MILWAUKEE — You can’t stop the motion of the ocean, the sun in the sky or “Hairspray” from taking Milwaukee by storm.
The Tony award-winning musical comedy follows 16-year-old Tracy Turnblad, as she chases her dream, dancing on a hit TV show in Baltimore in the 1960s.
Niki Metcalf portrays the iconic teen alongside Andrew Levitt, also known as Nina West from “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” as Edna Turnblad, Tracy’s mom.
There’s a lot standing in Tracy’s way, though. The plus-size teen is an advocate for integration, much to the dismay of the skinny blonde producer and her nearly identical daughter, Amber Von Tussle.
We caught up with Ryahn Evers, who plays Amber, before the show’s stop in Brew City.
Spectrum News 1: When you originally joined the tour in 2021, you started as Lou Ann and understudied for Amber. When did you take over the principal role?
Evers: I ended up doing all of last season as Lou Ann. I had gone on for Amber a couple of times [I got to go on as an understudy for the first time in Dec. 2021 and played her a few times]… Last year’s Amber just decided not to come back … Now she’s on the “Legally Blonde” tour … The producer called me in April and told me that there would be an offer coming through to my agent to play Amber Von Tussle full time, and I of course said yes — I think my family would have murdered me if I had said no … I took over officially when we began rehearsals in Aug. 2022.
Spectrum News 1: Amber is super girly. Do you relate to her in that way at all?
Evers: I am probably the girliest person on this tour. The casting is pretty accurate … Half my suitcase is my makeup and my nail kit … I actually taught myself how to do my own nails while we were on the road so I always have fresh claws … The character traits ring pretty true except for the bully and bigoted side of things.
Spectrum News 1: I love that you bring that girliness so naturally to the character, especially with all of Amber’s dresses and different looks.
Evers: The dresses and the wigs, they’re the most fun part of it. You can’t catch me every complaining about having to be in the heels or the dresses.
When you see these wigs, you’re gonna go, “How is she doing that?” The secret is, I love it. I’m living. The lashes hurt; the earrings are heavy but I don’t care.
Spectrum News 1: Do you have a favorite costume?
Evers: It’s a very quick number — it’s “Mama, I’m a Big Girl Now.” I don’t get to wear it very long. Addison Garner [who plays Amber’s mom, Velma Von Tussle] and I, we both have these beautiful pink robes that are fluffy [with feathers] and long and they just twirl so well. We only get to wear it for like three minutes and we never get to take photos in it, so it’s like this phantom costume that no one ever sees.
Plus, my big gown at the end of the show — that big yellow ballgown. I feel like Belle from “Beauty and the Beast” but better.
Spectrum News 1: What’s your favorite part of the show?
Evers: I love to do “Cooties.” “Cooties” is Amber’s bid for Miss Hairspray at the end of the show when she has to perform for the crown. It’s obviously not a nice, kind-hearted song. It’s not the sweetest thing there is, but it is really fun to perform. It’s whacky and the choreography is really fun and snappy. The whole cast just loves to get into it.
On a more serious note, a great moment is toward the end of Act I. Link and Amber kind of come to a moment where he has a decision to make on whether he wants to see things through with Tracy or stick with Amber. He makes his decision and Amber has to react and she’s served her first piece of “humble pie…” It’s a very real moment.
Spectrum News 1: What do you hope audiences take away from the show?
Evers: Love wins at the end of every single day. It’s a tale as old as time, but in this political climate with everything going on in the world, it really is a good reminder and a refresher course on where we came from… If we just lead with love in our hearts, and we hold hands, and we walk together and we don’t judge each other, and we don’t assume and make ideas about each other, then we can go forward in unity.
Hatred and evil are not inherent. They are learned. We learn that through the Von Tussles. They’re the bad characters, but we learn the lesson from them. You either work from fear in your heart or with love in your heart. They work very much from fear, and when we are living out of fear we can’t progress as society [or] as friends. It’s the age-old tale: We’re better together.
“Hairspray” runs at the Marcus Performing Arts Center from Feb. 7 to 12. To get ticket information, click here.
Last year, “Hairspray” made stops in Appleton and Madison. Check out our 2022 interview with Metcalf, here.
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