A look at Hairspray at the Fulton Theatre
with director Marc Robin


Reviews

As Clara in The Light in the Piazza “Lara Hayhurst is a wonder as Clara. She possesses the physical and vocal beauty of the character, and captures the right child-like exuberance of the role. Moments in song, when she gushes forth notes with effortless sweet abandon, embody the nature that is Clara. Individually good musicians, [Dylan H.Thompson] and Hayhurst are even better when brought together. Stephen Sondheim has referred to Guettel's work as "dazzling," and that is exactly what this production is from the first note to the very last.” ~John Lariviere, www.talkinbroadway.com “Piazza’s most obvious asset is a nearly flawless cadre of skilled singers who can act. From the opening number, breathless young beauty Hayhurst and Gabrielle Visser instantly reassure you that they can negotiate Guettel’s score. [Michael] Leeds has elicited pungent performances; just seeing the unapologetic, uncensored rapture suffusing Clara and Fabrizio’s faces is guaranteed to arouse the audience’s recollections of their own youth.” ~Bill Hirschman, South Florida Theater Review “Winsome and lovely, Lara Hayhurst is appealing as the mercurial, vulnerable, naive and unaware Clara. The chemistry between [her and] Fabrizio (Dylan H. Thompson) is so palpable, and their relationship is so filled with joy, that the audience cannot help but emotionally root for their happiness.” ~Beverly Friend, Chicago Critic As Amber in Hairspray "Lara Hayhurst is fantastic as the talentless brat with an infectious laugh that harbors an ocean of devious intent.” -Lewis E. Silverman, The Patriot News, Lancaster “Amber Von Tussle is performed with evil fun by Lara Hayhurst (her laugh is like nails on a chalkboard). Matching Amber in the rhymes-with-witch category is her mother, Velma, played with Bette Midler gusto by Denise Whelan.” -Stephen Kopfinger, Lancaster Online “Lara Hayhurst plays Amber with relish; a spoiled girl with an over-developed sense of entitlement. She tries to hide her mean streak with a sunny smile, but it doesn’t quite work. Amy Marie McCleary plays her mother, Velma, and it’s great fun to watch these two villains you love to hate.” -Nancy Stetson, Florida Weekly “WASP princess Amber Von Tussle is played to the nastiest hilt by blonde bombshell Lara Hayhurst, who seethes with proper aplomb” ~Marsha Wagner, the Sanibel-Captiva Islander “Lara Hayhurst is hysterical as Amber, the perfect blonde with the perfect smile” ~Di Saggau, The Island Sun News As Peggy in The Andrews Brothers “ Lara Hayhurst is an adorable, petite and curvy blonde who sings with verve and does everything she can to carry this show on her slender shoulders. We never learn whether this “big break” does anything for Peggy’s singing career, although my money is squarely on her.” ~Gail M. Burns “Lara Hayhurst hands in a rock solid performance as Peggy. A pint-sized pepperpot with a perpetual smile, a ton of talent and a can-do attitude, she delivers at every turn. Her enormous presence and her unbridled energy are a big part of this show’s success.” ~Central New York Theater News “She's effervescent. She's talented. And she's easy on the eyes. She is Lara Hayhurst, an ambitious young singer-dancer-actress boosting troop morale in The Andrews Brothers” ~Joan Vadeboncoeur, The Syracuse Post Standard As Kim MacAfee on the National Tour of Bye Bye Birdie “[the] ingénue lead, Kim MacAfee, is delightfully played by Lara Hayhurst.” ~Anne Chlovechok, The Daily Jeffersonian “Kim MacAfee [is] superlatively played with apple-cheeked innocence by Lara Hayhurst.” ~Ken Gousseau, The Medicine Hat News “Lara Hayhurst, the lucky girl who gets "one last kiss" from Birdie was in complete control of her powerful voice.” ~Lorna London Sloukji, BellaOnline, Mississauga, Ontario As Janet Van De Graaf in The Drowsy Chaperone “Hayhurst is adorable. Her show-stopper "Show Off" fulfills its promise in her hands.” ~J. Peter Bergman, Berkshire Bright Focus “Lara Hayhurst is perfection as the gorgeous show girl – star of the Feldzeig Follies. Her feature number Show Off is a demanding one physically and technically, and she pulls it off without a hitch.” ~Gail M. Burns “This is a knockout production. The cast is fabulous, the choreography is stunning, and there are a number of terrific production numbers, especially "Show Off," in which Janet (a wonderful Lara Hayhurst) declares she's tired of all the attention she gets, while seeking even more during the number. Director Brian Enzman has hit a grand slam.” ~Jane Holahan, Lancaster Online News As Sugar in Sugar: The Some Like it Hot Musical “Lara Hayhurst brings a sweet innocence to the Marilyn Monroe role, that of blonde ingenue Sugar. Girlish without being saccharine, she manages to display the character's vulnerability. Her va-va-voom kissing scene with Dale is both sweet and sexy.” -Chris Silk, The Naples News As Woman 1 in the Theater Barn's production of I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change “Hayhurst is clearly the star here, with the versatility to act and sing in many voices. She is a beautiful blonde, but is not above slapping on a silly costume and wig and transforming herself into a gawky girl or middle-aged Minnesotan housewife. But I liked her just fine when, without benefit of wig or housecoat, she played an overly cheerful mother taking the news of the break-up of her son’s relationship hilariously hard; and when she delivered the poignant monologue The Very First Dating Video of Rose Ritz.” ~Gail M. Burns “Lara Hayhurst, all blonde and perky on the outside delivers some wallop punches in her second act monologue dictating a video dating confession and also in the elation of a call from a former date when he said he would call.” ~Peter Bergman, berkshirebrightfocus.com Lara Hayhurst has a beautiful singing voice and is touchingly sad in her monologue about a recently divorced woman who at 40 years of age goes to a dating service to find love. ~Bob Goephart, The Troy Record As Sharpay in Beef and Boards’ Production of High School Musical “In the villainous role of Sharpay Evans, Lara Hayhurst shines. Hayhurst never falters in making her intentions clear; she goes for the comedic jugular as she plays to the extremes of her character (annoying, spiteful, conniving, motivated, spoiled). Hayhurst keeps the show moving, and can feel confident that she has achieved her goals.” ~Katelyn Coyne, funcityfinder.com “Hayhurst and (J Tyler) Whitmer take full advantage of scene-stealing roles, working simultaneously as villains and comic relief.” ~John Belden, East of Indy “The cast brings a freshness and energy to the show that's infectious, and over-the-top drama queen Hayhurst provides comic relief.” ~Melissa Hall, StageWrite “Lara Hayhurst, who plays the villainous Sharpay, gives a strong performance. For those of you who remember the television sitcom The Facts of Life, you’ll find yourself thinking of the character Blair Warner. Lara is a dead ringer.” ~Shari Scales Finnell, Indianapolis Woman As Liesl Von Trapp in Beef and Boards’ production of The Sound of Music “[I] especially admired Lara Hayhurst, who plays the oldest daughter, Liesl…Good singer, good dancer, and a good actress.  She is just darling! [I] laughed in delight at Liesl’s “Sixteen Going on Seventeen” duet with … Rolf Gruber (J. Tyler Whitmer).” ~Hope Baugh, IndyTheatreHabit.com As Violet Karl in The Theater Barn’s production of Violet “The performances are sincere, touching, and genuine. Lara Hayhurst is lovable as the feisty but damaged Violet. Hayhurst’s performance is the reason to love Violet- the show and the person.” ~Bob Goepfert, The Troy Record “[Hayhurst’s] pronunciation is so precise, her acting so believable, and her musicality so faultless, that even when her voice seems small, you can still understand her perfectly. Violet’s songs grow out of the dramatic moment, thanks to Hayhurst’s artistry.” ~Paul Lamar, The Schenectady Daily Gazette “[Hayhurst], who uses no stage makeup to suggest a scar, seems far too pretty to be convincingly scarred. By the time the first act is over, however, the audience gets it. She’s playing someone who is emotionally as well as physically scarred...Hayhurst is both vulnerable and single-minded in the title role, and she has a fine singing voice.” ~Bruce G. Hallenbeck, The Independent As Laurey Williams in The Fort Salem Theater’s production of Oklahoma! “Both [Trey] Compton and Hayhurst appear very much at home in their roles…Every minute, they breathe new life into this musical…When they join their beautiful voices in “People Will Say We’re In Love,” you will fall in love with them…Beauty abounds, especially with Laurey’s “Many a New Day.” ~Bob Rose, The Post-Star As Hope Cladwell in The Theater Barn’s production of Urinetown: The Musical “Hayhurst is just plain dazzling as the hopelessly hopeful Hope.” ~Gail M. Burns, The Chatham Courier “Hope is deliciously played by Lara Hayhurst, making her first appearance at Theater Barn. She is a Judy Holliday/Carol Lombard-type comedienne with platinum hair and a sweet, light, singing voice, but her performance is nonetheless large, wild and wonderful.” ~Charles Kondak, The Independent “Hope Cladwell is played by the lovely Lara Hayhurst in a performance tender and comic. She manages to make her love-song moments as real as her fear when she is about to be "snuffed" by her captors. She and [Eric] Richardson are very moving together in their almost-love duet. ~J.Peter Bergman, berkshrebrightfocus.com