Student Lands Coveted Lead in Mountain Play's 'Hairspray'

 junior Kimmie Swanson said she never thought she would be cast as the lead in this year's Mountain Play production of .

"I wasn't even going to audition," says the San Rafael resident.  

But then Swanson's chemistry teacher, Mark Niemann, and some friends told her that they "could see (her) in the role."

She prepared for the audition with the help of Rodney Franz, her teacher in the musical theater program at MSA, and Arden Sugarman, her voice teacher. Swanson then won the part of Tracy Turnblad, the lovable heroine of Hairspray.

The musical based on the 1988 cult film by John Waters ran on Broadway from 2002 to 2009 and is set in Baltimore in the 1960s. The action centers around a popular but racially segregated TV dance program, The Corny Collins Show, on which black teens are only permitted to dance once a month on "Negro Day." Tracy lands herself a spot as a Corny Collins council member, and through her dancing, charisma and passion helps usher in a new era of racial equality on the show.

Hairspray was made widely popular by the 2007 movie version with a cast of mega-stars including John Travolta, Queen Latifah, Zac Efron, Michele Pfeiffer and Christopher Walken. The film made a star of unknown actress Nikki Blonsky, who parlayed her fame into a Dancing With the Stars gig.

Mountain Play musical theater director Debra Chambliss, who describes Swanson as a genuine singer with a sweet voice, said she and the casting crew were looking for an actress that the audience would "fall in love with immediately. (This quality) radiated from (Swanson). ... I think we chose the perfect Tracy."

Swanson she could not have landed the role without MSA's Franz, who she says  challenges his students to explore acting roles in great depth. Franz cast Swanson in MSA's recent production of The Dancer, what Swanson calls her "first real role." It was that performance that was seen by chemistry teacher Niemann and moved him to encourage Swanson's auditioning for the Mountain Play.

Swanson, who wakes up at 5:30 a.m. each morning to be at Novato High by 7, has a lot more than stars in her eyes.

"I want to work in biology and medicine," she says.

Swanson carries a rigorous load of core courses, including advanced placement biology and pre-calculus. Her musical theater classes, offered through the MSA program, are held after lunch.

Swanson transferred from San Rafael High School after her freshman year and says, "I love Novato High. Everyone is very welcoming. I feel like I'm living in those movies (like Fame), but a scaled-down version. People play piano at lunch and people start singing in six-part harmony."

Swanson continues, with a Tracy Turnblad-level of joy and positivity, "I'm thankful to everyone who has helped me: MSA, Mr. Franz, Arden, my friends. I cannot stop expressing my gratitude toward them."

Swanson will be performing in the Mountain Play on May 22, 29, June 5, 11, 12, and 19.

In advance of this year's production, the Mountain Play Association will present an interactive, "sing-along" screening of the movie musical of the popular Broadway hit, with San Francisco movie reviewer and film historian Jan Wahl hosting the event. The screening takes place Wed., April 27, at 7:30 p.m. at the Christopher B. Smith Rafael Film Center at 1118 Fourth St, in San Rafael. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased by calling the Mountain Play Association at 415-383-1100 or by clicking here. 

All of the Hairspray productions at Mountain Play are at 2 p.m. at Cushing Memorial Amphitheatre near the peak of Mount Tamalpais.