Students join forces for Moate production of Hairspray

Moate Community School has developed a great tradition of staging first-class musical productions with professional standards as the team ethos necessary for a production of this scale is brought to fruition with a combination of teachers and students working together... Each using their various skills to achieve the ultimate aim of sending the audience home with a satisfied glow. Oklahoma, South Pacific and Showboat are still fresh in the memory and we now look forward to a different style of show with the more modern production Hairspray the latest offering from the adventurous music department at Moate Community School. Lorna Duignan is leading the music department in this current production. Hairspray, the musical, has been a great success all over the world and has helped spark a renewed interest in musicals for a younger generation. Moate Community School is the first Irish secondary school to perform this musical. Hairspray is set in the American city of Baltimore during the summer of 1962. The show follows events of larger than life teenager Tracy Turnblad. Tracy (Deirdre Higgins) and her geeky best friend Penny (Emer Fox) are obsessed with The Corny Collins Show, a TV programme which showcases the dancing skills of local teenagers. Their particular favourite is heartthrob Link Larkin (David Minnock) who Tracy has a crush on. Link, however, is going out with the not so pleasant, Amber Von Tussle (Eayna Tone), the daughter of the show's producer Velma (Rosalee Mc Kenna). While Baltimore is a racially diverse city Velma Von Tussle still tries to maintain segregation within the show saying she wants to steer the kids in the show in the "white direction". When Corny (Padraig Henry) announces that they will be holding auditions on the show for new dancers Tracy is desperate to try out. Against all odds she manages to win a place on the show and becomes a star overnight. However Tracy can't understand why all the kids, black and white, can't dance together on the show and starts a protest to integrate the programme. Things don't go too smoothly at first - Tracy and her supporters have to contend with a few brushes with the law and deal with people who are too scared to challenge the status quo. With the size zero debate in full swing and racial divide still a current issue, the show stills proves relevant to modern life. This modern musical has certainly grasped the imagination of the school community and with 170 in the cast and another 50 in support roles it is a case of all hands on deck. Students from 2nd year to 6th year are taking part and with second year student Deirdre Higgins in the lead role many are asking is she the youngest ever leading lady in a Moate Community School musical production? Tickets are on sale from the school and from Galvin's, Hartens Gift Shop, Marie's (Mulhalls) and News 4U. The show will be performed for four nights from Monday, October 19 through until Thursday, October 22, starting at 8pm each evening. Early booking of tickets is advisable as demand did exceed supply for the last school production. Main Characters: Tracy Turnblad - Deirdre Higgins; Link Larkin - David Minnock; Velma Von Tussle - Rosaslee Mc Kenna; Wilbur Turnblad - Paddy Rabbitte; Penny Pingleton - Emer Fox; Corny Collins - Padraig Henry; Motormouth Maybelle - Sinead Heavin; Amber Von Tussle - Eayna Tone; Seaweed - Oisin Foley; Prudy Pingleton - Nicole Guinan; Little Inez - Shannon Hennessy; Mr Spritzer - Jack Flanagan; Mr Pinky - Jack Flanagan.