[Mb-hair] A Few Questions

[joseph.simon at fandm.edu]

Yes, I meant gender switching in regards to the diversity problem. 
Thank you very much for you suggestions.  My problem lies 
specifically in African Americans, I have enough people of color for 
a good tribe, there just really is not an African American influence 
in the organization I am a part of.  Thanks again for your help.


>Hi Joe, and welcome to the Hair list.
>
>It would be hard to do a production of Hair without at least a small 
>amount of racial diversity in the cast. I have seen many productions 
>that had only a few people of color in the Tribe, and seen that 
>work, although the strongest productions are often those with a 
>larger mix. There are songs and lines in Hair that reference racial 
>equality, and this is one of Hair's messages. Even such simple lines 
>as in Claude's hallucination when a black man and a white man take 
>each others arms and say "Black and white go nice together, don't 
>they?" would have to be cut or changed. Not to mention the song 
>Colored Spade.
>
>Certain roles, and the songs those characters sing, are written 
>specifically to be played by African American actors and actresses, 
>while others are not specified. I have seen success with gender 
>switching in the role of Hud. Delores Hall understudied that role on 
>Broadway, and was good when she played it. Hud isn't necessarily a 
>man, but he is most definitely black. Your problem is not an 
>uncommon one, sadly, and I believe some companies have tried casting 
>this role with a caucasian actor. I would have a hard time thinking 
>that could work, but perhaps others here who have struggled with 
>this situation can tell you more about it than I can, never having 
>seen it done.
>
>There are other ways to fill in your company - perhaps you could 
>open auditions to faculty and staff? To people outside the school 
>community because of these special circumstances? I would strongly 
>encourage you to try and find some ethnic diversity if you are 
>mounting a production of Hair.
>
>I am not sure what you are asking in your last paragraph, when you 
>speak of vocal or gender switching. Do you mean to solve this 
>problem, or in the show in general?
>
>Nina
>The Hair Archives
>http://www.michaelbutler.com/hair/holding/Hair.html
>
>
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-- 
Joseph Simon

"It is not in the stars to hold our destiny, but in ourselves."
				-Shakespeare