"Take 5" with Hairspray Director Najee A. Brown

As the director and choreographer of Hairspray, multidisciplinary artist Najee A. Brown brings his vision of revolutionary joy to the Umbrella stage. As the Artistic Director of the Multicultural Arts Center in Cambridge, Najee is known for his commitment to social justice, cultural identity, and the power of storytelling to unite communities. Returning to Concord after choreographing The Color Purple in 2023, Najee’s Umbrella directorial debut with Hairspray is just the latest testament to his passion for uplifting diverse stories through the arts.

1. What sets this production of Hairspray apart from others?

I don't want to give too much away, but I think the setting alone, when you come in, you're gonna feel the difference. Not only that, but the surprise that we have for you from the moment you come into the theater, everything will just feel like you've never experienced it before. We have such a lovely cast, and the synergy and the energy between all of them and myself is remarkable. We're having too much fun, and we're trying to push that message of joy and hope through everything we do. You're gonna find that through our movement, through the costumes, through the set, through the people on stage, through the smiles. Yeah, this is gonna be a good one!

2. Can you describe what you love about Hairspray?

I think Hairspray is a show that gets the messaging right in a beautiful, comedic way that leaves you feeling hopeful. There are not many shows like that. A lot of shows deal with the harsh truth of fatphobia or racism or all these ‘-isms’. And sometimes you can feel a little hopeless when you leave those shows. Hairspray not only allows you to feel hopeful, but it allows you to understand what you can do to make a difference in your community, right? It's one girl's vision for a small community that turns into something that is nationwide. And whether the story is true or not, it gives us a pathway of how to do that, how to believe in something when everyone doesn't. Believe in that thing.

3. Though Hairspray is a work of fiction adapted from the New Line film, it's set firmly in the culture and political moment of Baltimore in 1962, during which the story's original writer and director John Waters was fourteen years old. What history does the show highlight, and how might it resonate with today's audiences?

A lot of people are talking about how the sixties is parallel to the 2000 and twenties, and that's an unfortunate truth. During the early sixties, you're seeing a lot of optimism, very similar to how we were seeing a lot of optimism in the early 2020s, and a lot of things were changing very quickly. It's very similar to when George Floyd died in that a lot of things were changing quickly. It was right before the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act in 1965; it was a hopeful time. The 'I Have a Dream' speech was just about to happen in 1963, so there was a hope for a change and people coming together. I think that is very important to recognize.

And then you're talking about music: with the emergence of Motown, you are now seeing Black artists in this emerging, beautiful pop star way. The Supremes, the Temptations, and just this acceptance of Black culture and the mainstream culture other than jazz. It feels like a new day. It's a new day in America and unfortunately, the sixties end in a different way, but we're still living in that hope in the setting of Hairspray.

4. Are there any rehearsal rituals or behind-the-scenes sneak peeks you'd like to share?

Every rehearsal, I ask the cast how they're doing, and then I ask them a question like, 'What's your favorite Broadway show?' Or, "Who inspired you to do theater?' That was a really deep one and a very powerful question. More powerful than I realized because it’s important to kind of go back to your why, especially when you're tackling a piece like this. Why are we doing this? Who are we doing this for? And what's the purpose behind this? I'm excited. We have a great cast. I've been doing this for a while. I'm still very young, but I've been doing this for a while. This is probably definitely my favorite cast I've ever got to work with, and they're getting better and better as the days go along. And I'm so excited for audiences to witness what I'm experiencing.

5. Speaking of the "why" -- why should audiences come to see Hairspray at The Umbrella Arts Center?

The weather's getting nice, the birds are chirping, the trees are blooming, the flowers are blooming. The best thing you can do on your weekend is come to Concord and see Hairspray. If you want to feel as good as the weather's looking right now, that is the most perfect thing you can do. It will leave you feeling hopeful and joyful, and you may learn a thing or two!

Experience the magic of Hairspray at The Umbrella Arts Center and immerse yourself in a production that promises to inspire and uplift audiences with its powerful story and vibrant performances. Tickets are available at TheUmbrellaArts.org/hairspray