Broadway's Hairspray Taps New Link, Amber & Motormouth Maybelle

Three new cast members are headed into the Broadway company of Hairspray, replacing departing stars Ashley Parker Angel, Aubrey O'Day and Jenifer Lewis. Charlotte Crossley will take over the role of Motormouth Maybelle replacing Lewis on September 2, Constantine Rousouli will begin playing Link Larkin replacing Angel on September 16 and Kate Loprest will become Amber Von Tussle replacing O'Day on September 19. Hairspray recently celebrated its sixth anniversary at the Neil Simon Theatre.

Crossley, who most recently appeared on Broadway in The Color Purple, joined Bette Midler's legendary back-up group the Harlettes in 1973 after stints in Hair and the original Broadway cast of Jesus Christ Superstar. She appeared in the Sister Act movies and on the Oscar telecast and has recorded with Barry Manilow, Luther Vandross and many others. Crossley won a 2005 NAACP Theatre Award for Best Supporting Actress for Hairspray's first national tour.

Loprest has been seen on Broadway in Xanadu and The Drowsy Chaperone. Regional credits include Wicked in Chicago and Happy Days at Paper Mill Playhouse. Rousouli is making his Broadway debut after playing Link for two years in the show's national tour.

Hairspray currently stars Marissa Perry as Tracy Turnblad, George Wendt as Edna Turnblad, Karen Mason as Velma Von Tussle, Tevin Campbell as Seaweed J. Stubbs, Ken Marks as Wilbur Turnblad, Kevin Meaney as Male Authority Figure, Susan Mosher as Female Authority Figure, Naturi Naughton as Inez, Niki Scalera as Penny Pingleton, and Clarke Thorell as Corny Collins.