Hair Presented By: Alesa McGregor
The Musical 1967/68- On the Stage1979- On the Screen
The Musical 1967/68- On the Stage1979- On the Screen Book & lyrics: James Rado and Gerome Ragni Music: Galt MacDermot Premiere: Shakespeare Public Theatre in 1967 (NYC) Broadway Premiere: April 29, 1968-July 1, 1972 Multiple Tony nominations (2009 win- musical revival) Director: Milos Forman Choreography: Twyla Tharp Primary Film Locations: Central Park & Washington Square Park Golden Globe Nominations Generally positive reviews
Historical Context Vietnam War
Historical Context 1967/68- On the Stage1979- On the Screen Vietnam War: : Loving v. Virginia, Summer of Love, Human Be-In 1968: assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr (4.4) & Robert Kennedy (6.6) 1968: Paris student riots (May) 1969: Greenwich Village’s Stonewall Riots 1972: Watergate Scandal : End of the U.S. Military Draft 1974: Nixon resignation
Adaptation Much more “far out” including a space alien as Claude Scenic Design: Ming Cho Lee Many negative reviews Original (pre-Broadway) version
Adaptation Addition of 13 songs Claude as human Positive reviews & a four-year run International tours Introduction of nudity Audience “Be-In” Broadway Version
Adaptation The Tribe – Claude (leader) – Sheila (NYU student- activist) – Berger (free-spirit) Draft-dodging Free-love, nudity as protest Unseen death of Claude Broadway Version
Adaptation Elimination of 11 songs Change in character background: Claude & Sheila Alternate ending Nudity: swimming, joking More specific, linear plot-structure Film Version
Performance as Protest: Stage Non-linear plot Evolving, improvisation- based script Multi-point staging focus Abstract Setting Involvement of the audience (Be-In) Addressing current events Screen Stage vs. Screen So HOW are these methods incorporated on the screen? – Realistic setting (the script is “opened up”) – Change in primary character – Recreation of a time in history – Religious allusion – Be-In?
Let the Sun Shine In!
Video Clips 1969: rnI rnI 1969 (1:30 secs): HCM HCM 2009 revival: 9ck 9ck