[Mb-hair] Re: new member/Bridgeport show

[Sibley Smith]

Dear Tribe,

Yeah, yeah, yeah, ... I know, I know, ... You've just been sitting on pins and needles waiting for my take on the Bridgeport HAIR Happening.  Smoke has finally cleared and dust has finally settled from the whirlwind of May-thru-mid-June activity at the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans' Memorial (10th Birthday was May 7).

Well, here I go:

May 21, 2005.  Destination, Bridgeport, Connecticut, for the Downtown Cabaret Theatre (DCT) production of HAIR.

New Jersey Transit rail from Asbury Park ("Greetings from Asbury Park," you Bruce Springsteen fans) to New York-Penn Station.  Rendezvous there with our dear Sally Shafer (OBC HAIR business office and, of late, from the Space Shuttle's launching pad back yard in Florida).  Nothing but good times from that point on.  The HAIR Gods were certainly smiling upon us.  Our trip was certainly a "Trip."

We ambled from NY-Penn to Grand Central Station, taking in a street fair/festival and a Turkish-American Pride parade.  And you couldn't have asked for a better weather day!  Actually, there was rain on and off all through that weekend, but it always seemed to happen while we were inside--inside a train, inside a building.  There was definitely something magical going on.  

Trained from NYC to Bridgeport.  I'd pre-arranged via e-mail with HAIR-Head Ross MacLean (whom I'd never met) for a HAIR ticket exchange in Bridgeport (I'd told him about a good train to take there-- the one we were on).  Sally and I leave the train and stop for a moment to get our bearings and plot our course from my map to get to the hotel and to the DCT, when a rather dapper gent with a silver moustache and a tan sport coat passes us with a glance and heads on up the street before us.  I say to Sally, "You know, I'd peg that guy to be a Vietnam veteran.  He's got the look."  Sally says, "You know, I think that might be Ross!"

"Okay, here's the plan," says I, "We'll walk fast to catch up with him, as as we approach him, we'll chat about what we're doing and I say "HAIR" loud enough for him to hear.  If he's Ross (or any other DCT-destined HAIR Head), he'll react.  Well, it worked, and that's how we met Ross.  BTW, Ross, you've gotta share your story.  Tribe, we're talking here about one hard-core HAIR fan (particularly L.A. & Hawaii, right, Ross?) from way way back!  I was honored to be in his company.

So, we drop off stuff at the hotel, then Ross and I head out to find the DCT to get the tickets.  We're on the right street at about the right place but can't seem to spot a theatre.  But we do spot this old hippy--long, long, straight silver hair and wearing a T-shirt with a cartoon picture on the front of a stoned guru seated in the lotus position (or something like that).  So, I says to Ross, loud enough for the hippy to hear, "Now, THIS looks like a guy who oughta know where HAIR is!"

Well, yeah, I was right.  He smiled and pointed us to the theatre entrance behind him.  Yeah, he knew.  Although we didn't know it at the time, this was our own Happy Hippy HAIR Director, Leo Lunser!

So, skipping along in time, Sally and I head for the show.  Wow!  How cool was that?  All these folks who'd only met by e-mail on Michael Butler's HAIR List wre grabbing each other and hugging and making a big scene in front of all these Bridgeportians and moms and dads of the cast members.  One big Love Fest!

Little Birdie, Nina!  Yeah, made a bee line to me to greet me!  And Trevor's there (oh, Trevor, who cares about you?  I got to hug Nina! : )  And Leo!  "Damn, Leo!  I shoulda known that was you!"  And, of course, the King, Michael Butler, was there, holding court.  Michael, such a thrill to see you again.  Oh, and I got to meet lovely Natalie.  And folks were pointed out to me, like Robert Camuto and Michael Arien (sorry we never got to chat much, gents, but there IS September, eh?).  And Bill Swiggard!  And Sherwin.  Hey, what an asset he is to the HAIR family, eh? (Thanks for the geat pics, BTW).  And Barbara Siomos made it in time to catch the end of the show.  People had to settle us down, so they could put on the show!

Well, Sally and I did our part to settle down and enjoy the show.  We made nice to the cast moms and dads sitting around us.  Had them point out theire children in the cast.  Then we poured ourselves some extra extra dry Vodka Martinis (Smirnoff, the BLUE label)--(you know, we had to alter our states of conscious somehow!  Leo forgot the THC! : )  

Oh, yeah, the show!  Excellent.  Excellent.  Powerful voices.  A good look to all --their characterizations and their believability.  Nice set, too.  No complaints.  Okay, maybe one.  A minor one.  'Though it was a major one to some others.  Yeah, Claude's insane giggles.  Continuously.  A directing call.  There could be some merit to it, if it was played just right -- like using it to freak-out tourists in Central Park or to emphasize how whacked out Claude thinks his mom is by her cutting out those "bloody King Korn stamps" and what not.  But, other than that, I enjoyed it thoroughly.  Enough to sneak back in and catch the second half of the second show after we'd had our reunion soiree at the pub nearby.  And, oh Man, it was tough not to just sing along with the songs full voiced.  Yeah, this Tribe tripped my trigger.  Great job.  Kudos.  And I dug their having a Black Berger!  A little chuckle from him as he sings, "I'm Rinso White."  It worked.

Yeah, the Old HAIR Tribe party at that pub was fantastic!  Hey, I even got to squeeze into a photo with Meredith!  And Natalie.  And Sally.  And anybody else I could seduce for a moment or two! : )  And rapped for a long time with Bill and gained some audience from Michael B.  Michael with his red HAIR-logo jacket and Sherwin with his HAIR-log jean jacket, snapping pictures, being friendly, making everyone feel welcome and at home.  And Sally was snapping pictures and likewise making everybody feel special.  Yeah, I cannot imagine this not being accurate: "A fun time was had by all."  I didn't really get to schmooze with everybody, but I hope to make up for that at LaMaMa in September.

Then the next day, Sally and I trained back to NYC (It rained while we rode and cleared up by the time we hit Grand Central--interior shots of which, BTW, I've seen in the trailer for that new animated flick, "Madagascar").  Sally's a super tour guide.  Took me to Central Park to the "Alice in Wonderland" sculpture.  Great place to veg out and people watch.  A gaggle of colorfully-clad young hippies climbed all over it to pose for a picture not at all unlike when the HAIR Tribe poses for the "Margaret Mead" Mom.  Sally asked and learned they were all acting students.  Prime meat for future HAIR productions!  You know, that infinity symbol above the "I" in "HAIR" is certainly appropriate.  I think there will be live productions of HAIR forever!

And Sally pointed out the red-tailed hawks nest at the top of one of the tall apartment buildings that abuts Central Park.  And we went to see the famous clock at the Central Park Zoo, where the animal sculptures march around on the hour (another landmark that shows up in "Madagascar").

We had ourselves some strong and hot Bloody Marys that afternoon to toast one magical, way cool, HAIRy weekend before we went our separate ways--me, back to the Jersey Shore, and Sally, back to the Florida Shore.  

Thanks to all who were a part my experience that weekend.  Glad I could Trip with you and I look forward to doing it again!

And I've been inspired to sorta do it again, starting tomorrow.  Heading South to Tioga, Louisiana.  See the mom and siblings (my B-day's Sunday), but more funnerly, going to see a college production of Jesus Christ Superstar at the same college where, 30 years ago, I was a JCS "Apostle" ("...Always hoped that I'd be an Apostle...) in a production there (same place where I was a Tribe member in HAIR).  And there's going to be a sort of impromptu reunion of us old cast and crew members (like we had in Bridgeport).  If I have half the amount of fun I had with the Bridgeport HAIR trip, I'll have plenty of fun for this JCS trip.

Later, Dudes and Dudettes (I'm supposed to be working.  Shhhh!  Don't tell!),
PEACE,
Tioga Joe
===============================
Date: Tue, 24 May 2005 19:56:05 -0400
From: "Leo" <peacefreak at metrocast.net>

Meredith, it was a pleasure seeing you at the Bridgeport festivities. There 
was so much going on and so many people to rap with that I never had an 
opportunity to officially say "hello" and introduce myself. That's the 
reality of being immersed in a group of people who exude so much love, 
friendship, and excitement. I'm sure I'll chat with ya at La Mama; in the 
meantime, welcome and I'm glad you find your way here with Jeff's guidance.
I'm still riding the vibe of this past weekend and it's a beautiful thing.

PEACE,
Leo

> From: "Amerifilm Casting, Inc." <info at amerifilmcasting.com>
> Subject: [Mb-hair] new member/Bridgeport show

> This is an open letter to the tribe, with a few personalized notes at
> the end.  I am a new member, and just had a chance to look at
> Sherwin's photo page from the other night.  I am so choked up, I
> can't even explain how I feel from this experience, but I 'm sure
> you've all probably heard it before from other "fans".  As grown up
> as I want to appear, I've got to gush as my inner child, the child
> who first saw HAIR at 12 years old at The Wilbur Theatre in Boston in
> 1970.  Hi everyone, I'm Meredith, the beaming smiling blonde girl in
> the hot pink shirt in the Bridgeport reunion photos.  To see myself
> included in these pictures, to feel welcome and made part of a
> beautiful family, to see my name in others' emails - these things I
> never expected in my life!  To attend my first big HAIR event
> (besides the smaller La Mama gatherings recently) and to be made to
> feel already part of the gang - I'm speechless, just blown away.
> It's such a thrill and I'm so honored.  I also just read all the
> emails from May, (I'll have to get through all the past months emails
> when I have another free week) and am so touched at how nice and open
> everyone on the list is.  Thank you all, the ones I've met and the
> ones I've yet to meet, for this heartfelt welcome.
> Since seeing HAIR 35 years ago when my dad took me and a couple of my
> girl friends to the show (he's claiming now that he didn't know there
> was going to be a nude scene, yeah-right Dad) I've been a
> semi-collector, always loving the score but not finding much
> memorabilia at the flea markets. I've seen a handful of other
> productions of the show along the way (including Sherwin's VHS of his
> 1987 show which I insisted he loan me back in '91.)  Then along came
> eBay, and I've been happily wallowing in foreign vinyl and playbills
> for a few years. BUT, besides occasional online auction binges and
> work related stuff, I don't spend a lot of time on the computer,
> which I refer to as the "fancy typewriter" in my office.  I forget to
> look up websites about things I love, and therefore did not even KNOW
> about this awesome HAIR website until recently when my friend Jeff
> Lunger introduced me to it.  My husband Eric (also in the pictures
> with me) works with Jeff and when he found out about Jeff 's likewise
> love of HAIR he promptly hooked us up and Jeff, I THANK YOU for
> bringing me up to speed, tuned in and turned on!
> A funny side note - since the 1979 movie version came out, no matter
> what color or cut my hair has been, every so often to this day
> someone comes up to me and asks me if I'm "that girl in HAIR".  I
> know they're talking about Annie Golden.  I had the pleasure of
> working with Annie when I was the assistant coordinator of her movie
> CRAZY STREETS, and when I would go to where she was rehearsing a play
> in the Village to drop her off script pages or something her fellow
> cast members would ask her if I was her sister.  At the wrap party
> she autographed a headshot to me inscribed  "To my lovely look
> alike". I've continued to hear her sing at clubs over the years,
> she's got such a beautiful voice.
> To Nina, thank you for welcoming me into the club, and I'll send you
> shortly the pix I took at the pub and the La Mama events.  And  thank
> you for amassing and and maintaining this amazing web site and
> archive - Jeff and I are coming over!
> To Robin MacNamara - I still have my 45 I bought when it came out of
> Lay a Little Lovin' On Me - I've always loved that song.  I see by
> some of your emails that you're from Boston (me too) and that you
> recently played in Cambridge - do you play in NYC too?
> To Walter Harris - seeing you and your family at La Mama was an
> enriching and inspirational experience.  I know Jayne Ann from when
> our kids went to school together in Tribeca, I'm sorry I didn't
> formally meet you but it was great to catch up with her.
> To Jonathon Johnson - you recently sent me your book, which I just
> finished, thank you for that inside look. What a treat.
> To Sherwin - it was fun to reconnect with you, thanks for posting
> your pictures, and to Michael Butler and everyone else - The pleasure
> is all mine!  See you in September!


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