[Mb-hair] Visceral connections

[sherwin]

Dear Jonathan, 

I had the good fortune to be cast as Berger on the 20th Anniversary tour out
of NYC just before the Kuwait-Iraq War in 1989. I was blessed to meet and
work with Robert Camuto, Sally Eaton and spend 2 weeks with Peppy Castro who
taught me HAiR! He new every character and every song as if he played every
role.

As long as I live...I will never forget the tears on the faces in the
audience when I stood over Claude's body....drumsticks crossed in the  air.

I recently was invited to a production In Santa Ana and I had my chance to
sit and cry
from the most heart felt experience in my life. It was like seeing HAiR for
the first time.

All of our lives will never be the same........we are a very special chosen
group.

Michael Butler's vision coupled with Rado, Ragni and McDermott's work
changed history and will continue to do. I am so grateful to have met Gerome
Ragni....he was and will always be Berger:)

Not to pass this on to generations would be a loss for mankind.

One wish I have before I die is to play Berger again. I understand him more
today and I understand the meaning of A HAiR more today than ever before.

Nice to meet you:)

Sherwin Ross

PS...Michael Butler if no one told you I love you today, well "I love You"
and Thank you for the gifts from your generous soul.



 



-----Original Message-----
From: mb-hair-bounces at islandlists.com
[mailto:mb-hair-bounces at islandlists.com] On Behalf Of Jonathan Zenz
Sent: Wednesday, March 30, 2005 1:16 PM
To: mb-hair at islandlists.com
Subject: Re: [Mb-hair] Visceral connections

I feel compelled to make an addition to this discussion.  I was born in
1973.

I played Berger last summer at the Knightsbridge Theatre in LA.  I was not
the "typical" Berger by any stretch of the imagination - I am no Ragni or
Williams.  What I did bring to the process was my own life experience.  I
don't claim to have a clear connection to what was happening in this country
in the late 60's but I know how I feel about what is happening now and that
knowledge and experience informed my work in the show.

I think that part of the power HAiR is that, although specific to a time and
place in the narrative, the themes are universal.  That is why the piece can
still effect audiences.  I would like to think that my work helped to make
the audiences that came to watch think about the relevance HAiR has to our
world today.  Those of you who saw the production would be able to speak
more accurately as to the experience from the audiences viewpoint.

I certainly feel a visceral connection with the work.  It is a show that
will inform my life forever - I will never be the same having had the
experience of creating and living with my Tribe.  I keep a placard on my
desk at my corporate 9 to 5 job that reminds me of the importance of the
experience.... it reads "Life is around you and in you.  Let the Sunshine
In"

Peace,
Jonathan Zenz


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