When Hair, the musical, first went on tour in the '60s/'70s, audiences reacted in the extremes. In London, royalty danced onstage; meanwhile, in Acapulco, Mexico, government officials padlocked the theater to protect their city's youth. San Francisco hippies mediated with the cast while Ohioans threw bombs at the theater. Go figure. When the revival Broadway tour opens at the Arsht Center next week, however, we're guessing the reactions will be much more tame.
Yes, the production still boasts some nudity, but you'll likely to catch more T&A flipping through cable TV. And for generations born eerily close to the turn of the 21st century, some might mistake a stage full of long-haired crooners in flowing clothes as a Polyphonic Spree concert. Regardless, we're giving away two tickets to opening night of Tony Award-winning Hair: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical.
For many, the rock musical will feel like flashback. It follows a
posse of hippies saying no to draft cards and Vietnam, and saying yes
to free love, hallucinogens, peace, and sexual freedom. At the center is
Claude, an Oklahoman who moves to New York and starts hanging out with a
bunch of hippies. He falls for Shelia, who's rebelling against her
bourgeoisie family, but soon leaves to fight in the Vietnam War.
Although musicians such as John Fogerty and John Lennon are rumored to
have loathed the soundtrack, Hair's songs continue to be the main allure
of the production. The two acts have dozens of songs, including popular
"Aquarius," "Let the Sun Shine In," and "Hair."
Keep an ear out for
"Hashish" with lyrics Cigarettes, shoe polish, cough syrup,
peyote / Equinol, dexamil, camposine, Chemadrine / Thorazine, trilophon,
dexadrine, benzedrine, methedrine / S-E-X and Y-O-U, Wow! and "Sodomy"
with the chorus Masturbation/Can be fun/Join the holy orgy/Kama
Sutra/Everyone!
To win two free tickets to opening night on Tuesday, leave a comment on
Cultist's Facebook (you must "like" the page first, blame
Zuckerberg) with a new protest slogan for 2011 (e.g. Lay Don't
Slay, Save Water Shower with a Friend, Boobs Not Bombs, etc). We'll pick a random
winner on Wednesday at 4 p.m. The tickets will be held for you
at the box office before the 8 p.m. showtime. on Tuesday, May 31.
Catch Hair: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical at the Arsht Center's
Ziff Davis Opera House (1300 Biscayne Blvd. Miami) from May 31 to June
5. While the love may be free, tickets cost $25 to $69. Call
305-949-6722 or visit arshtcenter.org.
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