once upon a lookin for donna
An Update on HAIR: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical
This is show is living at the forefront of my brain all hours of the day. I dream about it. My iPod does that psychic shuffle to the various soundtracks. I left the ol' NYC for a few days, and was brought to a fantastic record store that had about 10 different versions on LP, and although I don't even own a record player, I left the store with three of them. Consider me the proud owner of the French, Japanese, and original (pre-'Fresh Hair' mix) British cast. I've begun bidding on turntables on eBay and craigslist. My "decorative" record collection has grown too large to justify the dust they collect.
To give you an idea of just how many recordings there are of "Hair" - although the French record claims there are actually six hundred and eight - check out this guy's blog.
On the artistic front, the show is practically assembling itself. I've discovered a handful of actors I don't know and thrown them in the mix with my nearest and dearest, and the bonding was rather instantaneous. The last two rehearsals were tricky at first, as half my cast is currently rehearsing for "The Bride of Olneyville Square," a.k.a. The Final Play That I Am Not In, and this show is a mammoth two-act drama. When I come breezing in for one or two-hour rehearsals for "Fiat," I run into Olneyville friends of mine...who have been there for six or seven hours already. The lobby of NP looks like a base camp. When I come in to say hi to Sessoms or Daisy or Boss, others greet me like I'm a stranger from a far-away land.
"How aaaare you? Oh my god, I haven't seen you in foreeeeevvverrrrr."
And it's sort of true...they've been in that theatre for the last three weeks.
But I digress. HAIR.
On the business front, this is my first time assembling a show with a real budget. Not just $100 in singles and quarters that I raised off a bake sale (true story - that was the budget for "Alice through the Subway System" in its' first incarnation in Woodstock). I am learning quickly that had I had ANY time whatsoever during the earlier part of this year, I should've been fundraising for this thing. Because the more elaborate the set gets, and the more shows we wanna do...the more I keep hearing that cash register noise in my head. However, I have (and here comes a little 'Secret' brainwashing for ya...) UNWAVERING FAITH that I will accumulate this budget. I have friends who are helping to fundraise - as much as they can, as they are still trapped in Olneyville without a life raft - and a mother who is helping a lot...last night we compiled about 200 addresses of people we know, and love....and will therefore hit up for money.
While Swank can't bring me to any of the official Hair gatherings he attends (or maybe he's just afraid I'll become like his mother and pull out embarassing photos from First Year?), I am brought news of L.A. productions, Michael Butler blogs, and original cast info...which I sort of salivate over, jealously. At least until D'Amato calls to answer the Aluminum Coxman question, and we wind up delving into the details of the show, and by the end of the chat, oh, how I love my hippie life. Seriously, thank heavens for the generosity of Anthony D'Amato. Go see Hedwig tonight. Go to his website. Build him a shrine, and leave him guitar-and-platform-shoe offerings upon it.
I immediately call Man and ask him if we can rake the stage. He says:
"Fuck it, man, I'd love to. Let's kick up the budget and find $30,000."
This might as well be "a million-zillion"...but you know...UNWAVERING FAITH, man. I'll find it someplace.
This is show is living at the forefront of my brain all hours of the day. I dream about it. My iPod does that psychic shuffle to the various soundtracks. I left the ol' NYC for a few days, and was brought to a fantastic record store that had about 10 different versions on LP, and although I don't even own a record player, I left the store with three of them. Consider me the proud owner of the French, Japanese, and original (pre-'Fresh Hair' mix) British cast. I've begun bidding on turntables on eBay and craigslist. My "decorative" record collection has grown too large to justify the dust they collect.
To give you an idea of just how many recordings there are of "Hair" - although the French record claims there are actually six hundred and eight - check out this guy's blog.
On the artistic front, the show is practically assembling itself. I've discovered a handful of actors I don't know and thrown them in the mix with my nearest and dearest, and the bonding was rather instantaneous. The last two rehearsals were tricky at first, as half my cast is currently rehearsing for "The Bride of Olneyville Square," a.k.a. The Final Play That I Am Not In, and this show is a mammoth two-act drama. When I come breezing in for one or two-hour rehearsals for "Fiat," I run into Olneyville friends of mine...who have been there for six or seven hours already. The lobby of NP looks like a base camp. When I come in to say hi to Sessoms or Daisy or Boss, others greet me like I'm a stranger from a far-away land.
"How aaaare you? Oh my god, I haven't seen you in foreeeeevvverrrrr."
And it's sort of true...they've been in that theatre for the last three weeks.
But I digress. HAIR.
On the business front, this is my first time assembling a show with a real budget. Not just $100 in singles and quarters that I raised off a bake sale (true story - that was the budget for "Alice through the Subway System" in its' first incarnation in Woodstock). I am learning quickly that had I had ANY time whatsoever during the earlier part of this year, I should've been fundraising for this thing. Because the more elaborate the set gets, and the more shows we wanna do...the more I keep hearing that cash register noise in my head. However, I have (and here comes a little 'Secret' brainwashing for ya...) UNWAVERING FAITH that I will accumulate this budget. I have friends who are helping to fundraise - as much as they can, as they are still trapped in Olneyville without a life raft - and a mother who is helping a lot...last night we compiled about 200 addresses of people we know, and love....and will therefore hit up for money.
While Swank can't bring me to any of the official Hair gatherings he attends (or maybe he's just afraid I'll become like his mother and pull out embarassing photos from First Year?), I am brought news of L.A. productions, Michael Butler blogs, and original cast info...which I sort of salivate over, jealously. At least until D'Amato calls to answer the Aluminum Coxman question, and we wind up delving into the details of the show, and by the end of the chat, oh, how I love my hippie life. Seriously, thank heavens for the generosity of Anthony D'Amato. Go see Hedwig tonight. Go to his website. Build him a shrine, and leave him guitar-and-platform-shoe offerings upon it.
I immediately call Man and ask him if we can rake the stage. He says:
"Fuck it, man, I'd love to. Let's kick up the budget and find $30,000."
This might as well be "a million-zillion"...but you know...UNWAVERING FAITH, man. I'll find it someplace.
posted by Maggie Moon at
7:06 AM
1 Comments:
Sorry we're still floundering in Olneyville. It'll be worth it when you see it. I promise.
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home