[Mb-hair] A Few Questions

[joseph.simon at fandm.edu]

Yeah.  I know, and there are plenty of african americans on campus 
here who would be more than happy to play the role.  I was just 
looking at what else has been done that's all.  thanks for all your 
help!

>import some joe
>but honestly if thats touchy
>bringing in black people
>why would you want to do hair?
>an all white hair?
>kind of an oxy moron
>anyway good luck joe
>----- Original Message -----
>From: <joseph.simon at fandm.edu>
>To: <mb-hair at islandlists.com>
>Sent: Wednesday, April 13, 2005 11:44 AM
>Subject: RE: [Mb-hair] A Few Questions
>
>
>>  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
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>>  Mb-hair at islandlists.com
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-- 
Joseph Simon

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