Marissa Perry Visits Waterbury Arts Magnet School

Pictured: Marissa Perry (at left) and her mother Joyce Jeffrey at ‘The Music, The Mentors, Marissa and Mom: A Night of Broadway’ on Saturday Photo by Katy Walker
Photo 2 Ms. Perry speaks with the students at WAMS Photo by Marianna Vagnini-Dadamo

Marissa Perry has appeared in several Broadway and Off-Broadway productions, but on Monday she was making an appearance in a far more local venue, the Waterbury Arts Magnet School (WAMS.)

The actress is perhaps best know for her role as a replacement for Tracy Turnblad in the original Broadway production of ’Hairspray.’ She also appeared in the original Broadway cast of ’Sister Act’ in 2011. Off-Broadway credits include the Off-Broadway revival of ‘My Big Gay Italian Wedding’ and the original Off-Broadway production of ’My Big Gay Italian Funeral’ in 2013.

Ms. Perry was in town this weekend for ‘The Music, The Mentors, Marissa and Mom: A Night of Broadway,’ a benefit for Naugatuck’s St. Francis of Assisi Church that was held on Saturday evening at the Grand Oak Villa in Waterbury.

Although I had a another show to review that evening, I heard from a friend that the Broadway revue was very well done and the evening was a huge success. Social media buzz confirms her opinion. The actress performed with her mother Joyce Jeffrey, Trish Torello, Brian D. Fortin and John C. Carter (last seen as Coalhouse Walker, Jr. in ’Ragtime’ at the Warner.)

On Monday morning, Ms. Perry headed to WAMS to speak with the students of chorus teacher Marianna Vagnini-Dadamo and instruct them in some of the choreography of ’Hairspray.’ The high school chorus students will be presenting some ’Hairspray’ excerpts at their annual spring concert. My son CJ Janis had the honor of meeting the lovely actress and reported that she was very easy to speak to.

Thank you to this Broadway talent for making the time to meet with the students at WAMS.