Photograph Courtesy Charr Crail and California Musical Theatre’s Music Circus

Hairspray, playing at The Muny August 3 to 9, is the story of zaftig teenager Tracy Turnblad’s desire to dance on a goofy TV show and fight ’60s-era segregation. But it’s Tracy’s mom, Edna, who steals scenes—mainly because she’s a Sherman tank of a woman portrayed by a guy in a huge, padded suit. Paul Vogt, a veteran of FOX’s MADtv, played Edna on Broadway, and he’ll squeeze into Edna’s jaw-dropping costume again in Forest Park. Here’s his take on transforming into the drag icon.


Wig: “There are times in the show when I’m actually wearing two wigs, one on top of the other, for extra height and volume. There are probably four or five different wigs.”

Makeup: “You start out with almost nothing on, and as the show goes on, they keep adding more makeup onto Edna. Before the last number, there’s enough time to do a whole glam makeover. She goes from bedraggled hausfrau to glamour queen.”

Bodysuit: “On Broadway, the suit weighed 30 or 40 pounds. It’s a whole-body suit that gets zipped up the back. The padding is on the front for breasts and on the side for hips, and I get a very large shelf-type butt. You could rest a drink on that butt.”

Dresses: “Edna’s normal clothes are practical and devoid of fashion. But when she goes to Mr. Pinky’s, they give her this dress, and she wakes up to the world.”

The Muny: “I’ve heard about how hot it can get at The Muny outdoors in August. I’ve been hitting the gym, taking salt tablets, and drinking Gatorade.”