a school that didn’t have a good arts program. My mom saw the spark dying in me. In tenth grade I auditioned for the performing arts school and that changed my life. Phil Doyle, my teacher, who is the Musical Director of Hairspray, lit a fire of inspiration. By that time I had almost given up on theatre as a career option.
Rage: What other careers have you considered? BS: Interior Design.
Rage: Still very artistic. So you got your fire back, auditioned for your first profes- sional theatre company and landed the lead role, that’s impressive. BS: I was in shock. I got a call the day after callbacks. I didn’t see any of
the other people who auditioned for Tracy but I read with different groups of people. I didn’t know what to think, except, ‘well I tried my best’. The hard part was waiting to start rehearsals. I didn’t know what to expect. I found out I got the part in April but we didn’t start rehearsing until the end of June. It worked well actually because I learned all my lines before we started blocking. Being part of a professional production I am learning so much.
Rage: You must be excited for opening night. Is this the first performance in front of a full house? BS: I am very excited. We have been in previews for the last week so we have
had an audience. We have been watching how they respond to things, where they will laugh and what doesn’t work. The next day in rehearsal we re-block or re-choreograph, making slight changes to improve the show.
Rage: What do you like most about playing Tracy Turnblad? BS: Tracy passes no judgment on looks, color or size. She just doesn’t see
people by their outside appearance. She is a ‘fat girl’ who can’t stop dancing, but I like the fact that never once does she talk about being fat. She knows she has everything the other girls have--the right style, the right moves-- she has confidence. All women can learn from her. I am delighted by the fact that a fat girl carries the show and saves the day. She’s not a side-kick or the comic relief.
Rage: What will delight audiences? BS: It is a funny and upbeat, really honest show. It has a new twist—brand new
choreography using real dance styles from the 1960s. Javier Velasco’s work is amazing (Choreographer). Also Tracey’s Mom (Peter Van Norden in drag) and Dad (Steve Gunderson) have an incredible, lovely relationship and wonderful, funny numbers. I should also tell you this is the first regional production of Hairspray, the biggest production the REP has ever done. Sam Woodhouse (Director) added a full orchestra behind us.
Rage: What is your favorite scene? BS: Can I pick two?
Rage: Sure. BS: There are two different scenes in a record shop. The second one is in the
middle of Act Two, it is the first time Tracy actually considers giving up because she thinks things are getting dangerous. Then Pam Trotter (playing Motormouth Maybelle) sings “I know where I have been.” She is phenomenal and it is a serious, touching moment. Everyone is focused, the whole cast and you can feel that magic. The other scene I really like comes after Tracy’s boyfriend (played by Efren Ramirez) apologizes to her. They sing a song called “Without Love.”
Rage: What would you tell someone who has never seen Hairspray before? BS: You’ll laugh, you’ll cry and by the end of the show you’ll be up on your
feet dancing. AUGUST 2010 | RAGE monthly 17
Bethany Slomka as Tracy Turnblad Photography by Daren Scott
Victor Hernandez as Corny Collins, Bethany Slomka as Tracy Turnblad, Megan Martin as Amber Von Tussle
Photography by Daren Scott
The Cast of Hairspray Photography by Daren Scott
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