Hairspray Character Breakdown
**PLEASE NOTE THE VOCAL RANGES ARE A GUIDE ONLY. IF YOU DO NOT KNOW YOUR VOCAL RANGE, APPLY ANYWAY AND THE PRODUCTION TEAM WILL WORK IT OUT FOR YOU AT AUDITIONS**
TRACY TURNBLAD – A young aspiring dancer being held back by society because of her larger stature. Tracy isn’t afraid to be herself and stand up for what she believes in. She must be friendly, relentless and goodhearted with a vibrant, lovable personality. Tracy performs in 10+ numbers.
Vocal Range: Alto: A2 below Middle C to C4 above Middle C
EDNA TURNBLAD – Tracy’s kind, plus-sized mother who runs a laundry business out of her home, BUT hasn’t been out in a while. This role is to be played by a male in drag, and requires a strong comic male performer who is ready for his inner woman to take the spotlight. Edna performs in 5+ numbers.
Vocal Range: Bass: G#1 below Middle C to D3 above Middle C
WILBUR TURNBLAD – Tracy’s simpleminded, goofy and kind father. He owns the Har-De-Har joke shop and is still madly in love with his wife, Edna. He encourages Tracy to follow her dreams. Wilbur performs in 2+ numbers.
Vocal Range: Baritone: A#1 1 octave below Middle C to G3 above Middle C. Falsetto (A3 Above Middle C)
CORNY COLLINS – The charismatic and confident host of the Corny Collins Show. Corny is in favor of Tracy and racial integration. Corny is good looking and is a smooth talker.
Vocal Range: Tenor: E2 Below Middle C to A3 above Middle C
PENNY PINGLETON – Tracy’s slightly dorky, but lovable best friend who falls head over heels for Seaweed. Penny is bursting to get free of her mother’s demanding control. Penny performs in 4+ numbers.
Vocal Range: Belting Alto: Middle C3 To Eb4 1 Octave above Middle C
AMBER VON TUSSLE – Amber is Link’s girlfriend and Tracy’s nemesis. She is the bratty, selfish resident princess of The Corny Collins Show. She is willing to do anything to win the Miss Teenage Hairspray pageant. Amber performs in 7+ numbers.
Vocal Range: Soprano: Middle C3 To E4 1 Octave above Middle C
VELMA VON TUSSLE – Amber’s slim and attractive but overbearing mother who pushes her daughter to seek stardom. Velma is the scheming producer of The Corny Collins Show, who is trying to steer it in the ‘white’ direction. Velma is a devious taskmaster and is a great villainess role to play. Velma performs in 4+ numbers.
Vocal Range: Alto: A2 below Middle C to B3 above Middle C
LINK LARKIN – The star heartthrob and male lead dancer on The Corny Collins Show. Whilst hoping to get his big break with a recording contract, he unexpectedly falls for Tracy. Link performs in 7+ numbers.
Vocal Range: Baritone: C2 Below Middle C to G3 above Middle C. Falsetto (A3 Above Middle C)
SEAWEED J. STUBBS – Motormouth Maybelle’s son and a talented dancer on The Corny Collins Show. Seaweed is Tracy’s classmate and friend, who falls in love with Penny. Seaweed is discriminated against due to his skin color, but is very talented in both song and dance. Seaweed performs in 4+ numbers.
Vocal Range: Tenor: A2 Below Middle C to B3 above Middle C
MOTORMOUTH MAYBELLE – Motormouth Maybelle is Seaweed and Little Inez’s mother. She also appears as the Guest DJ on The Corny Collins Show. Motormouth Maybelle is “Big, blonde and beautiful” and proud of it. She helps Edna find pride in herself and is a sassy and confident character. Motormouth Maybelle performs in 3+ numbers.
Vocal Range: Contralto: E2 Below Middle C to D4 1 octave above Middle C
LITTLE INEZ – Seaweed’s little sister and very talented dancer. Little Inez is a determined young dancer who wants to be on the Corny Collins show. Little Inez performs in 3+ numbers.
Vocal Range: Mezzo-Soprano: F3 Above Middle C to F#4 1 octave above Middle C
THE DYNAMITES – The dynamites consist of Judine, Kamilah and Shayna. The Dynamites are a talented vocal trio who are featured in many numbers and usually in tight harmony.
Vocal Ranges: Soprano, Mezzo Alto and Alto
FEMALE AUTHORITY FIGURE – The Female Authority Figure covers the roles of Prudy Pingleton (Penny’s uptight mother), the sadistic gym teacher and the prison matron.
MALE AUTHORITY FIGURE – The Male Authority Figure covers the roles of Harriman F.Spritzer (Corny Collins show sponsor), the high-blood pressured principal and Mr. Pinky (owner of a plus-sixed dress shop).
COUNCIL MEMBERS – The Council members consist of Tammy, Brad, Fender, Brenda, Sketch, Shelley, IQ and Lou Ann. The council members are dancers and singers on The Corny Collins Show. The Council members perform in 5+ numbers.
ENSEMBLE – The other students are the kids we find in detention and in Motormouth Maybelle’s record shop. The other students will act as the ensemble for the show as well as having the opportunity to pick up lines of dialogue in a few scenes.
TRACY TURNBLAD – A young aspiring dancer being held back by society because of her larger stature. Tracy isn’t afraid to be herself and stand up for what she believes in. She must be friendly, relentless and goodhearted with a vibrant, lovable personality. Tracy performs in 10+ numbers.
Vocal Range: Alto: A2 below Middle C to C4 above Middle C
EDNA TURNBLAD – Tracy’s kind, plus-sized mother who runs a laundry business out of her home, BUT hasn’t been out in a while. This role is to be played by a male in drag, and requires a strong comic male performer who is ready for his inner woman to take the spotlight. Edna performs in 5+ numbers.
Vocal Range: Bass: G#1 below Middle C to D3 above Middle C
WILBUR TURNBLAD – Tracy’s simpleminded, goofy and kind father. He owns the Har-De-Har joke shop and is still madly in love with his wife, Edna. He encourages Tracy to follow her dreams. Wilbur performs in 2+ numbers.
Vocal Range: Baritone: A#1 1 octave below Middle C to G3 above Middle C. Falsetto (A3 Above Middle C)
CORNY COLLINS – The charismatic and confident host of the Corny Collins Show. Corny is in favor of Tracy and racial integration. Corny is good looking and is a smooth talker.
Vocal Range: Tenor: E2 Below Middle C to A3 above Middle C
PENNY PINGLETON – Tracy’s slightly dorky, but lovable best friend who falls head over heels for Seaweed. Penny is bursting to get free of her mother’s demanding control. Penny performs in 4+ numbers.
Vocal Range: Belting Alto: Middle C3 To Eb4 1 Octave above Middle C
AMBER VON TUSSLE – Amber is Link’s girlfriend and Tracy’s nemesis. She is the bratty, selfish resident princess of The Corny Collins Show. She is willing to do anything to win the Miss Teenage Hairspray pageant. Amber performs in 7+ numbers.
Vocal Range: Soprano: Middle C3 To E4 1 Octave above Middle C
VELMA VON TUSSLE – Amber’s slim and attractive but overbearing mother who pushes her daughter to seek stardom. Velma is the scheming producer of The Corny Collins Show, who is trying to steer it in the ‘white’ direction. Velma is a devious taskmaster and is a great villainess role to play. Velma performs in 4+ numbers.
Vocal Range: Alto: A2 below Middle C to B3 above Middle C
LINK LARKIN – The star heartthrob and male lead dancer on The Corny Collins Show. Whilst hoping to get his big break with a recording contract, he unexpectedly falls for Tracy. Link performs in 7+ numbers.
Vocal Range: Baritone: C2 Below Middle C to G3 above Middle C. Falsetto (A3 Above Middle C)
SEAWEED J. STUBBS – Motormouth Maybelle’s son and a talented dancer on The Corny Collins Show. Seaweed is Tracy’s classmate and friend, who falls in love with Penny. Seaweed is discriminated against due to his skin color, but is very talented in both song and dance. Seaweed performs in 4+ numbers.
Vocal Range: Tenor: A2 Below Middle C to B3 above Middle C
MOTORMOUTH MAYBELLE – Motormouth Maybelle is Seaweed and Little Inez’s mother. She also appears as the Guest DJ on The Corny Collins Show. Motormouth Maybelle is “Big, blonde and beautiful” and proud of it. She helps Edna find pride in herself and is a sassy and confident character. Motormouth Maybelle performs in 3+ numbers.
Vocal Range: Contralto: E2 Below Middle C to D4 1 octave above Middle C
LITTLE INEZ – Seaweed’s little sister and very talented dancer. Little Inez is a determined young dancer who wants to be on the Corny Collins show. Little Inez performs in 3+ numbers.
Vocal Range: Mezzo-Soprano: F3 Above Middle C to F#4 1 octave above Middle C
THE DYNAMITES – The dynamites consist of Judine, Kamilah and Shayna. The Dynamites are a talented vocal trio who are featured in many numbers and usually in tight harmony.
Vocal Ranges: Soprano, Mezzo Alto and Alto
FEMALE AUTHORITY FIGURE – The Female Authority Figure covers the roles of Prudy Pingleton (Penny’s uptight mother), the sadistic gym teacher and the prison matron.
MALE AUTHORITY FIGURE – The Male Authority Figure covers the roles of Harriman F.Spritzer (Corny Collins show sponsor), the high-blood pressured principal and Mr. Pinky (owner of a plus-sixed dress shop).
COUNCIL MEMBERS – The Council members consist of Tammy, Brad, Fender, Brenda, Sketch, Shelley, IQ and Lou Ann. The council members are dancers and singers on The Corny Collins Show. The Council members perform in 5+ numbers.
ENSEMBLE – The other students are the kids we find in detention and in Motormouth Maybelle’s record shop. The other students will act as the ensemble for the show as well as having the opportunity to pick up lines of dialogue in a few scenes.
Head to the Hairspray Page to book your audition.
