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Carole Mikita Reporting'Hairspray', we use a lot of it around here, but it's also the title of a Broadway touring company production that's at Kingsbury Hall right now. The lead actress, a very talented young woman, is not only wowing audiences across the country, she gives credit for her training to a university in the southern part of our state.
The Tony award-winning 'Hairspray" is spreading its special brand of mirth on tour, starring a young woman, who, although she's been singing since age two, didn't really imagine it would lead to this.
Kaela Settle, Tracy Turnblad, 'Hairspray': "I started getting into theatre in late high school, early college cause I was in trouble a lot so, they were like, someone help her, put her in a show or something. So I discovered it, kind of fell in love with it."
Fortunately for audiences around the country, she fell hard, landing the lead role of Tracy Turnblad, the 1960's girl with a heart even bigger than her hair. Kaela is thrilled that the tour came here.
For Kaela, bringing the show to Salt Lake City is truly coming home. She's a graduate of SUU, in theatre."
Kaela Settle: "I didn't do musical theatre until I got to college, right before I went to Southern Utah University, which was how I got to Southern Utah University on a scholarship to be in one of their musicals."
She studied both classical and musical under the direction of the indomitable Fred Adams.
Kaela Settle: "Yes, Uncle Fred! Uncle Fred with his glasses, his titanium glasses and his hair."
He taught her well, she says. She still finds it hard to believe her star is rising; it looks very bright from where the audience sits.
"Hairspray" is at Kingsbury Hall through Sunday. Keala will tour with the show through the end of June, then take a break from the stage, perhaps do some recording.
