By Emily Schulz
Baltimore Watchdog Staff Writer
The main stage of the Hippodrome Theater is divided into “yes’s” and “maybe’s” as hopeful Marylanders dance their hearts out in hopes for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Dance auditions for NBC’s production of Hairspray! Live were held on Thursday morning at the Hippodrome Theater in Baltimore. Nearly 300 applicants made their way to the city to try their luck with the show’s head executives.
“To have an audition like this in your backyard is exciting,” said Devante Smith, 23, of Baltimore. “It’s like a birthright of some sort.”
Hairspray, a Broadway musical and hit movie musical, takes place in Baltimore in the 1960s, when civil rights were prominent in the United States.
The show encompasses issues of segregation and the movement to desegregate television in the 60’s. The producers of the show thought that bringing the auditions to Baltimore was important.
“We had to come back to Baltimore with this,” said head NBC judge, Dean McFlicker. “It’s where it all began. There’s so much life and color here, and it’s wonderful to get to represent it.”
In the main stage room, WBAL sponsorship signs were flocked on either side of the stage. Above the dancers hung a huge “Hairspray! Live” logo.
Contestants began lining up at 7 a.m., but auditions didn’t begin until 11 a.m., with the event going well into the evening.
All walks of life came to the open casting call Thursday morning, ranging from ages 18 to 50, most hearing about the audition second hand.
“A lot of people just posted the information to my Facebook wall this week,” said Emily Holcomb, 23, of Westminster. “I only learned the dance yesterday, and I skipped work today to be here.”
This sentiment was shared among contestants, many stating that their family told them about the opportunity.
Chase Bristow, 26, of Linthicum, got to the audition purely by chance.
“My best friend brought me here as a birthday present,” he said. “I only really learned about the audition yesterday, but I know I can out-dance anyone on the dance floor.”
The support continued from the cold sidewalk to the lobby of the Hippodrome Theater.
Contestants were brought in to a rehearsal space where the head choreographer warmed the contestants up and split them into groups of 10. From there, they were sent to wait until their group was called to dance for the panel of judges, headed by McFlicker and accompanied by Brooke Engen and Maddie Baillio.
According to Hairspray! Live publicist Erica Lewis, one to three dancers would be chosen from each group to move on to the semi-finals. From there, the judges would pick three finalists. The winner will be flown to Los Angeles for production and given the chance to dance on live national television.
Hairspray celebrates inclusion, a topic still prominent in the the minds of Baltimore residents.
“Who cares what your hair looks like or what color your skin is,” said Danielle Torre, 32, who made it to the semi-finals. “We all love to dance, so let’s get together and do this.”
The winner of the competition will be revealed on WBAL Tuesday morning.