Local Actor Stars in Summer Blockbuster The Amazing Spider-Man and Hairspray: The Broadway Musical at The Ivoryton Playhouse
Summer 2012 has been the best EVER for Durham born actor Michael Barra. On June 28, 2012 he walked the red carpet at the premiere of The Amazing Spider-Man rubbing elbows with the likes of Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone at the Regency Village Theatre in Westwood and on July 4, 2012 he will take the stage of the Ivoryton Playhouse starring as Edna in Hairspray – the Broadway Musical.
Michael spent 2 days filming in NYC and 1 day in LA for his role as T-Bone, a Store Clerk, in the $215million The Amazing Spider-Man, set to become one of the biggest summer blockbusters in history. Walking the red carpet for the LA premiere was overwhelming for Durham native Michael who wasn’t prepared for the huge reaction from fans, a mass of photographers calling his name and having to sign over 100 autographs!
From LA to Essex, Michael brings his star power to the Ivoryton Playhouse where he will be singing, dancing and delighting audiences as Edna in Hairspray – the Broadway Musical opening on Wednesday, July 4.
Hairspray, Broadway’s musical-comedy phenomenon that inspired a major motion picture and won eight 2003 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, runs for 4 weeks through July 29.
Hairspray opens in Ivoryton on July 4th and runs through July 29th. Performance times are Wednesday and Sunday matinees at 2pm. Evening performances are Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30pm, Friday and Saturday at 8pm. Tickets are $40 for adults, $35 for seniors, $20 for students and $15 for children and are available by calling the Playhouse box office at 860-767-7318 or by visiting our website at www.ivorytonplayhouse.org (Group rates are available by calling the box office for information.) The Playhouse is located at 103 Main Street in Ivoryton.
Cast includes Jill Sullivan as Tracy, Michael Barra* as Edna, Neal Mayer* as Wilbur, Karen L. Anderson* as Motormouth Maybelle and Justin Gerhard as Link Larkin. Directed by Jacqui Hubbard, choreography by JR Bruno and musical direction by John DeNicola. The set design is by Cully Long, lighting design by Marcus Abbott, and costumes by Vivianna Lamb. Music by Marc Shaiman, lyrics by Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman and book by Mark O’Donnell and Thomas Meehan.
*member of Actors Equity
Generously sponsored by Pasta Vita.