Richard Groenendijk plays the leading role in the musical Hairspray | Book & Culture

This is reported by production company De Graaf & Cornelissen Entertainment.

“In 2025 I will have been on stage for thirty years. And I cannot imagine a nicer way to celebrate that anniversary than with the role of Edna Turnblad in Hair spray“, Groenendijk said in a statement. “We are all going to make it one big spectacular party.”

Creative producer Hans Cornelissen is also happy with Groenendijk in the role of Edna. “As far as we are concerned, he is the ideal candidate on all fronts,” says Cornelissen. “Hair spray makes it clear in a comical and often confrontational way that you should be able to be who you want to be. Whether you are white or black, fat or thin or like to dress as a woman.”

The musical is set in the United States in the 1960s. Teenager Tracey Turnblad sees her dream come true when she is chosen to dance on her favorite television show. She wants her black friends to participate in the show, but not everyone is happy about that. The role of Tracey’s mother, Edna Turnblad, is usually played by a man.

Hair spray was a hit on Broadway in 2002. The show won eight Tony Awards. A few years later, the musical was made into a film starring John Travolta (Edna Turnblad), Nikki Blonsky (Tracy Turnblad) and Zac Efron (Link Larkin), among others.

Hair spray will premiere on October 12, 2025 in the Oude Luxor Theater Rotterdam. The musical will then tour other Dutch theaters.