If the typical movie screening or campus event is getting old and you are looking for new places to go on weekends, then the new-and-improved Proctor’s Theater and Arcade in Schenectady may be worth checking out. Known for the beautiful building in which it is set, Proctor’s offers a wide variety of shows throughout each performance year, ranging from symphony orchestras to Broadway plays to world-renowned comedians. Recently, the theater hosted the Tony Award-winning musical Hairspray
Hairspray is based on a film written and directed by John Waters about the beginnings of the civil rights movement in Baltimore—Waters’ hometown—in 1962. The script focuses on the trials and tribulations of plus-size teenager Tracy Turnblad (played by Brooklynn Pulver), whose hair is almost as big as her personality. She earns a place on her local television dance show, “The Corny Collins Show,” which is reminiscent of “American Bandstand.” Turnblad essentially goes from teen outsider to out-of-control teen celebrity overnight, and is faced with several new challenges.
On her mission for some life changes, Tracy must figure out how to overcome the show’s reigning princess dancer, win the affection of the program’s heartthrob and Elvis wannabe and integrate the television show to keep up with the changing times. She enlists the help of loyal friend Penny, played by Alyssa Malgeri, and Hairspray follows their journey from the dance show to the streets of Baltimore to a record shop. The musical features an original score by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, and was originally directed by Jack O’Brien and choreographed by Jerry Mitchell.
The show has been hailed by critics as truly irresistible, and capable of engaging audiences with the lifestyles of that time. The costumes, outrageously-sized hairdos and quaint sets really add to the musical numbers and colloquial dialogue. All the colors and patterns are vibrant enough to catch anyone’s attention, but the real magic comes from the upbeat, toe-tapping numbers and the larger-than-life personality of not only Tracy, but the entire cast. It is difficult to sit through the show without wanting to sing along or take a trip back to the ’60s, and with this rich performance comes great success. The eight performances held at Proctor’s broke the tour’s record for ticket sales—a success that was made possible by the stage expansion, which was designed to allow the theater to host blockbuster Broadway hits.
The theater is set in a historic and recently-restored 1926 vaudeville-style palace, and currently features an expanded mainstage capable of seating 2,700 people. Set for a grand reopening sometime this fall, Proctor’s will now include an intimate acoustic performance area at the 400 Arts Center on State Street, a GE Theater multi-purpose space capable of showing 3-D films and a conference center with meeting rooms and food service. The 440 Stage will seat 120, and can also be used for dance recitals, smaller graduations and company meetings. The GE Theater will have 450 retractable seats and an iWERKS Extreme Screen for 3-D movie showings. The space can be utilized for educational programs, fundraisers and trade shows, among other things. The conference center will consist of four large meeting rooms, food services and a main gallery for conferences of up to 450 people. For more information on Proctor’s Theater and its performances, please visit http://proctors.org/.
