Broadway in Hollywood brings the best of Broadway to the Hollywood Pantages and Dolby Theatre.
Up next, the Tony Award-winning Best Musical HAIRSPRAY will be at the Dolby from May 2nd through the 21st – and it stars Andrew Levitt (AKA: Nina West from Rupaul’s Drag Race) as Edna Turnblad!
Jill from Valentine in the Morning sat down with Andrew to talk about the joy that is Hairspray, their love of Disney and spreading kindness.
Andrew says “Hairspray is true joy.”
“We find ourselves needing to talk about stories of diversity and identity and otherness and Hairspray seems to always be there at the forefront of all of that”
He never imagined he would be a part of such a big show like Hairspray:
“I think I was told that I didn’t necessarily belong. And so I had seen other people do it and I just didn’t see it as an opportunity for me or as an option for me. I think that there were a lot of people along the way who held my hand or who pushed me up and helped me stand on their shoulders to get here.”
What was it like transforming into Hairspray’s Edna Turnblad for the first time?
“Edna is so different than Nina. I’m not playing Nina West as Edna Turnblad.”
“It was transformative for me, but that’s the power of theater and that’s the power of falling into character. I had all these ideas of what I wanted MY Edna to be like.”
“It was really impactful and powerful and magnificent to see her that first time.”
What would Andrew say to someone who is trying to find their confidence like Edna?
“Edna really needs someone to believe in her and needs someone to hold her hand and guide her. And that’s her daughter Tracy.”
“I think that resonates with me. For anyone who’s not feeling like they belong, you’ve got to find your people. You’ve got to surround yourself with people who believe in you, who love you, who want to lift you up.”
“I think back to when I was trying to figure out my own life and I didn’t have people to tell me I was going to be ok. My own story I think has lead me to this point.”
“I just really didn’t want anyone to feel alone.”
Like Jill, Andrew is obsessed with Disney and they found out they have the same FAVORITE Disney movie: Mary Poppins?
“That was another opportunity where I saw anything was possible. When she opened that bag and she’s pulling out all these things, to me as a kid, it was like anything is possible.
“It has literally stuck with me since I was a kid.”
With songs like “You Can’t Stop the Beat,” “Good Morning Baltimore” and “Welcome to the 60’s” – you don’t want to miss this all-new national tour of Hairspray!
Get your tickets now at: BroadwayInHollywood.com