Walking through the winding corridors behind the Concert Hall in the College of Fine Arts, the beat of the jazz-rock melodies produced by the BU on Broadway cast of ‘HAIR’ echoes drum beats and trumpeted notes behind the harmonious blending of voices. The room is filled with 21 diligent cast members, part of the orchestra pit’ and the directors ‘-‘- a panel of judges sitting quietly behind a long desk. Every single musician, both the instrumentalists and the vocalists, has power over his respective instrument, a raw talent concerning diction and volume. Army pants, vests, beaded jewelry, tattered jeans and lots of hair’ ‘ complete this dress rehearsal, making the ultimate show day look promising.
Music direcor Jamon Maple (CFA ’09) and actor/ director/choreographer Philip Byron (COM ’09) reunite for the production of ‘HAIR’ after last year’s masterpiece production of ‘Reefer Madness.” Assistant music director Jonathan Brenner (CFA ’12) and stage manager Jill Angelone, (CAS ’11) also team up to help bring the performance to life this weekend.
The show promises much and is sure to be worth more than the small entry fee of $10 ($7 with student ID). Tickets can be purchased at the George Sherman Union this week or at the door; however, waiting is not recommended, the choreography, energy and power of show will surely pack the house. The crowd will enjoy such classics as ‘Aquarius’ and ‘Let the Sun Shine In’ powered by strong vocals and accented by a trumpet.
‘I did do a lot of choreography. I have the cast, with their bodies, kind of make an object. It is artistic. I am the anti-YouTube,’ Byron said.
As each director makes corrections during one of the final rehersals, the actors and actresses adapt to their demands to perfect the show for this weekend’s three performances at the Tsai Performance Center: Friday at 8 p.m. and Saturday at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.
‘You must paint the text with your singing, putting that deep connection with what you are singing into a performance [that’s] going to make this absolutely incredible,’ Maple said.
The musical pokes fun, yet questions major themes of racial stereotypes, religious devotions, drug use, the politics of war, peace and love. The script introduces three main characters: Donna, George Berger and Claud. These characters, part of a large hippie peace-loving tribe, protest in rallies against the war and experience a frightful reality as the government begins drafting the men of the tribe. Sophomore Chris Behmke, who starred in last semester’s ‘Cabaret,’ plays Berger, while sophomore Nikki Sorrentino plays Donna. Senior Alex Shuck adds his vocal talents to the leading role as Claud.
‘All of you are Broadway. Any of you could be on Broadway right now. And I believe that,’ Maple said at the end of the final rehearsal.
And they very well could be.
Make sure to catch future Broadway stars at a fraction of the price in ‘HAIR’ this weekend at one of its three Friday and Saturday show times and look for a review of the performance in next week’s issue of The MUSE.
This is an account occasionally used by the Daily Free Press editors to post archived posts from previous iterations of the site or otherwise for special circumstance publications. See authorship info on the byline at the top of the page.
