Theater Arts professor Danny Scheie directs HAIR, the classic rock musical featuring a large cast of over 50 spirited students, all eager to sing, dance, and "Let The Sun Shine In," beginning Friday, May 14, at the UCSC Mainstage Theater
Originally produced on Broadway in 1968 in the midst of a major social, cultural, and sexual revolution, HAIR is now back on Broadway in its first large-scale revival. That production is still running a year later, having won a Tony Award last season.
UCSC's show features an 8-piece rock band, led by musical director Colin Hannon.
The band (all current students or recent graduates from the UCSC Music Department) includes keyboard, guitars, percussion, drums, horns, bass, clarinet and flute. It will back up the cast in some of the most memorable songs of the last 40 years: "Let the Sun Shine In," "Easy To Be Hard," "Good Morning Starshine," "Aquarius," and the infectious title song, "Hair."
Scheie and his team of faculty and student designers offer a production that looks at the vibrancy of youth, pacifism, and counter-culture, independent of the boundaries of time. "It cannot just be a museum-like celebration of the '60s," he noted.
"The original spirit of the musical, artistic, cultural, and political phenomenon of 'Hair' is still present at UCSC," said Scheie. "I would not direct this piece anywhere else."
HAIR is produced by the UCSC Theater Arts Department, with additional support from College Nine, College Ten, Cowell College, Crown College, Kresge College, Merrill College, Porter College, and Stevenson College. The show contains mature themes and nudity.
Tickets are available at santacruztickets.com or by calling the UCSC Ticket Office at (831) 459-2159.
For more information, go to the Arts Division web site or contact Sabrina Eastwood at sab@ucsc.edu or (831) 459-4731.
