Maybe it's me. And I don't mean 'all-about-me'---now I know how my parents felt as pivotal moments were reflected upon 25, 40, or 50 years later. It's not really about where one was when, yet more about do our hopes and dreams make a difference along the way.
October 17th marks the 40th Anniversary of HAIR's off-broadway premiere.
Brainstorm of James Rado and Gerome Ragno, the team created an American Tribal Rock-Love Musical which follows a group of bohemian activists living together in a NYC apartment.
A cultural shock to most people living outside NY, HAIR introduced everyone else to serious political activism and rebellion focused on the Viet Nam War and conservatism--along with the sexual revolution, free love, different strokes for different folks, be-ins, and hash.
I admit to having no clue . . .
Even as a budding theatre major listening to the original cast album in 1968, I couldn't imagine myself performing nude on stage. As for all the rest, I was still innocent though enamored with HAIR's lyrics and music. HAIR had created a furor throughout the U.S. and abroad by the time I heard the album, mostly due to the show's nudity, language, racial integration, and assorted political statements.
Rado and Ragno's creative spark igniting off-Broadway in 1967 continues to stir new generations around the world today with one musical tribute after another.
More than 35 songs tell the tribe's story:
* Aquarius
* Donna
* Hashish
* Sodomy
* Colored Spade
* Manchester England
* Manhattan
* I'm Black
* Ain't Got No
* I Believe in Love
* Ain't Got No Grass
* Dead End (cut during run and re-added)
* Air
* Initials (L.B.J)
* I Got Life
* Going Down
* Hair
* My Conviction
* Easy to Be Hard
* Don't Put It Down
* Frank Mills
* Be-In (Hare Krishna)
* Where Do I Go?
* Electric Blues
* Oh Great God of Power
* Manchester England (Reprise)
* Black Boys
* White Boys
* Walking in Space
* Abie Baby
* Three-Five-Zero-Zero
* What a Piece of Work Is Man
* Good Morning, Starshine
* The Bed
* The Flesh Failures (Let the Sunshine In)
A few notable "tribe" members from the original cast and other productions:
James Rado
Gerome Ragni
Melba Moore
Diane Keaton
Paul Jabara
Ted Lange
Keith Carradine
Barry McGuire
Kenny Seymour (Little Anthony & The Imperials)
Joe Butler (The Lovin' Spoonfull)
Peppy Castro (The Blues Magoos)
Heather MacRae
Ben Vereen
Meat Loaf
Ted Neeley
Jennifer Warnes
Dobie Gray
Joe Mantegna
Elaine Paige
Marsha Hunt
Donna Summer
John Waters
Harvey Fierstein
Jennifer Hudson
Rupaul
Michael McKean
Trailer of 1979 film version directed by Milos Forman and starring Treat Williams, Beverly D'Angelo, and John Savage:
