Hair

by Christa Tandana

It’s 1967 - a year of racism, poverty, drugs, sex and riots. The United States is in the middle of the Vietnam War. The youth of America are burning their draft cards and…growing out their hair. 

Hair follows a group of hippies living in New York in 1967. We focus on Claude, a young person searching for the greater meaning in life. He and his peers live a lifestyle that is a rebellion against injustices that they see in society. One of their acts of rebellion includes growing out their hair; Claude explains that long hair symbolizes freedom and liberation from society’s expectations.

 
The actors break the fourth wall by incorporating the audience into the play and acknowledging their presence. The cast often mingles with the crowd during musical numbers, even in the balcony. The band gets kickin’ and the hippies start dancin’ with classic songs like “Hair”, and “Let the Sun Shine In”. You can’t help but want to dance. They even invite the audience to dance with them onstage at the end!

Despite the amount of fun in the show, there are definitely serious moments and political commentary woven into the show. In the song, “Electric Blues”, they sing, “They chain ya and brainwash ya when you least suspect it. They feed ya mass media. The age is electric.” This refers to the use of media to brainwash the public.

 
From long hair to drug trips to burning draft cards, Hair shows the counterculture in a way that makes the show about more than just hippies. Hair has come to symbolize standing up for justice. The cast has even appeared at various rallies for things like marriage equality. 

Hair first opened on Broadway in 1967, yet its message resounds with fresh meaning and shows similarities to our own era. This production allows for a newer generation that didn’t live through the “hippie era” to experience it first-hand. 

HOW TO SEE THE SHOW: $25 lottery rush 2 hours before show; $25 student rush • Al Hirschfeld Theatre, 302 W. 45^th St.

Star of Superior Donuts talks to The NY Times!

Remember the cover of our fall issue and interview with the star of Superior Donuts Jon Michael Hill? (Click here to read it).

Well, The New York Times is following in our footsteps! Read their interview with Jon here!

After Miss Julie

by Sara Aronbayev

Set in England in 1945, After Miss Julie is a witty play about the timeless issues of sex, class and power.

Christine and John both work for Julie’s father and are also about to be married. Things start to get heated when Julie starts flirting with John. John has always been in love with Julie, but since he is Julie’s servant and part of the lower class, it’s impossible for them to be together. However, that doesn’t stop them from acting on their feelings.

Sienna Miller makes her Broadway debut in After Miss Julie. Her portrayal of Julie is outstanding – she naturally falls into her character and brought perspective to the world of the rich and beautiful. John, played by Jonny Lee Miller, really unveils the mind of a man after a one-night stand.

The set of the play is the kitchen of a large country estate. It’s dark, yet clean. Everything is where it was supposed to be. Since the setting was in the late 1940’s, the dishes had a slight early European feel. This particular choice showed how similar two different worlds can be. For example, John and Christine are both poor while Julie is rich, but they all still want love. 

Since the play is set in England, the accent was a must. However, it was a strong one and some of the words were a bit hard to understand. Many of the jokes had a European twist and were slightly confusing. 

After Miss Julie shows that sometimes true love has to wait and that looks can be deceiving. With its wit and charm and I would recommend After Miss Julie to young adults and above. 

HOW TO SEE THE SHOW: $26.50 general rush • American Airlines Theatre, 227 W. 42nd St.

Bye Bye Birdie

by Desmond Sam

Some musicals are meant to teach a moral and leave you thinking. Other musicals are meant to just make you smile and brighten your day. Bye Bye Birdie is one of those musicals. If you ever need a pick me up, like a cup of hot chocolate or a comfy couch near a warm fireplace, Bye Bye Birdie is definitely the right cure.

Bye Bye Birdie is about singer Conrad Birdie (think Elvis), an out of control celebrity and an icon to teenagers, who is drafted into the army. His manager, Albert Peterson, wants Conrad to have his last kiss before leaving for war with a random fan on the Ed Sullivan Show. Kim MacAfee, president of the Conrad Birdie fan club, is chosen and the news turns her world upside down. The epicenter of this show was the romance between Albert and his secretary, Rose. Though Albert’s crazy mother and the ridiculous Conrad did get in the way, Albert and Rose prove that true love can never be broken.

There were many elements that popped out to me. The best part was the singing and dancing–the harmonies were beautiful and the heart that was put into each dance move was overwhelming. The set was amazing–everything moved! The stage became a girl’s bedroom, a train station (with a moving train), a living room and a TV studio all in the first act. The bright colors of the costumes lit up the stage and added to the feel of the musical. The teenagers’ costumes shifted to black, red and blue jeans when transitioning to night. It was breathtaking and showed that the teenagers were ready for rebellion. The stand out performance was John Stamos as Albert. He was a strong and powerful leading man, who took control of the musical adding to its humor. 

Bye Bye Birdie was fun, hilarious and entertaining. I recommend this musical to anyone and everyone. Sometimes you need to smile and laugh, especially in the society we live in, so come and enjoy Bye Bye Birdie. I promise you won’t regret it.

HOW TO SEE THE SHOW: Half-price student rush at half-hour; $26.50 general rush. Henry Miler's Theatre, 124 W. 43rd St.