Keala Settle as Tracy Turnblad

[Winokur_fan]

Posted: 6/12/05 at 2:58am

Hey ya'll!! Boy, have I been on a Hairspray high this week!! I've seen the show two times while it's been here, and am going a third time tomorrow. Keala kicks some serious butt. I had gotten a backstage tour and Steve Quinn introduced me to Keala. It was like I had known her forever!! She was so cool. She let me go in and look around her dressing room and gawk at all of her outfits. I especially loved the You Can't Stop the Beat dress! She showed me a whole bunch of pictures, and told a few stories. She also told me I look like Lisa Loeb, but that's beside the point . Anywho, the show was great, and I wrote her a letter the next day telling her how awesome she was. She wrote back telling me that she was worried she'd mess it up some how, because I had told her I was a huge fan of Marissa. And she also said how grateful she was to be a part of an amazing show, and how grateful she was for Marissa, who created the part for her. Yaddah Yaddah. I went back three days later and she saw me at the stage door. We were like flipping out, and she couldn't believe I was back. That's when we took this picture. I told her she had to listen for me screaming tomorrow. Lol *dork*. The rest of the cast was amazing!! I was blown away by Charolotte Crossley. I will be sure to post a better review--and not just a rant--after the show tomorrow. Anywho, here's a pic of Keala and I (I hope it shows up)!! Aloha sistah!

[.LittleWing. 0224]

Posted: 6/12/05 at 3:32am

YES! absolutely love keala, gotta give it up for a fellow island girl! how'd you get to go backstage? I'd love to meet her, too!

[tagiunagi]

Posted: 6/12/05 at 4:07am

I believe I saw her in SF last year and even though she is very different from Marissa Jaret Winokour (sp?) Keala is fabulous, nonetheless!

[Winokur_fan]

Posted: 6/12/05 at 10:10am

I'm still not sure how I managed to get backstage, LW. I contacted someone in the Hairspray company and asked how someone gets backstage, and she said it's usually just for family and friends of the cast, but she'd talk to Steve Quinn (The tour manager...?) for me. It turned out that he said he'd be happy to give my friend and I a tour. The clothes and such were amazing. It was really cool to see how everything works.

[broadwaystar2b]

Posted: 6/12/05 at 10:18am

I ADORE the Hairspray touring cast!!!
Keala, Worth, Chandra... all of them are terrific in the roles and such sweet people

[BwayTheatre11]

Posted: 6/12/05 at 10:32am

I cannot wait to see them next week in Cleveland! My first Hairspray experience.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 6/12/05 at 10:37am

I can't wait for them to get to DC next month. Does anyone know if Keala will still be with the tour then? Thanks.

[musicnmath]

Posted: 6/12/05 at 11:55am

Wow - I can't believe Keala is still with the tour! I think I saw her 2 years ago in Phoenix. That being my first Hairspray show, I can't compare her to Marissa (how is she different?) but I just loved loved it. I went in expecting not to, but feeling it my duty to see the show since I'm the one people come to for musical theatre reviews....someone in the 3rd row center orchestra couldn't use their ticket, so I saw it up close. I couldn't stay in my seat by the end. fantastic. :) I would love to see it again!

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 6/12/05 at 12:23pm

Keala first went on in Phoenix.

She's a fantastic person with a genuine heart of gold!

[Bwaybaby109]

Posted: 6/12/05 at 12:33pm

I thought she did a fantastic job, I saw her in Atlanta in Feb. I would have loved to meet her because I recently auditioned for Tracy in Jan and I would have loved to ask her questions on the audition and call back process. Anyways, she was so amazing as Tracy and I wishthe best of luck to her!

[rKrispyt]

Posted: 6/12/05 at 12:35pm

I can't wait to see this show again when it comes to Cleveland in...2 days! Zah!

I'm gonna try to take my mom since she's always being told by people "your daughter was born to play Tracy in Hairspray" - figured she should see what they're all talkin' about and decide for herself! :)

Glad to hear that Keala is great, I can't wait!

[musicnmath]

Posted: 6/12/05 at 12:43pm

really? Keala first went on in PHX? Well she didn't need much settling into the role then because she was already fantastic that night. That show is so infectious.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 6/12/05 at 12:47pm

That's when she officially took over the role from Carly Jibson, but Keala had also been in rehearsals from the very beginning, so she was VERY prepaired when she did go on.

[MWKBCJKS]

Posted: 6/13/05 at 12:07am

Keala is a exceptional performer.

I have seen her probably more times than anyone else on this board. She gets better every time I see her. Unfortunately, I've never gotten the chance to meet her. Hopefully someday, I will.

[Crazy4MattMorrison52]

Posted: 6/13/05 at 12:14am

ive never seen keala and i probably never will unless she gets brough to broadway. but, like my icon? its my favorite tracy on her last day at the spray. it was our "crazy" picture

Updated On: 6/13/05 at 12:14 AM

[MWKBCJKS]

Posted: 6/13/05 at 12:25am

I LOVE your icon, Crazy4Matt.

I was fortunate enough to see Carly's final performance too & I must say, she was as fantastic as she was in her first performance on the tour, if not better.

[Winokur_fan]

Posted: 6/13/05 at 12:29am

Omg...I have got to be one of the luckiest people alive. Today at the show, the entire cast was phenomenal--like usual. At the stage door Keala came out again, and was like "Dannah!! yay!!" And we talked for a while. I gave her a gift I had made. It was a picture of us in a Hawaiian style frame, then a lil trinket box in the shape of a heart w/ a flower on top and then a beachball w/ flowers on it, and messages written all over it. She started to cry and hugged me a million times. It was really cool. She told me my pic was going up next to the one of her and Travolta--haha. Then...she asked us what we were doing--b/c we were staying in town to see the evening show also--and we said nothing, and she asked us to get something to eat w/ her. So, she treated us to a meal at Victoria's...the whole thing still hasn't set in. Then we got really great rush tickets, and at the end of the show she pointed to me and giggled and yeah, it was really cool!!!

I am really sad to see her leave, but she promised me that it wasn't good bye n' we'll keep in touch. She's so amazing. I think I'll be going Chicago to see them in December. Charlotte Crossley also gave me her e-mail n' said to keep in touch. Whaddaya know? I'm a Hairspray groupie!!

[MWKBCJKS]

Posted: 6/13/05 at 12:47am

I'm so happy for you, Dannah.

You are one of the luckiest people in the world to get invited to eat with her. I'm envious of you, but nonetheless excited for you.

[Winokur_fan]

Posted: 6/13/05 at 1:11am

Forgot to tell you DottieD'Luscia, I asked Keala when she was signed until and she said as of now it's January of 2006. I don't think she intends on going anywhere anytime soon. You know, the only vacation day she has taken was when Marissa stepped into the tour in L.A. That's in 3 years!!!

[edenespinosalover]

Posted: 6/13/05 at 1:37am

I absolutely loved Keala in the role. I saw Marissa in the role, and I actually liked Keala much better.

[liz328]

Posted: 6/13/05 at 2:00am

Loved Keala in the role. Carly's my favorite Tracy, but I liked Keala so much when I saw her here that I ended up seeing the show twice.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 6/13/05 at 2:10am

DANNAH!!! Its Larry! Congratulations on meeting Keala, I know how big of a hairhopper you were when we used to talk. Now I'm more of a Piazza-an, but I'm so, so happy for you. You, of all people deserved it because you are certainly a great fan of the show. Congrats, adn I'm waiting for the review!!

--Larry

[Hairspraydoll]

Posted: 6/13/05 at 2:22am

That is so awesome. I met MJW and she was fab. I would love to meet Keala. She actually went to school on and off at UNLV so alot of my friends know her.

[.LittleWing. 0224]

Posted: 6/13/05 at 5:18am

dannah i'm so jealous of you! i've heard nothing but absolutely wonderful things about keala, and i hope i get a chance to meet her. If it works out, I plan on bringing her all the local snacks she must be missing since being away from home for what? over 3 years? gosh i can't get over how lucky you are!

[hyperchet]

Posted: 6/13/05 at 9:21am

I loved Keala (or however you spell it). She sounded great in the reprise of GMB. I love that part of the show.

I took this Hairspray dance class, and Leonard (from the ensemble) and Chandra Lee Scwartz (Penny) taught it. They were so much fun. When I saw the show the next day, Chandra recognized me and we talked for a while, we took a picture! She's really pretty and super sweet.