Based in the 60’s— the hippie counterculture, the sexual revolution and anti-war protests are reaching a critical mass— the characters in Hair: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical are all too familiar.
Nearly 50 years old, local theater group Stone Productions brings the sense of community and rebellion in the musical to the Collingwood Arts Center during the weekend of August 12-14.
Hair raising emotions
“I’ve seen Hair an outrageous amount of times,” says the musical’s director, Jaymes Mull. “It’s one of my favorites. My mom was born in the sixties, and lived that whole scenario. My mom and aunt grew up listening to the music, and my mom raised me on it too so I heard it all the time. It’s been a part of my life.” The rock-musical has played a significant role in American culture, maintaining a familiar message of rebellion and community throughout time and place.
Electric Blues
Stone Production’s last musical was Spring Awakening, another rock musical which deals with sexual exploration. Following that rebellious production, the theater group deliberated about what to produce next. Mull asked “‘Why not Hair? No one has done it in a long time.’ So we looked into it, and luckily it was available to perform!”
“The finale of Act One, the song ‘Where Do I Go?’ is a huge moment of vulnerability in the show,” said Mull. Adding to that vulnerability, the actors will stick to the controversial original performance, so there will be nudity on stage. Mull and team go the extra mile for each performance, saying “It’s necessary, because it’s such a powerful moment, with everyone on stage, and we do it in an artistic and inoffensive way.”
Walking In Space
This devotion to the artistry extends to the performance space in the Collingwood Art Center. Mull and crew have performed there before, and grew to love it. This production will be on the Main Stage, which is beautiful but doesn’t get used much, according to Mull, “It’s a raw and organic theater, with the curtains and the exposed pipe above it, and I thought it would be perfect for the show.”
The timelessness of Hair mirrors the CAC, adds Mull: “I love the history of CAC, and all the eras that it’s gone through. Plus it’s this gorgeous place, hidden away from most people” The soul of Hair shines through in the CAC’s resident artists, who Mull described as “like the tribe; these like-minded kids who have a story to tell with their art.”
Tickets for the three shows at the CAC are currently available online. Be a part of the tribe, and experience your local community through the music of the sixties.
8pm | Friday, August 12 & Saturday, August 13 | 3pm | Sunday, August 14
Collingwood Arts Center | 2413 Collingwood Blvd.
stoneproductionshair.bpt.me | stoneproductions419.com
