Flint, Michigan, Local Takes National Role in Hairspray

Tia Pinson's dreams are about to come true as her love of dancing and acting are taking her to the 2008 International Thespian Festival for her role as a Dynamite in the musical play "Hairspray."

The 16-year-old tried out for the part at a regional audition in March and was announced she would be part of the production at the 2007 International Thespian Festival. "I'm so excited. We sat and prayed the night before we found out who was cast," says Pinson, a junior at Carman-Ainsworth of Flint, MI. DeLyne Miller, faculty of the school, said this is the first time anyone she's taught has audition for the International Thespian Festival, or widely known as just the ITF.

In the spring, Pinson will travel to Colorado for a two weekend stay. Afterwards she will take off for a two-week stay to rehearse. Rehearsing takes place at the University of Colorado. All her expenses are paid for by the Educational Theatre Association, which includes transportation, food and housing.

"Hairspray" is made up of 39 students from 18 different states. Pinson was cast as one of three Dynamites, a singing trio she liked to call "teenage Supremes." Singing she says comes easy for her as acting and dancing are not the only talents. Tia will perform "Hairspray" in front of 3,000 students and theater instructors coming from around the world after the first showing in Greeley, CO. The International Thespian Festival is held in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Tia is not new to the theater life. She has had two major roles in high school productions in "Ragtime" and "High School Musical." Later this month she will be trying out for "Alice In Wonderland" for her high school. She has seen both movie versions of "Hairspray" and is excited to be a part of the audience in the Saginaw showing later in the year.

When asked what her peers thought, "They were happy for me and very proud," as only two students from Carman-Ainsworth tried out. Mrs. Miller recalls students cheering and crying like they were "American Idol finalists."

Aside acting, dancing, and singing, Tia Pinson is a normal teenage girl. She enjoys normal girl activities such as going to the movies and hanging out with her girlfriends. Other activities include writing and hitting the green with her schoolmates. "I love to play golf," the junior varsity team member gleefully says.

The entire cast of "Hairspray" can be found at the Educational Theatre Association.

The production of "Hairspray" comes to Saginaw, Mich. December 2nd. Tickets go on sale at ticketmaster.com October 22nd.