Grand Valley State University student, professor and alumna took a trip back in time to Baltimore in the 1960s in Caledonia Community Players’ production of the Broadway musical “Hairspray.”

In a time of segregation, high school student Tracy Turnblad, played by GVSU student Rebekah Karel, earns a spot dancing on her favorite television show but soon realizes it’s not all it’s cracked up to be. This leaves Turnblad to decide whether it’s more important for her to keep her spot on the show or fight for what is right.

“The theme of the show is acceptance, not just of other races or ethnicities, but of yourself,” Director Adrienne Brown said. “The character of Tracy Turnblad shows us that there’s no obstacle or person that should keep you from achieving your goals and that everyone should be accepted for who they are.”

Throughout the show, Tracy’s determination is shown in everything she does.
“Tracy sees beyond the outside appearance of others and is a constant bright and encouraging spirit to those around her,” Karel said. “She also is very ahead of her times in the way she sees the world and shows others how things can be different.”

Karel has found satisfaction in portraying such a character, she said.

After hearing about the auditions from the show’s music director and former GVSU student Kelsey Kohlenberger, she decided to tryout and was cast in her first lead role.

The part, itself, not only called for acting and singing, but also a variety of fast paced dances.
“Tracy Turnblad is constantly dancing and singing, and I have really had to build up my stamina and work on my technique,” Karel said. “It definitely doesn’t come easy to me, but with persistence and a lot of dedication and hard work I think I have been able to bring Tracy to life.”

Alongside Karel, playing the villainous Velma Von Tussle who cares more about beauty than talent, was GVSU biology professor Marianne Gerard, who assures she is nothing like her character.
“I didn’t know how awful she was when I auditioned, as the stage version of “Hairspray” is different from the feature film,” Gerard said. “Also, she gets her ‘comeuppance’ at the end of the show. That is wonderful and I love it.”

Gerard has not acted in any local theater prior to “Hairspray,” but she compares performing in front of an audience to teaching a class of 60 or more students, which she considers “little shows.”

“When you are in front of large group of students (the ‘audience’), teaching something that might not be appealing at 8:30 in the morning, like glycolysis, you do feel like you are putting on a show to help generate interest and enthusiasm,” Gerard said.

It is this energy that she brought to Von Tussle, who believes that “white is right” and “thin is in,” but is fun to sing as because of her challenging vocal numbers, Gerard said.

Von Tussle’s beliefs are what set Turnblad off, causing her to stand up against segregation of any kind because she knows it’s not right. She is overweight, but she embraces that, which makes her empowering to females with body issues, Kohlenberger said.

“The message of the show is ‘stay true to yourself and your beliefs, change is not to be feared, and you’ve gotta think big to be big,’” Kohlenberger said. “This show is about recognizing that we are all the same regardless of our differences and that we all deserve happiness.”