Downtown Tucsonan - December 2008 - (Page 6)

arts GL EAM , S T REAM & L E T T H E SU N S H I N E by Dolly Spalding he year 1968 manifested such profound contrasts that it has remained a seminal flash point of american culture. Its turbulence spawned tragedy and tolerated spectacle — assassinations, Vietnam, politics, protest marches and demonstrations, love-ins, freak-outs — and transfixed the attention of a bemused public. now, forty years later, hippie displays of racial and sexual integration, public nudity, recreational drug use, pacifism and a general sense of rebellion will make a dramatic reappearance when arizona theater company presents its 40th anniversary celebration of the musical Hair november 29 – december 20 at the temple of Music and art. Kish Finnegan, atc’s costume designer, questions whether the young people she’s outfitting for their encounter with the summer of Love fully understand the difference in sensibilities between then and now. she tells them, “no, you can’t wear your belly-button ring.” “Maybe we can paint a flower over that tattoo.” what it meant to be a teenager in the late 60s has no equivalent for today’s youthful singers and dancers – the world that, without computers, cell phones, e-mail, or wireless entertainment devices of any kind, was nonetheless united in a quest to “let it all hang out” and “tune in, turn on, drop out.” Free love, baby, and especially hair, as glorified in the upbeat anthem that is the title song of this paean to uncontrolled self-expression. self-expression was king in the era’s couture, Kish lovingly explains while showing off the gaudy costumes she has designed and created, purchased from thrift and vintage stores, or even had loaned to her, dredged up from the backs of friends’ closets (including a leather vest with knee-length fringe originally purchased in 1968 at a congress street shop by the atc costume shop’s manager). no mass market for any particular clothing “type” existed then, so creativity reigned supreme. the resulting spectacle of this wardrobe—its psychedelic colors, beads, feathers, fringe, and spangles —is enough to spark an acid flashback or inspire serious nostalgia for youthful excess. But fashion, hair, bling and body art aren’t the only considerations for these young performers. “could this happen to me?” some of them wonder, as on-stage they burn draft cards and philosophize about religion and astrology, war and peace, racial tension and political protest. ua junior musical theater major tamika Lawrence, playing a tribal member, says she finds parallels and history repeating itself, especially in the notion that lack of support for the war translates into antipatriotism. “I also like the simple humanity and honesty of the dialogue,” says Lawrence. still, this is no G-rated production. “I was initially taken aback by the prospect of being nude on-stage,” Lawrence admits. However, she now realizes that because the treatment of this aspect is so “tasteful and beautiful, it shows I am a human being. we are all very brave.” Lawrence’s bravery, along with that of locals Kyle Harris, stephanie Brown, Jacqueline Rez and Rebecca spigelman (ua alums), plus stephen turner will no doubt forge strong connections and emotional currents through the iconic songs, the heartfelt words and the high-energy dancing, as Hair once again unleashes its infectious kaleidoscope of exuberance and optimism in a time when an audience is bound to be more receptive than ever. T HAIR – The Ame rican Tribal L ove-Ro ck Mu s ical written by Gerome Ragni and James Rado with music by Galt Mcdermot; directed by david Ira Goldstein; choreography by Patricia wilcox; Music direction by christopher McGovern Temple of Music and Art, 330 S. Scott Ave. November 29 – December 20, 2008 PERFORMANCES: saturday, november 29, 8pm sunday, november 30, 7pm tuesday, december 2 – Friday, december 5, 7:30pm saturday, december 6, 2pm sunday, december 7, 2 & 7pm tuesday, december 9, 7:30pm wednesday, december 10, 2 & 7:30pm thursday, december 11 - Friday, december 12, 7:30pm saturday, december 13, 4 & 8pm sunday, december 14, 2pm wednesday, december 17 – thursday, december 18, 2 & 7:30pm Friday, december 19, 7:30pm saturday, december 20, 2 & 8pm tickets $31 with discounts available. atc Box office – 622-2823. 6 downtown tucsonan.december.08

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Downtown Tucsonan - December 2008

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