[Mb-hair] Re: Some questions
lilacamy11 at aol.com
lilacamy11 at aol.com
Thu Apr 14 10:31:56 PDT 2005
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.
When I was in HAIR, we didn't have a black male. Instead of gender switching we played it as a white man who was very sympathetic to the black cause and related to blacks. It went well... not perfect, and we had to change a few things around and cut some things, but it went ok....
- Amy
"Life is around you and in you... Let the Sunshine In!"
- from HAIR (the musical)
"in time of lilacs who proclaim/ the aim of waking is to dream" - e.e. cummings
-----Original Message-----
From: mb-hair-request at islandlists.com
To: mb-hair at islandlists.com
Sent: Wed, 13 Apr 2005 12:00:07 -0700
Subject: Mb-hair Digest, Vol 10, Issue 16
Send Mb-hair mailing list submissions to
mb-hair at islandlists.com
To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
http://www.islandlists.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mb-hair
or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
mb-hair-request at islandlists.com
You can reach the person managing the list at
mb-hair-owner at islandlists.com
When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
than "Re: Contents of Mb-hair digest..."
Today's Topics:
1. RE: A Few Questions (joseph.simon at fandm.edu)
2. Re: A Few Questions (joseph.simon at fandm.edu)
3. Re: A Few Questions (richard haase)
4. Re: A Few Questions (richard haase)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Message: 1
Date: Wed, 13 Apr 2005 11:44:22 -0400
From: joseph.simon at fandm.edu
Subject: RE: [Mb-hair] A Few Questions
To: mb-hair at islandlists.com
Message-ID: <a06210203be82ee25f25a@[155.68.108.243]>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset=us-ascii
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
>
>
>_______________________________________________
>Mb-hair mailing list
>Mb-hair at islandlists.com
>http://www.islandlists.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mb-hair
--
Joseph Simon
"It is not in the stars to hold our destiny, but in ourselves."
-Shakespeare
------------------------------
Message: 2
Date: Wed, 13 Apr 2005 12:11:18 -0400
From: joseph.simon at fandm.edu
Subject: Re: [Mb-hair] A Few Questions
To: mb-hair at islandlists.com
Message-ID: <a06210204be82f4ed8964@[155.68.108.243]>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset=us-ascii
There are plenty of black people in PA, yes. But, I'm doing a
student run production. So, I'm talking specifically about the
student body on my campus. Sorry I didn't make that clear earlier,
so that's where the casting gets tricky.
>joe there are plenty of black people in PA
>also you can have ny or philly auditions for a day etc
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Little Birdie" <lbirdie at hotmail.com>
>To: <mb-hair at islandlists.com>
>Sent: Wednesday, April 13, 2005 11:36 AM
>Subject: RE: [Mb-hair] A Few Questions
>
>
>> 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
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Mb-hair mailing list
>> Mb-hair at islandlists.com
>> http://www.islandlists.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mb-hair
>
>_______________________________________________
>Mb-hair mailing list
>Mb-hair at islandlists.com
>http://www.islandlists.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mb-hair
--
Joseph Simon
"It is not in the stars to hold our destiny, but in ourselves."
-Shakespeare
------------------------------
Message: 3
Date: Wed, 13 Apr 2005 14:34:47 -0400
From: "richard haase" <hotprojects at nyc.rr.com>
Subject: Re: [Mb-hair] A Few Questions
To: <mb-hair at islandlists.com>
Message-ID: <000801c54057$7887df30$6e436c42 at hotprojects>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
joe with most colleges though
if the vast majority of the production is student body
they will let you bring in people a few etc
its par for the course
and there arent many opportunities
you will even get people to come in for a student production
----- Original Message -----
From: <joseph.simon at fandm.edu>
To: <mb-hair at islandlists.com>
Sent: Wednesday, April 13, 2005 12:11 PM
Subject: Re: [Mb-hair] A Few Questions
> There are plenty of black people in PA, yes. But, I'm doing a
> student run production. So, I'm talking specifically about the
> student body on my campus. Sorry I didn't make that clear earlier,
> so that's where the casting gets tricky.
>
>
> >joe there are plenty of black people in PA
> >also you can have ny or philly auditions for a day etc
> >----- Original Message -----
> >From: "Little Birdie" <lbirdie at hotmail.com>
> >To: <mb-hair at islandlists.com>
> >Sent: Wednesday, April 13, 2005 11:36 AM
> >Subject: RE: [Mb-hair] A Few Questions
> >
> >
> >> 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
> >>
> >>
> >> _______________________________________________
> >> Mb-hair mailing list
> >> Mb-hair at islandlists.com
> >> http://www.islandlists.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mb-hair
> >
> >_______________________________________________
> >Mb-hair mailing list
> >Mb-hair at islandlists.com
> >http://www.islandlists.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mb-hair
>
>
> --
> Joseph Simon
>
> "It is not in the stars to hold our destiny, but in ourselves."
> -Shakespeare
> _______________________________________________
> Mb-hair mailing list
> Mb-hair at islandlists.com
> http://www.islandlists.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mb-hair
------------------------------
Message: 4
Date: Wed, 13 Apr 2005 14:35:57 -0400
From: "richard haase" <hotprojects at nyc.rr.com>
Subject: Re: [Mb-hair] A Few Questions
To: <mb-hair at islandlists.com>
Message-ID: <000f01c54057$a26e57c0$6e436c42 at hotprojects>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
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
> >
> >
> >_______________________________________________
> >Mb-hair mailing list
> >Mb-hair at islandlists.com
> >http://www.islandlists.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mb-hair
>
>
> --
> Joseph Simon
>
> "It is not in the stars to hold our destiny, but in ourselves."
> -Shakespeare
> _______________________________________________
> Mb-hair mailing list
> Mb-hair at islandlists.com
> http://www.islandlists.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mb-hair
------------------------------
_______________________________________________
Mb-hair mailing list
Mb-hair at islandlists.com
http://www.islandlists.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mb-hair
End of Mb-hair Digest, Vol 10, Issue 16
***************************************
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://www.islandlists.com/pipermail/mb-hair/attachments/20050414/c9e13603/attachment.htm
More information about the Mb-hair
mailing list