GOOD MORNING STARSHINE

The opening night of Hair at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood was like attending the most energetic, love-filed performance in which there was nothing but mutual love between the cast and audience.  The cast led by the charismatic and uber-talented Steel Burkhardt (Berger) and Paris Remillard (Claude) knocked every number out of the park sparking enthusiastic applause and cheers from the audience. 

The Hair “tribe” is energetic, unifying and strong.  The energy they emit whether they are onstage in “Oh Great God of Power” or dancing amongst the audience in “Hair” make the show not only entertaining but interactive as well.  Members of the tribe who make their appearance at the Pantages include original Broadway-revival cast members: Burkhardt, Remillard, Allison Guinn (Mother/Buddhadalirama), Kaitlin Kiyan (Chrissy), Josh Lamon (Margaret Mead/Dad), John Moauro (tribe), Darius Nichols (Hud) and Kacie Sheik (Jeanie).

Despite being a feel-good musical that elicits feelings of hope and love, Hair actually tackles some very serious issues like sexual identity, draft card burning and drug use – issues that were seen more than 40 years ago when it first debuted on Broadway.  The essence of the show continues to be relatable and prevalent in 2011 even though some of the details of the issues of today are slightly different.

Pictured: Hair National Tour Company/Joan Marcus

Visually, Hair was a stunning celebration of bright colors, light and staging seen in the dance, costume and choreography under the direction of Diane Paulus and choreographed by Karole Armitage.  This was only enhanced by the music of Galt MacDermot and book/lyrics by Rames Rado and Gerome Ragni (“Aquarius,” “Let the Sun Shine In” and “Good Morning Starshine”). 

There is nothing but high praise and deep appreciation for the Hair tribe in bringing their love-filled-emotional show to LA audiences.  The Pantages Theatre on opening night of Hair, was nothing short of a captivating two and a half hours of an intoxicating love-filled performance (a musical certainly not to be missed).  You will leave the theatre with a silly grin on your face feeling happy and naturally high, and if you don't...keep going back until you do!

Now Playing through January 23, 2011 at the Pantages Theatre (6233 Hollywood Blvd. in Los Angeles).  For tickets or more information: Broadway L.A., 1-800-982-ARTS (2787) or Ticketmaster Outlets. ($25-$90)

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Gavin Creel (original Broadway revival, Claude)

The touring cast of Hair also continues to support the cause of marriage equality that the Broadway cast supported in the spirit of love and peace.  In virtually every touring city, the tribe stages a fund-raising “be-in” of music and performance and they donate 100% of the proceeds to Broadway Impact to support their efforts in the fight for marriage equality.  The Los Angeles “be-in” will be held Monday, January 10 with shows at 7:30 and 10:30 p.m. at Show at Barre (1714 N. Vermont, Los Angeles). General Admission tickets are $25 ticket and a $50 VIP ticket gets first row seating and a signed poster.  For tickets or more information to this “be-in” check their Facebook event page.

I GOT LIFE

Hair is easily the one show I didn't know that I loved until this revival came along. There is something so incredibly freeing, motivating and loving about the show, that it has actually made me a better person. Since I was young, I have always believed in the power of the arts - I love & support it everyday and am a huge advocate for arts education. Yet when I heard (this revival) and saw the tribe, it literally changed me. Not because of the theatricality of the show or even the talent and energy of the actors - but because of the message the tribe sends on stage and off. I think I've always been one to strive for positivity, change and love...and that has become even more-so of a choice to live by now, even if I'm having a bad day.

When I hear "Let the Sun Shine In," I always feel better (no matter what my mood) and when I see what the tribe is doing for equality, I feel inspired to find ways to make some kind of difference somewhere, in my own life. Though the show has reached an incredible and well deserved 1-year anniversary milestone, the best part of all of this for everyone, is the huge difference they're making in society...and I celebrate them for doing that above and beyond all else. Its amazing. Congratulations to all!!!

ITS GONNA BE GOOD (I hope...)

The 2009 Tony Awards - THE WINNERS!!! (updated live PST)

Creative Arts Awards (Pre-Telecast)

Best Orchestrations

• Martin Koch, Billy Elliot, The Musical
• Michael Starobin & Tom Kitt, next to normal (my prediction & my pick)

Best Lighting Design of a Musical

• Rick Fisher, Billy Elliot, The Musical (my prediction)

Best Costume Design of a Musical

• Tim Hatley, Shrek The Musical (oops, I forgot my prediction in this category)

Best Lighting Design of a Musical

• Ian MacNeil, Billy Elliot, The Musical (my prediction)
  

Best Sound Design of a Musical

• Paul Arditti, Billy Elliot, The Musical
  

Best Choreography of a Musical

• Peter Darling, Billy Elliot, The Musical (my prediction)

Best Book of a Musical

• Lee Hall, Billy Elliot, The Musical

* * *

Thoughts during the Tony Awards West Coast Telecast:
(yes, I'm going to be THAT person, happily, excitedly and frantically blogging during the show...because I can & apparently I care that much)

Holy Crap! Elton John; Bret Michaels meets Broadway (Rock of Ages); Karen Olivo & West Side Story; Aaron Tveit and Stockard Channing; Dolly Parton; LIZA and Hair (the TRIBE is freakin' AWESOME!!!!) and then Neil Patrick Harris hosting!!!!!!??? The Tony Awards opening number is like Christmas!!! Best opening number I've seen at the Tonys in a long time (and apparently the most expensive)!!! Wow, wow, wow!!!

Despite my own personal opinions about Shrek The Musical, Chris Sieber gave a pretty kick-ass performance.

Angela Lansbury - of course she was going to win (and I'm glad she did)!

What do people think of Neil Patrick Harris?

Best Original Score (Music & Lyrics) Written for the Theatre

• Tom Kitt (music) and Brian Yorkey (lyrics), next to normal (my prediction & my pick!!! SO HAPPY & SO EXCITED!!!!!!!!! Not happy that they cut off their acceptance speeches though.)

Beautiful dance number to the gang at West Side Story! Though...I kind of think the choreography and score are the best parts of this revival (even though Cavenaugh is hot and Scaglione has a beautiful voice). Sorry.

Best Direction of a Musical

• Stephen Daldry, Billy Elliot, The Musical (not my pick, but my prediction)

Its campy, its 80s music fun, they SO don't take themselves seriously and Rock of Ages I have to admit (after purchasing the cast recording) I kind of like. Um, nice crotch shot of Mitch Jarvis. Oy.

If Liza didn't win, I'd be shocked. Glad to see some things are as they should be!

So, Guys and Dolls has never been one of my favorite musicals. The performance of "Sit Down You're Rocking the Boat" was good, not great. Still...not my favorite.

Working in the Theatre - yea to The Wing & everything they do!!!

Best Featured Actor in a Musical

• Gregory Jbara, Billy Elliot, The Musical

Best Featured Actress in a Musical

• Karen Olivo, West Side Story (my pick AND my prediction...and I LOVED her acceptance speech!!!)

Why was Alice off? Wasn't she? I don't care, she's just completely amazing as Diana. This -- I Am The One -- I think is my favorite number in next to normal (and one of the most stressful, I need a drink)! My God, Alice is so AMAZING it gives me chills through the freaking TV (Bobby Spencer & Aaron Tveit weren't too shabby either)! Alice Ripley, you are just phenomenal!

Haha, loved NPH's sushi joke aimed at one actor who pulled out of a certain Broadway show this season. He's a good host, good pick folks!

Aww, Natasha Richardson and all the others who passed during this season. I feel weird mentioning the "In Memoriam," but feel even weirder not mentioning it.

Ok, so this Billy Elliot number...the kid can dance (and the choreography is what I thought it'd be) but still not my favorite.

Hmmm, who is playing Elle Woods on tour? Interesting voice.

Awww, congrats to Jerry Herman's lifetime achievement award! So happy to see him!


HAIR!!! Love, love, love the revival! What energy and you an tell how much fun the entire Tribe is having! Love, love, love! How can you not have fun and not smile and love all of them? Sigh. Love!!!


Best Revival of A Musical

• HAIR (my prediction & my pick...after hearing the cast recording of HAIR and particularly so after hearing the cast recording of another show I initially though would win)!!! And for the record, I support equality too!!!
  

Best Leading Actress in a Musical

• Alice Ripley, next to normal (my prediction & my pick). Thank goodness! So well deserved!!! Ooh, did anyone see Sutton Foster? That looked a little bit like an annoyed face. Didn't it? A little? Yikes.

Best Leading Actor in a Musical

• David Alvarez, Trent Kowalik, and Kiril Kulish, Billy Elliot, The Musical (my prediction. Great acceptance speech by the trio!)

Wow, that's a lotta Frankie Vallis from Jersey Boys!

Best Musical

• Billy Elliot, The Musical (my prediction. Sad that it wasn't next to normal, but this was much expected. And wow, props to Elton John for acknowledging next to normal. Nice.)

Love NPH's 11 o'clock number. That was awesome!

GOODNIGHT!!!

LET THE SUN SHINE IN

I've never been a fan of Hair.  It was groundbreaking in its time, but I never really "felt" it all these years.  I sang the title song once in some performancey thing I did and I thought it was all a little too before my time.  I knew all of the songs that had become mainstream like "Aquarius," "Let the Sunshine In" and lesser known songs from the show (if any were considered "lesser known") like "Easy to Be Hard" and "Frank Mills" but the show as a whole never really did anything for me...until recently.

 

Hair has come back.  It is in its second revival and now playing 8-shows-a week at the Al Hirshfield on Broadway and the cast is killing it!  Wow.  Gavin Creel is a personal favorite of mine and I've been loosely following the show since its Central Park revival last year and even more closely since Creel took over the role of Claude from Jonathan Groff.  Cut to April 30, 2009 -- "the Tribe" from Hair appeared on the Letterman show recreating a 40-year-old performance from the original Broadway cast at the Ed Sullivan Theater.  To say they were just fantastic is an understatement.  I LOVED it and I've never loved Hair in any incarnation.

After seeing this performance, I turned the corner on my opinion of Hair.  Yesterday, the album dropped (in digital release) on iTunes and I have been ob-sessed with it.  For the first time, this show has a great energy and spunk to me...and I've never heard that from  any recording or performance before.  I've gotta say, there's nothing like Gavin Creel's voice - the man is amazing and his Tony nom is much deserved (as is Will Swenson's - LOVE him too)!  This is how much I like Hair: I'm actually rooting for it over my old favorite West Side Story (in the best revival of a musical category) in this year's awards.  If I can go there then it must be really special!

 

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