It's a Small World

If you're a young and talented Broadway star, that is.

Ever wonder what happens to your favorite performer when he or she leaves a show? For some, they don't go very far.

Take a look at the new Broadway musical American Idiot. John Gallagher Jr., who played the unhappy Moritz in Spring Awakening, is currently starring as another angsty teenager. His love interest in the show is performed by Rebecca Naomi Jones, who you may have seen in Passing Strange.

Remember Sonny from In the Heights, played by Robin de Jesus (he also appeared in the musical theatre movie Camp)? You can catch him in the new Broadway production of La Cage Aux Folles.

Karen Olivio, who played Karen in In the Heights, has been appearing for over a year as Anita in West Side Story.

And we can't ignore the slighly larger move of the two ill-fated lovers from Spring Awakening, Wendla and Melchior, played by Lea Michelle and Jonathan Groff. Chances are you've seen them on the silver screen as they sing and dance their way through prime time on the new hit TV show Glee...coincidentally (or not), their characters are dealing with some of the same issues as their Spring Awakening characters did onstage.

Is it hard to see an actor perform a different role than what you are used to? Tell us in the comments!

Hair

by Nat Marcus

I was totally unfamiliar with the musical Hair until seeing it. I knew that there were hippies, a whole lot of flowers, and most obviously, a lot of hair. My preconceptions all turned out to be correct, but it was a musical that struck me in many more ways than just beautiful flowing locks.

The show follows a Tribe of young bohemians camping out in Central Park, practicing the ways of love, peace, and tolerance. Claude, the troubled leader of this group of hippies, serves as the narrator. The songs speak of the political and social problems the activist youth face in the 1960’s fighting against sexual and cultural repression, but also of the love that’s spread in the Age of Aquarius and the mind-opening hallucinogenics that are shared throughout the Tribe. As the pressure to join the army fighting in the Vietnam War increases and the Tribe begins to fall apart, Claude wonders if fighting for one’s identity at all times is better than having no identity at all. One thing that sets Hair apart from other musicals is the lack of dialogue between songs; instead, the plot is almost entirely moved forward by song. I enjoyed simply listening to the psychedelic melodies the cast sings to develop the story (and was spared from the agonizingly corny musical acting). One of the most unique about the show is the energy that the ensemble brings onstage and reatins throughout the whole musical. This energy is brought into the audience as well - during some songs, the Tribe comes down into the seats and dances with audience members, which adds a whole new layer of excitement to the performances.

Although Hair takes place more than 40 years ago, I can relate to the desire to fight against repression and fight for what I think is right. It is a show that I would recommend to anyone in the mood for an uplifting, funny, and powerful musical. Especially if you're not usually into musicals (like me), Hair will make you think differently.

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

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.

Hair

By Torffick Abdul

Are you…free?

Hair is a musical about a group of young hippies living in New York City during the 1960s. The story intertwines the lives of Claude, a hippie seeking his rightful place in the world, and his friends and family. On the streets of New York, this group of hip­pies fight for civil rights at home and for an end to the Vietnam War overseas. Inside themselves, they struggle to find a balance between identity, the hippie lifestyle and the responsibility to one’s family and one’s country.

Hair is a great way to experience history while listening to a catchy mix of rock and roll. I recommend this musical to everyone — though, there is a scene con­taining nudity that might not be appropriate for all ages.

I left the theatre with a newfound respect of the hip­pie culture. After seeing Hair, all I wanted to do was grow my hair out, sing and shake my head frantically! Who knew a musical named after the elongated silky strands growing from the human scalp could be so inspira­tional?

HOW TO SEE THE SHOW: $25 lottery rush beginning 2 ½ hours before the show & $25 standing room tickets when performance is sold out • Al Hirschfeld Theatre, 302 W. 45th St. Visit www.hairbroadway.com for more information.