44 | JANUARY 13 • 2022 

time in this country [during the 
1960s] when there was adversity, 
and that resonates,” he said. “It’s 
sorely needed in the climate we’re 
in today and the challenges we 
face. It’s a shot in the arm of posi-
tive energy and positive, affirma-
tive thinking.”
The musical, running Jan. 18-30 
at the Fisher Theatre, has songs by 
Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman. 
The fast-paced numbers include 
“Welcome to the ’60s,
” “Good 
Morning Baltimore” and “You 
Can’t Stop the Beat.
”
“It’s one of those scores where 
every song that comes through 
has such an impact,
” Wolf said. 
“‘Good Morning Baltimore’ has 
such optimism. This teen charac-
ter, Tracy, chooses to see things in 
a way that infuses her with energy 
and positivity, and the song really 
underscores that. It’s a perfect way 
to set off the story.
”
Wolf’s story as producer wel-
comes the mood of the song as he 
moves beyond the tight restrictions 
that shut down live productions. 
He spent the days away from live 
theater in planning for its return.
“I can’t state how difficult it was 
to put people back into the theater 
safely, moving actors and crews 
in and out of theaters and hotels,
” 
he explained. “Knock wood, we’ve 
had a pretty good go of it so far. 
Our actors have been taking really 
good care of themselves, and [with 
venue practices put in place], it’s 
been extraordinarily safe for audi-
ences. 
“We’re thrilled, and we’re enjoy-
ing it. We’re finding the power of 
being back in a live theater worth 
the effort.
”
Wolf, whose wife is from Israel, 
has brought award-winning stage 
shows and performers from that 
country to the United States. The 
Band’s Visit, originally an Israeli-
made film, revolves around an 
Egyptian band stranded in Israel. 
Na Laga’at’s Not by Bread Alone, 
a performance by a troupe of deaf 

and blind actors, invites audiences 
into aspects and understandings of 
their lives.
“[The Israeli troupe presented] 
an extraordinary work of art,
” 
Wolf said of the reasoning behind 
his production choice. “I really 
appreciated it as beautiful and very 
moving.
“
All my shows have special 
meaning to me, but I certainly 
appreciate telling stories of Jewish 
characters.
”
Casting of a Hairspray charac-
ter brought a distinctive aspect to 
both the movie and play iterations. 
The idea that the role of the teen’s 
mom, Edna Turnblad, not be 
played by a woman was started by 
John Waters, film writer and direc-
tor. For the Detroit production, the 
part will be portrayed by Andrew 
Levitt, also known as Nina West 
from Ru Paul’s Drag Race.
“I think the character has always 
been sort of an outsider and sees 
herself that way,
” Wolf said, defin-
ing the continuing choice as stylis-
tic. “By immediately introducing 
elements of the performance of 
that character to make the audi-
ence understand this person to be 
different is what makes the charac-
ter so compelling.
”
Also in the production are 
Niki Metcalf as the teenage Tracy 
Turnblad, Christopher Swan as 
dad Wilbur Turnblad, Toneisha 
Harris (from NBC’s The Voice) as 
Motormouth Maybelle and Billy 
Dawson as Corny Collins.
Wolf had aspirations of being 
on stage while studying at The 
Hartt School, a performing arts 
conservatory at the University of 
Hartford in Connecticut, but that 
changed as he entered the working 
world.
“When I got out of college, I was 
assisting people [in production],
” 
he recalled. “I started my love affair 
with producing and worked my 
way up in the industry. I love the 
theater and being part of it makes 
me happy.
” 

Andrew Levitt (aka Nina 
West), Niki Metcalf and 
Toneisha Harris

MARC J. FRANKLIN
JEREMY DANIEL

Andrew Levitt, also 
known as Nina West

Details
Hairspray will 
be performed 
Jan. 18-30 at the 
Fisher Theatre 
in Detroit. 
Tickets start 
at $39. Fisher 
Theatre, (313) 
872-1000, ext. 0 
or ticketmaster.
com.

ARTS&LIFE
THEATER

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