Theatre UCF is letting the sunshine into the main stage in their fall production of “Hair.”
“Hair” is a tribal love-rock musical based off of the hippie counterculture and sexual revolution of the 1960’s. It follows “tribe” in New York City whose many musical numbers deal with the anti-Vietnam peace movement and sexuality.
“The show’s themes include sexuality, pacifism, drug use, religion, race, environmentalism, and other issues that are still topical today. The fact that the characters in the play are all young adults makes the play particularly appealing for the college-aged students who are in UCF’s production,” according to a release.
This show is very familiar to Director Earl D. Weaver, who played the role of Claude in 1984.
“Having grown up as a ‘baby boomer’ and child of the 1960s, I had a deep connection to the musical’s themes and message,” Weaver said in the release. “I got to work with a group of like-minded performers my same age as well, and the experience changed my life. I left that production with a deeply-felt sense of love for humanity and an understanding that as an artist I had a responsibility to affect social change in the world around me.”
“There are so many issues in the play that are a sharp punch to the gut,” said senior Tyler Beauregard, who plays the role of Berger.
“It is a good opportunity for everyone to sit back and really get what’s going on in the world. I can’t believe it’s been this many years [since Hair first debuted] and these things are still happening,” Beauregard said in the release.
Since “Hair” deals with social consciousness and community, Weaver and the cast want their production to give back to fellow Knights.
The cast and crew are asking patrons to please bring a non-perishable item or monetary donation to the show for Knights Pantry. A list of items in demand for donations can be found on the Knights Pantry website.
Patrons can also help and decorate the theatre by printing out and coloring a black and white Hair poster. All 11 x 17 or smaller posters will be displayed in the lobby.
Show dates:
Oct. 15, 16, 17, 22, 23, 24 at 8 p.m.
Oct. 18, 25 at 2 p.m.
$20 standard ticket, $10 with UCF ID.
Main Stage, 4000 Central Florida Blvd., Orlando.
For more information on Hair visit Theatre UCF.
Photos by Jenn Allen.
