You Can’t Stop the Beat: ‘Hairspray’ Shines with Heart, Power, and Purpose at the Players Guild of Dearborn
There’s something undeniably special about stepping into the intimate space of the Players Guild of Dearborn. It’s the kind of venue where you don’t just watch a show, you feel it. With Hairspray, closing out their season, that sense of connection becomes the production’s greatest strength, turning a beloved musical into something that feels immediate, personal, and deeply rooted in community.
[Warning: spoilers from Players Guild of Dearborn Hairspray are below!]
A bigger story with an even bigger heart
Set in 1962 Baltimore, Hairspray follows Tracy Turnblad (Katie Pierceall), a bright, ambitious teenager who dreams of dancing on the popular local TV program, The Corny Collins Show. Tracy isn’t the typical image of what television producers are looking for at the time, but she has something far more compelling: confidence, charisma, and an unwavering belief in her belonging.
After impressing Corny Collins (Mark Hoy) and landing a coveted spot on the show, Tracy quickly rises to local fame. But her journey doesn’t stop at celebrity. As she becomes more immersed in television, she begins to notice the stark racial divide embedded in it. The show features a segregated format, with Black performers relegated to a once-a-month “Negro Day,” a reality that Tracy refuses to accept.
Driven by both her growing friendships and her own moral compass, Tracy sets out to challenge the status quo. She allies herself with Seaweed J. Stubbs(Tavion Knight) and his family, including the powerhouse Motormouth Maybelle (Ryan Kayla), and begins advocating for integration on The Corny Collins Show. Along the way, she faces resistance from the show’s gatekeepers, including the calculating Velma Von Tussle (Lindsay Cadregari) and her daughter Amber (Emily Schaf), who see Tracy as both a personal and professional threat.
The story builds toward a high-stakes protest and a televised showdown that ultimately forces the community to confront its biases. What unfolds is a celebration of individuality, inclusion, and the power of young voices to spark meaningful change. It’s wrapped in catchy songs and vibrant choreography, but the core message lands with clarity: progress doesn’t happen quietly, and it rarely happens without resistance.
A cast that moves as one in this production of Hairspray
From the opening moments, this production wastes no time pulling the audience into its world. The energy is immediate and sustained, thanks in large part to an ensemble that feels fully invested. There’s a cohesion here that elevates the entire show. No one fades into the background. Every performer contributes to the storytelling, creating a sense of momentum that rarely lets up.
Tracy (Katie Pierceall) serves as the emotional and narrative anchor, and the performance captures both her infectious optimism and her gradual evolution into an activist. What works particularly well is the balance. Edna Turnblad (Josh Beurer, director of The Cottage and actor in Picasso at the Lapin Agile) is handled with a welcome sense of sincerity. The humor lands, but it never overshadows the character’s emotional arc. The relationship between Edna and Tracy becomes one of the show’s strongest threads, offering moments of warmth that anchor the larger spectacle.
Penny Pingleton (Kiki Bromirski) delivers consistent comedic payoff, while Seaweed (Tavion Knight) brings both charm and an essential sense of perspective to the story. And we can’t forget about love interest Link Larkin (Carl Ghafari), bringing a blend of charm and swagger, evolving from a teen heartthrob to a genuine ally in a way that feels both believable and earned.
A clear highlight of the evening comes from Ryan Kayla as Motormouth Maybelle, whose presence commands the stage the moment she steps into it. This isn’t just a strong performance. It’s a defining one. Motormouth Maybelle carries much of the show’s emotional weight, and Ryan Kayla rises to that challenge with power and precision. “I Know Where I’ve Been” becomes one of the production’s most memorable moments, delivered with a depth that cuts through the high-energy spectacle and demands attention. It’s the kind of performance that shifts the room, grounding the audience in the reality behind the story’s message. Beyond the vocals, the portrayal shows strength and steadiness that reinforce Maybelle’s role as both a leader and a protector within her community. It’s a performance that lingers.
Driving the momentum at Players Guild of Dearborn
Hairspray lives and dies by its movement, and this production clearly understands that. The choreography captures the spirit of the 60s while maintaining accessibility that allows the entire cast to shine. The result is energetic without feeling overextended. The Corny Collins Show sequences are particularly effective, blending stylized television flair with live-theatre spontaneity. Group numbers feel full and dynamic, and transitions between scenes are handled with enough fluidity to maintain the pacing.
Visually, the production leans into bold color and contrast. Costumes do much of the storytelling, clearly defining character types and social divisions while still embracing the playful aesthetic the show demands. The set design remains functional, prioritizing movement and pacing over unnecessary complexity. Scene changes are efficient, which keeps the show’s rhythm intact. In a musical like Hairspray, that momentum is everything.
One of the more impressive aspects of this production is its tonal balance. Hairspray can easily skew too far into camp or, conversely, become overly heavy-handed in its messaging. Here, it finds a middle ground that works. The audience is invited to laugh, to clap, to get swept up in the joy of it all, but there’s also space to reflect. The show doesn’t shy away from its themes of segregation and systemic inequality. Instead, it integrates them into the story’s fabric in a way that feels both accessible and impactful. There’s a noticeable shift as the narrative moves toward its climax. The energy tightens, the stakes feel more immediate, and the audience leans in. It’s a testament to the production’s ability to engage beyond surface-level entertainment.
The verdict
By the time “You Can’t Stop the Beat” arrives, the groundwork has been laid for a finale that truly delivers. The number bursts with energy, but more importantly, it feels earned. The cast returns with a sense of celebration that reflects not just the story’s resolution, but the journey it took to get there. What ultimately sets this production apart is its authenticity. You can feel the collaboration behind it, the shared commitment to telling this story with both joy and intention. It doesn’t try to outscale bigger productions. Instead, it leans into what makes community theatre powerful in the first place: connection.
This Hairspray isn’t just a nostalgic crowd-pleaser. It’s a vibrant and thoughtful production that understands the responsibility of its message.
Know before you go
📍 Location
21730 Madison Street in Dearborn.
🗓️ Performance Dates
May 1–3, 8–10, and 15–17, 2026, with:
- Fridays & Saturdays at 8:00 PM
- Sundays at 2:30 PM
⏱️ Run Time
Approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes, including a brief intermission.
🎟️ Tickets
Tickets can be purchased directly through the theatre:
- Visit the official ticket page via the Players Guild website
- Call the 24-hour box office line at (313) 561-TKTS
- Or purchase in person when the box office opens one hour before each performance
Production Credits
Directed by: Kori Bielaniec (The Cottage, Five Women Wearing the Same Dress)
Asst. Director: Kenyada Davis
Music Director: Lauren Fuller Neuwirth (Beauty and the Beast, Five Women Wearing the Same Dress)
Choreographer: Jair Alexander
Lighting Design: Will Daguanno
Sound Design: Jeff Flannery
It truly takes a village to bring a production like Hairspray to life. While it’s impossible to spotlight everyone here, a full list of the talented individuals who made this production possible can be found in the show’s program.
