There is a saying: “Forget six degrees of separation, in Rhode Island it's one.” That theory was proven to me again while covering the rehearsals for the upcoming production of “Hairspray” at Theatre By The Sea. Only this time, that one degree of separation worked its magic on two actors from the midwest.
Erin McCracken, 26, who will be playing the lead character “Tracy Turnblad” and Jay Leland Krottinger, 29, who will portray TV dance show host “Corny Collins” are both from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Their college careers overlapped with McCracken at Oklahoma City University while Krottinger attended the University of Central Oklahoma.
“Oklahoma City is a small place” said McCracken, referring to the theater world. She and Krottinger knew each other and went to each other's college productions but neither actor knew the other was auditioning for Theatre By The Sea.
“We were at different auditions in New York City” said McCracken, “there were at least 500-600 people at the one I attended. So it was with surprise (and joy) to see a familiar face at the meet and greet day for the cast on July 5th."
McCracken graduated in 2007, and has been steadily working as an actress in NYC and in regional touring companies ever since. She has been waiting for three years to get the chance to play Tracy Turnblad.
“It's a ton of dancing and a lot of hard work” she said, “but I love it. And the director, Russell Garrett has been great.” She's been dancing since elementary school and it was on her first trip to New York, in the 7th grade, when she knew that she wanted theater to be her life. “The first show I saw on Broadway was Beauty and the Beast” she said, “and I just knew, I said 'I'm it in to win it'.”
And for proof that the arts contribute to the economy, McCracken's parents, friends and extended family are all coming to RI and renting a beach house for a week so they can attend four or five of the shows.
”I'm very lucky to have a big fan club” she laughed, “they follow me all around the country.”
Join the two actors from Oklahoma as they and the rest of the cast present the Tony® Award winning musical “Hairspray” July 22nd-August 13th. (Previews July 20th and 21st). Tickets are available online or by calling the Box Office at 401-782-8587.
