[Mb-hair] Benefit Jan 31

[Wm-A Gonzalez]

Well, if you are all done tooting your own horns.......

...let me toot them for you some more!

The performances were amazing!  The addition of the live band made it all seem more energized.  It was raw and alive, and yet it seemed that the performers had been doing this for years!  I was glad that respect was paid to the band members, who are often overshadowed by the actors, including the incredible marimba/xylophone solo at the end of Be-In.  Everyone was given their chance to shine, and they did.  I wish they would have introduced the non-original Broadway cast members, though.  They too deserved tremendous credit.

One of the fun things, from the audience's perspective, was watching the opening act belly dancers enthusiastically dance to every song.  The youngish crowd seemed to truly enjoy what was going on.  Frank Mills was greeted to applause, as it often is - people love that song.  I was glad to see Tom O'Horgan too.  It was over way too soon.  It brought me pleasant flashbacks to the reunion sing along.

I certainly hope that this is not the last time such an event is put together.  This music still has the ability to touch it's audience, and thrives when performed live.

Peace and Love,
Bil Gonzalez
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Robert Camuto 
  To: eyster at verizon.net ; mb-hair at islandlists.com 
  Sent: Wednesday, February 01, 2006 3:32 PM
  Subject: RE: [Mb-hair] Benefit Jan 31


  It truly was an amazing experience.  Getting to sing that incredible score with all of those incredible singers was as much fun as the Be-In this past September.  The audience response was amazing considering that more than half of them weren't even born when HAIR was playing.  The food was great, two of the opening acts were brilliant and the HAIR band was so inspiring that it made us sing even better than we thought we could.  I was so nervous at first but Zenobia Conkerite's soulful version of Aquarius made my adrenaline pump and the next thing I knew the show was over.  Special treats of the evening besides Ms. Zenobia were, Dale Soules' "MC duties and here wonderful version of "AIR", Ron Shetler's very powerful "WHERE DO I GO", and Ula Hedwig's' amazing "EASY TO BE HARD".  Ula filled in for the ailing Heather Mac Rae and got one rehearsal on the day of the show.  Marjorie Mudra Lipari and Debbie Andrews did Frank Mills beautifully as a duet, and original cast members Natalie Mosco, Donnie Burks, Ms Lipari and Robert "I" Rubinsky (formally know as Diane Keaton, and who FINALLY has gotten his Turrets Syndrome under control) led us in 3500.  The other big surprise was the appearance of Tom O'Horgan right before the HAIR cast started it's portion of the show.  The show was dedicated to the late Coretta Scott King and the late Wendy Wasserstein. The cast was also given the chance to mention the names of other departed tribe members at that point.  It was a wonderful and emotional evening and I'm sorry it's over.

  "sherwin at aceross.com" <sherwin at aceross.com> wrote:
    Yeah , the rehersals were astounding BUT the benifit blew the roof off The 
    place like a nuclear LOVE bomb and everybody was dancing with everybody on 
    stage and off , letting the sun shine in . 

    It was high , loving and so right on ! 

    People were hugging and kissing till the CODA and the street were empty ! 








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