GOOD MORNING, SAN FRANCISCO

The songs, the dancing, and the joy
remain impossible to resist

Trevor March, Ella Ruth Francis, and Jordan Covington

The summer’s most fun musical has arrived at the San Francisco Playhouse: Hairspray is here, and it has something for everyone. There’s singing, dancing, comedy, and drama, all performed by a talented cast.

Trevor March and Ella Ruth Francis

Hairspray was first introduced to audiences in 1988 as a film by John Waters. Set in 1962, the story follows Tracy Turnblad, a Baltimore teen from a working-class background who is selected for a spot on The Corny Collins Show, a locally produced TV program where teens dance to the hits of the day. The movie was adapted as a Broadway musical in 2002, featuring a book by Mark O’Donnell and Thomas Meehan, music by Marc Shaiman, lyrics by Scott Wittman and Shaiman, and starring Harvey Fierstein. It went on to win eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical, propelled by a buoyant Motown- and R&B-inspired score that includes “Good Morning Baltimore” and “Welcome to the ’60s.”

Jonathan Chisolm

Bay Area native Ella Ruth Francis makes her debut as Tracy, the exuberant, plus-sized teenager who not only wants to dance but also change the status quo by ending the policy of featuring only thin, white dancers on The Corny Collins Show. As is tradition, Tracy’s mother Edna is a drag role. Here, Jonathan Chisolm—appearing at SF Playhouse for the first time—is the ever-cautious mother who slowly blossoms, inspired by Tracy’s infectious spirit. Playhouse favorite Samantha Rich shines as Penny Pingleton, Tracy’s shy and awkward friend. Another Playhouse vet, Trevor March, plays Link Larkin, the dreamy singer-dancer on Corny Collins who is also Tracy’s crush. Of course, every show about high school teenagers needs the pretty-on-the-outside but jealous-on-the-inside mean girl you love to hate, and that’s Tracy’s nemesis Amber Von Tussle, a delightful Mackenzie MacDonald. Alison Ewing, as Amber’s scheming mother and the station manager, is equally swell, managing to steal every scene she’s in.

Mackenzie Macdonald and Alison Ewing

Honorable mention goes to Jeffrey Brian Adams as Corny Collins, the host of the dance show. His handsome charm fits the role perfectly, and his multi-colored checkered suits are a sight to behold. On the night I attended, understudy Phaedra Tillery-Boughton went on in the crucial role of R&B record shop owner Motormouth Maybelle, guest host on “Negro Day,” a monthly segregated broadcast on The Corny Collins Show. Her brightly colored jackets and platinum blond hair stand out almost as much as her powerful vocals. Another standout is Jordan Covington as Seaweed J. Stubs, Maybelle’s son and one of Tracy’s classmates. The best dancer in the ensemble, Covington turns every appearance into a showstopper.

Jeffrey Brian Adams (center)

Performed with boundless energy, the many dance numbers (choreographed by Phoenyx Rose) are worth the price of admission. It’s a shame that the live musicians, led by music director Dave Dobrusky, are always obscured behind the scenes; the music they provide, coupled with the theater’s excellent acoustics, deserve equal recognition. Bethany Deal‘s colorful early-1960s costumes complete the look, from the women’s swirling skirts to the men’s dapper suits and ties. Under the direction of Bill English, the cast never loses sight of what makes Hairspray such an enduring crowd-pleaser: joy. Whether you’re revisiting this Broadway favorite or seeing it for the first time, you’re going to leave the theater smiling.

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photos by Jessica Palopoli

Hairspray
San Francisco Playhouse
450 Post Street in San Francisco
Tues–Thurs at 7; Fri–Sat at 8; Sat & Sun at 2
ends on September 13, 2026
for tickets ($35–$135), call 415.677.9596 or visit San Francisco Playhouse

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