Lauren Turner is performing at the Wagon Wheel Theatre in only one show this summer. But it’s dream role for her. Turner plays the starring role of Tracy Turnblad in the theater’s production of “Hairspray”. “I connect a lot with her for sure,” Turner said of Tracy. “It’s one of my dream roles. She’s just so high spirited and optimistic and she gets the guy in the end, and she’s not the conventional lead. I’ve never been a lead before so this is an opportunity and I am very blessed.” The last few years, Turner has been living the life of a Gypsy. Her parents live in Texas, where she was born. She studied musical theatre at Belmont University in Tennessee, graduating in May 2010. After receiving her degree, she did summer stock for three months before going on the national tour of “Grease” for nine months as Jan. “Hairspray” is her first time at the Wagon Wheel. “My friend Stephen (Anthony), who plays Link in ‘Hairspray’, we worked together last summer. He told me he was going through auditions (for the Wagon Wheel). I didn’t have time to audition, but I e-mailed (Artistic Director) Scott (Michaels) and sent him a video of me doing Tracy,” said Turner. Michaels liked what he saw. After Skyping with Turner, Michaels gave her the role of Tracy. “Thanks to technology in 2010, I got the job,” Turner said. “Hairspray” originally was a 1988 movie by John Waters, starring Ricki Lake as Tracy. It became so well known and loved, that a Broadway musical was developed. The musical won several Tony Awards including Best Musical in 2003. When the musical hit big, another movie version of it was made and released in 2007 starring John Travolta, Michelle Pfeiffer, James Marsden, Christopher Walken, Queen Latifah and Nikki Blonsky as Tracy. The movie became the fourth highest grossing musical films in U.S. cinema history. Turner said she doesn’t feel any pressure in the role. “It’s written so well,” she said. “It’s not easy, but you just have to be present. Let the script take it for you.” “Hairspray” touches on several social issues, including racism and equality. “I think it’s totally still relevant. There always will be equality issues,” Turner said. “Our cast is just so good, every single person,” she said. “Very talented and working so hard. I’m so, so lucky.” Every song also is so good, she said, that it was difficult for her to pick a favorite. However, she does enjoy the number “Welcome to the 1960s” because she gets to change clothes during it and there are solos. “There’s so many good songs,” Turner said. There are a few scenes and songs that are different in the musical and movie versions. The song “Momma, I’m a Big Girl Now” is in the musical, but not the movie, Turner said, but she doesn’t know why they didn’t keep it in the movie. “It’s one of my favorites,” she said. The character of Tracy loves to dance, and dances every chance she gets. “I am a dancer,” Turner said. “In high school, I auditioned for show choir but never made it so I use that for fuel.” In college, Turner worked on her dancing, and feels now she is a good dancer. In “Hairspray”, Turner said she loves dancing to the numbers “You Can’t Stop the Beat” and “Run and Tell That”. As the musical is set in the 1960s, Turner said, “My hair is huge. It’s about 5 inches high. The wigs, the costumes and the set are amazing. “Everyone is just so talented and everyone has worked so hard on this show. I think everyone is going to love it.” The role of Tracy’s mother, Edna, has always been performed by a man in drag. For the Wagon Wheel version, Robert Miller is playing Edna, and Turner had nothing but praise for him. She said, “He is amazing. He’s been rehearsing in heels. He’s so great. He sings in his octave. It’s really funny.” Though one of her best friends, Anthony, is playing her romantic counterpart, Turner said it wasn’t awkward at all. “He’s literally one of my best friends, and to play opposite one another is great,” she said. The whole show is about accepting everyone for who they are. “I think it’s a good selling point,” Turner said. “I would want to see it!”Hairspray runs now through July 2. Adult tickets are $30 for all shows; tickets for students 13 years old through college are $16, and children 12 and under are $12. Special rates are available for groups of 15 or more. To order tickets or for more information, call the box office at 574-267-8041 or visit the Wagon Wheel website at wagonwheeltheatre.com
