Littleton’s Pearl Thomas is so not Amber Von Tussle, the prim and perfectly vicious, temper-tantrum-tossing teen queen she plays in “Hairspray.”
I say “Hairspray” is the triumph of the little fat girl. Thomas says, “We prefer ‘the triumph of the plus-sized teen.”‘ Amber wants the Miss Teenage Hairspray title so badly, she could star in “The Bad Seed 2: Amber’s Aerosol Apocalypse.” Thomas believes strangers are just family we haven’t met yet.
“Amber is such a snot,” Thomas said with a laugh. “She’s definitely the opposite of what I am. I’ve never even played an antagonist in my life before.”
Thomas comes home Tuesday with the national touring production of “Hairspray,” the infectious stage adaptation of John Waters’ campy film about a plump girl whose answer to racism in 1960s Baltimore is to shake her fanny muscles. The show won eight Tony Awards in 2003, including best musical.
The last time Pearl performed in Colorado, she was Lindsay Thomas. “But there is another actress with the same name, and ironically enough, she is currently in ‘Hairspray’ on Broadway,” Thomas said.
Our Lindsay graduated from Heritage High School in 1998 and the University of Northern Colorado in 2003. Within a few months she was a gainfully employed New York actress. She recently played Pam in the national tour of “The Full Monty.”
In the “old days” – which in this case are only a few years ago –
Thomas played Laurey at Heritage opposite Amy Board’s Ado Annie (Board later won a Denver Post Ovation Award in the same role at the Country Dinner Playhouse).
Thomas worked as a young Country Dinner Playhouse barnstormer. She also starred in Six Flags Elitch Gardens’ original 1999 “Broadway Rhythms” cast.
Now she’s part of a remarkable group of successful UNC theater alums. She’s pals with Jenny Fellner, and two weeks ago saw her star in the national touring production of “All Shook Up.” It was at the Buell Theatre, the same stage where
Thomas performs in “Hairspray” this week.
She’s also tight with UNC grads Andy Kelso (star of Broadway’s “Mamma Mia”), Joe Donahoe (national tour of “Rent”) and New York actors Keifer Mansfield and Julia Tobey.
“I am where I am today because of UNC,” Thomas said. “Those were the days when I really began to know what I wanted to do with my life.”
Thomas calls UNC’s Tom McNally and Vance Fulkerson “dear mentors.” “They brought so much to my acting education that I hold dear to me today,” she said. “They are a part of my life and they always will be.”
Amber Von Tussle won’t be speaking with that kind humility when she’s singing songs like “Cooties” and “Mamma, I’m a Big Girl Now.”
“This show is such a guaranteed fun night,” Thomas said. “It’s got great music and fun dancing and big hair and bright neon colors, but what’s cool about it is the message it carries. It’s about being true to yourself and following your heart and not judging people who are not like you.”
It’s a message Thomas will sell for crowds that will include more than 100 family and friends from as far away as Pueblo, Arizona and Oklahoma.
“Denver is still my world,” said Thomas, whose parents still live in Littleton. “I love Colorado. It always will be home.”
Theater critic John Moore can be reached at 303-954-1056 or jmoore@denverpost.com.
“Hairspray”
MUSICAL|National touring production |Written by Mark O’Donnell and Thomas Meehan (book), Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman (music)|Starring Brooklynn Pulver and Constantine Rousouli, Jerry O’Boyle|At the Buell Theatre, Denver Performing Arts Complex, 14th and Curtis streets|THROUGH SUNDAY|8 p.m. Tuesday-Friday; 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Sunday| $23-$62|866-464- 2626, denvercenter .org or King Soopers stores
