TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

USF Troupe Kicks Off Season With A Revival Of 'Hair'

ADVERTISEMENT

By KATHY L. GREENBERG

Tribune correspondent

Published: September 28, 2008

TAMPA - Dig out those beads and bellbottoms. The era of peace and love is upon us, and it's arriving in the form of "Hair: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical."

In a nod to the 40th anniversary of the show's Broadway debut, the University of South Florida's School of Theatre & Dance will revive the 1960s lovechild of writers Gerome Ragni and James Rado as its opening production of the season.

Andy Frye directs an all-student cast in the story about a tribe of young society dropouts in Greenwich Village in the mid-to-late 60s. Amid the drug culture and anti-Vietnam War sentiment, relationships develop as tribe members connect and consider their responsibility to themselves and others.

"Hair" revolutionized musical theater with its wild collage of music genres, ranging from folk to acid rock to rockabilly to pop. Its bold treatment of often-taboo topics for discussion - sexuality, war, peace, race - also challenged the rules of societal attitudes and behavior.

"The show is called 'Hair' because long hair at that point was part of the liberal counterculture," said Marc Powers, director of USF's College of Visual & Performing Arts' School of Theatre & Dance. "Long hair and beards were quick signs of recognition. Hair was a badge of being part of that culture, and the length of hair equaled the length of commitment."

USF's season at a glance:

• "The Glass Menagerie," Nov. 6-9, 12-16 -Tennessee Williams' classic drama about the Wingfield family. Tom recollects the repercussions of enduring an overbearing mother and a highly sensitive sister, who has a limp and a beloved glass collection. Williams was the master of dysfunctional family theater.

• "Bobby and the Chimps" (working title), Feb. 26-28, March 1, 4-8, 2009 - "Bobby and the Chimps" is playwright James Phillips' updated version of "Inherit the Wind," the stage (and later film) interpretation of the 1926 Scopes Monkey Trial and the creation-evolution controversy. The play is a contemporary twist on what would happen if a trial like Scopes v. State happened today.

Powers says the production is a work in progress and even the title may change before opening night.

Right now "it's called 'Bobby and the Chimps' because Phillips is fascinated with Bobby Kennedy. He looks at him as a populist Democrat in terms of believing in one man, one vote, and he's interested in what would have happened if he hadn't died. He molded the character in the style of Bobby Kennedy," Powers said.

• "Gilgamesh," April 2-5, 8-12, 2009 - Conceived and directed by visiting faculty member Izumi Ashizawa, "Gilgamesh" is based on the oldest myth in recorded history. It is a Babylonian creation story about man coming into being and finding his place on Earth.

"The production is very much movement theater-oriented, which is a contemporary approach. Think Cirque de Soleil without flying things. The base material is old, but the text becomes completely new," said Powers.

ON STAGE

Hair: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical

WHEN: Thursday through Oct. 12; 8 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, and 3 p.m. Sunday

WHERE: USF, School of Theatre & Dance, Theater I, 4202 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa; 813-974-2323, www.arts.usf.edu

HOW MUCH: $10-$18

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT