CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Joshua Drewelow, of Marshalltown, left, and Dean Messerly, of rural Conrad, are portraying Edna and Wilbur Turnblad in the Cedar Falls production of “Hairspray.”

Joshua Drewelow, of Marshalltown, and Dean Messerly, of rural Conrad, are featured performers in the current Cedar Falls Community Theater production of “Hairspray.”

“Hairspray the musical” opened on Broadway in 2002 and won eight Tony Awards including one for Best Musical. Set in 1962 in Baltimore, Maryland, “Hairspray” tells the story of plus-sized teenager Tracy Turnblad who dreams of dancing on “The Corny Collin Show.” She overcomes the odds and becomes a TV sensation and uses her influence to advocate for racial integration.

“Hairspray” is a high energy and comical look at life in the early sixties with positive messages about acceptance and looking past physical and racial differences.

Drewelow is cast in the role of Edna Turnblad and Messerly is playing the role of her husband, Wilbur. They are the supportive parents of the protagonist of the story, their teenage daughter Tracy. The role of Edna Turnblad is traditionally played by men.

Both Drewelow and Messerly have been active in the Marshalltown Community Theater and Drewelow is currently a member of the Board of Directors. This is their second production together with both performing in the Waterloo Community Playhouse production of “Beauty and the Beast” in 2019.

Drewelow is employed in Marshalltown as the Community Treatment Coordinator at Iowa Department of Corrections for the 2nd Judicial District. Messerly retired from the Marshalltown Post Office in 2023 after 30 years of service as a Rural Carrier.

This production of “Hairspray” by the Cedar Falls Community Theatre runs through June 23 at the Historic Oster Regent Theatre in downtown Cedar Falls. More information can be found at: www.mycfct.org/hairspray