Published On: November 15th, 2015By Leticia Fehling

Carver High School, The Kinkaid School Join Forces to Produce the High-Energy Musical ‘Hairspray’

The two schools will enter the collaborative production in the 2016 Tommy Tune Awards.

Students rehearse for the production of “Hairspray.”

The theater troupe at [icons icon_name=”icon-external-link” icon_size=”14px”]Carver High School is getting ready for competition. But it will be doing something different this year. The Kinkaid School is working with Carver. The two are collaborating to produce Hairspray. The two campuses are among the 45 competing in the 2016 Tommy Tune Award season.

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A scene with Kyle Ward as Sam in “Ghost the Musical.”

Both campuses competed in the 2015 Tommy Tune Awards. The Kinkaid School had nominations for its production of Chorus Line. The school won Best Musical. Carver also [icons icon_name=”icon-external-link” icon_size=”14px”]earned nominations for its production of Ghost the Musical. Kyle Ward received a nomination in the Best Actor category. He portrayed the character Sam Wheat. Fellow Carver student Kristopher Adams also earned a nomination. He was up for Best Featured Performer for his portrayal as the Subway Ghost.

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Kristopher Adams as Subway Ghost

During the 2015 Tommy Tune Awards, the theater directors from both sides started talking. Director Justin Doran and dance teacher Krissy Richmond from Kinkaid wanted to do a musical. Carver director Roshunda Jones also had intentions to do the same. They probably felt it was kismet. Each was looking for a school to collaborate with in a production.

They made plans to develop an integrated cast to perform Hairspray early next year.

Most folks from a certain generation remember the John Water’s 1988 film Hairspray. The musical includes 1960s-style dance music and “downtown” rhythm and blues songs. Set in 1962 Baltimore, the story revolves around full-figured teenager Tracy Turnblad. She dreams of stardom as a dancer on a local TV show. When Tracy wins a role on the show, she becomes a celebrity overnight. She then meets a colorful array of characters. She soon launches a campaign to integrate the show. Hairspray is a social commentary on the injustices of parts of American society in the 1960s.

Hairspray the musical is from the book by Mark O’Donnell and Thomas Meegan. Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman wrote the music.

According to Jones, some of the students already knew each other. Aside from competition, many took classes at Theatre Under the Stars. TUTS is also the sponsor of the Tommy Tune Awards.

Jones feels the collaboration is also a learning experience for students at both schools. Carver is a predominantly minority while Kinkaid is mostly white.

“The students are enjoying collaborating with The Kinkaid School,” said Jones. “The is an opportunity to bond and learn from each other.

“We hope the community members mark their calendars and come see ‘Hairspray.’ It is an exciting, fun show. You can’t help but root for Tracy as she and other characters struggle for acceptance and tolerance.

“The show also explores the subjects of inner beauty and character. The conflicts and inspiring themes the show addresses are still applicable today.“

The productions for both high schools are set in the 2016 spring semester.

“Hairspray” 2016 Performance Dates and Locations

[ul class=”list list-search”] [li]Jan. 15 @ 7:30 p.m. @ Carver HS[/li] [li]Jan. 16 @ 7 p.m. @ Carver HS[/li][/ul]

[ul class=”list list-search”] [li]Jan. 17 @ 2:30 p.m. @ Carver HS[/li] [li]Feb. 26 @ 7 p.m. @ The Kinkaid School[/li][/ul]

[ul class=”list list-search”] [li]Feb. 27 @ 7 p.m. @ The Kinkaid School[/li] [li]Feb. 28 @ 2:30 p.m. @ The Kinkaid School[/li][/ul]

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Amber Scott in Carnaval performance from “In The Heights.”

This is a large production. Carver has more than 60 students taking part. Kyle Ward, Jazmyne Charles, Gerra Gistand, Kassidy Fajardo, Brianna Price, Jerycah Lee, Treat Carrier, Kevin Crear, Arielle Wilson, Kiera Prusmack, Yamir Ellis, and Bishop Pearsall. Kasi McHenry, Elysa Aguilar, India Sherman, Mykaelan Flournoy and Jaela Amos also have roles. The campus also has more than 40 students comprise the ensemble. The Carver Dance Company is also taking part in the ensemble cast.

Carver students Aziza Robinson, Ivan Geters, Jacoby Whitfield, Jayla Rhodes, Joyceline Loughridge, Krystal Ester, Louis Butler, and Princess Brown play an important role as technicians. They make the lights, sounds, and stage changes seem easy.

Carver has a strong theater program. The thespian group has a history of nominations and winning awards. The program earned nine nominations and four wins in the [icons icon_name=”icon-external-link” icon_size=”14px”]2014 Tommy Tune Awards. The program was recognized for the musical production In The Heights. In 2013, the troupe earned [icons icon_name=”icon-external-link” icon_size=”14px”]12 nominations, including Best Musical, for [icons icon_name=”icon-external-link” icon_size=”14px”]The Color Purple.

Celie and Nettie share a tender moment. Amber Scott and Auyana Melacon play the roles of Celie and Nettie in “The Color Purple.”

In total, Carver has earned 43 Tommy Tune nominations since 2008. The theater program won nominations in Best Musical, Best Direction as well as Leading Actor and Leading Actress. Wins have included Best Costumes (2011), Best Ensemble (2013), Best Leading Actor (2014), Best Supporting Actress (2014), Best Supporting Orchestra (2014) and Best Choreography (2014).

Roshunda Jones, Jabari Collins and Sarita Salinas head the production team at Carver High School. Collins is the technical director. Salinas is dance director and performing arts chair at the magnet campus.

TUTS developed the Tommy Tune Awards. The Awards honor musical theater excellence at the high school level. Houston-based theater professionals will make more than 100 nominations in 15 categories for the 2016 Awards.