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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