY's cast members are after they leave the show.

[little_sally]

Posted: 11/26/05 at 9:07pm

As much as I loved his Seaweed, I'm so glad to hear he's going on to bigger things. I adore his voice.

[Corine2]

Posted: 11/26/05 at 9:12pm

He is very talented and so nice.
I met him at In The Continnum. He is such a sweetheart.
He gave me a giant hug.

[YankeeGal#24]

Posted: 11/27/05 at 12:19am

Chester is remarkable. I'm going to see him Monday night (Nov, 28th) at the SugarBar in NYC--he's doing two solo concerts and I am really looking forward to seeing him as himself, not as Seaweed!!!!!

info on his Monday concert!!

Updated On: 11/27/05 at 12:19 AM

[Up In Lost]

Posted: 11/27/05 at 12:25am

Chester! Ooh, sadness. Oh well, he'll be great in Tarzan. He's been with Hairspray for a while... Since Corey left, so, that's how long? A while. Lol. Aw, I love Chester.

[focusingonmoviesmatt]

Posted: 11/27/05 at 12:52am

hes going from a show where he once dated a character played by jen gamby to playing her best friend.

[.LittleWing. 0224]

Posted: 11/27/05 at 12:56am

sad! i will miss him in the role, he is wonderful and manages to keep his peformance fresh and amazing everytime i've seen it. Very happy for the Tarzan news though! Congrats to him!

[Swiftynifty15]

Posted: 11/27/05 at 12:00pm

He has been in the role for quite a while. Did he renew his contract or was it a really long run? I saw the Broadway producetion at the end of January 2004 and Chestory Gregory was Seaweed.

[Kevo711]

Posted: 11/27/05 at 12:27pm

This is awesome, but I so wish he was a part of The Color Purple! I saw it last night and although it was fabulous, the men could have used a voice like his!

[Link Larkin Wanabe]

Posted: 11/27/05 at 2:26pm

Here's hoping that Sean from the Toronto cast takes the role. He was brilliant beyond belief and was a definite standout of the cast.

Akiva

[Bdwy24]

Posted: 11/27/05 at 2:31pm

Alan Mingo!!!

[YankeeGal#24]

Posted: 11/27/05 at 10:42pm

Yes, he had a really long run--Chester started in the role in July, 2003!!

[MissNY]

Posted: 11/28/05 at 1:14pm

His replacement is going to be Tevin Campbell who was a pop/r&B singer in the 90's.

[YankeeGal#24]

Posted: 11/28/05 at 6:41pm

Really? Where did you hear/see that?

Haven't heard Tevin Campbell's name in a LONG time!

[MissNY]

Posted: 11/28/05 at 7:01pm

I heard it from cast members

[misto625]

Posted: 11/29/05 at 1:01am

Not about Chester leaving, but about who his replacement will be. Are there no young black men who can play the role???? Whatever happened to Terron Brooks? Alan Mingo would be good as well. Steven Cutts can play it on tour.