American Theater Company to stage the original 'Hair'

Posted: 5/16/12 at 5:02pm

Interesting-

Last year, Chicago's American Theater Company staged the original "Grease." In 2013, artistic director PJ Paparelli has his sights set on the original, off-Broadway version of the iconic hippie musical "Hair."

According to Paparelli, ATC will stage the 1967 version of the "American Tribal Love-Rock Musical" (first directed by Gerald Freedman at the Public Theater), replete with a newly restored script by James Rado featuring old material that has not been staged in 45 years. Rado's co-writer, Gerome Ragni, died in 1991.

In an interview Wednesday, Paparelli said he was also talking with composer Galt MacDermot about including some of the original songs that were cut before the Broadway production.

"But we'll definitely have a new script with different lyrics for 'Aquarius,'" Paparelli said.
Theatre loop

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 5/16/12 at 5:12pm

I've been hoping somebody would eventually do this. Gerald Freedman is still alive. Hopefully he can consult.

Updated On: 5/16/12 at 05:12 PM

[EatTheBrownie]

Posted: 5/16/12 at 5:15pm

Great... Manhattan Beggar sees the light of day, again...

[gvendo2005]

Posted: 5/16/12 at 5:18pm

New lyrics for "Aquarius"? Pre-1995, every lyric I've seen for "Aquarius" has been exactly the same as the original. Either they mean a different tune (Galt did write a different, more spacy tune that was initially dropped), or this is not going to be the Off-Broadway version at all, but yet another Rado mish-mosh with some new material, some reinstated old material, and more familiar adorable hippie shit.

[best12bars]

Posted: 5/16/12 at 5:31pm

I was in a production in college staged by Julie Arenal and her assistant. Julie was 16 years old when she first choreographed the original production (the youngest choreographer ever on Broadway once it transferred).

Our university flew her in to do it. And while it wasn't the full, original production (different set, costumes, lighting, etc.), it was her original staging. And it was fascinating to be a part of it.

[EatTheBrownie]

Posted: 5/16/12 at 5:37pm

The "new" lyrics to Aquarius probably refer to this:

http://www.hairthemusical.com/

Just click on the video for the "2008 remake".

[gvendo2005]

Posted: 5/16/12 at 5:54pm

Seen 'em. Those aren't from the Off-Broadway original which ATC purports to be presenting. As far as I'm concerned, it's not the Off-Broadway Hair if it's going to pick and choose new material from Rado's Hair drawer.

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 5/16/12 at 6:03pm

The "script" to HAIR has been tinkered with so much in the last 40+ years can anyone even *find* the original script?

The original lyrics to "Aquarius" are pretty easy to find all anyone has to do is listen to the Original Off-Broadway Cast Recording, it exists on that recording and wasn't sung until the show's second act.

[gvendo2005]

Posted: 5/16/12 at 7:54pm

And it exists in the same version that has always existed (minus the new lyrics pointed out above). The Off-Broadway script does exist; Rado has it, for one, and Gerald Freedman likely has it.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 5/16/12 at 8:12pm

It doesn't sound like it'll be all that different or interesting. It's not like huge chunks were rewritten for Broadway. It's basically the same show with some minor tweaks and cuts. And I'd think the cuts were probably for the better.

[gvendo2005]

Posted: 5/16/12 at 8:23pm

Most of the material removed from the Off-Broadway version related to a Claude/Berger/Sheila triangle a la Jules et Jim that mirrored the real life relationship between Ragni, Rado, and whatever woman got between them at the time. My guess is Rado's re-adding it now because he misses Gerry, and the show is the last thing he has of him.

[Kad]

Posted: 5/16/12 at 9:31pm

"It doesn't sound like it'll be all that different or interesting. It's not like huge chunks were rewritten for Broadway. It's basically the same show with some minor tweaks and cuts."

Uh... not true.

Posted: 5/16/12 at 9:54pm

In The Season, William Goldman reflects on the difference between the show at the Public and the show as presented at Cheetah. The Wikipedia entry (I know) says "Hair underwent a thorough overhaul between its closing at the Cheetah in January 1968 and its Broadway opening three months later." I read a script once (MANY years ago- lent to me by someone who had been in one of the pre-broadway incarnations) that bore no resemblance to the one I read years later from Tams Witmark.
Wikipedia

[EatTheBrownie]

Posted: 5/16/12 at 10:03pm

The off-Broadway script is published in a book called Rock Musicals from the 70s. It has a fake libretto for Tommy in it as well based on the album notes (didn't become a musical until the 90s.

Cut songs include (from memory) Manhattan Beggar, The Bed, The Climax, Dead End, and a different finale... Don't remember if it's So Sing The Children of the Avenue or Washing The World or what, it's not Let The Sun Shine.

There are probably more changes too, just don't remember.

[EatTheBrownie]

Posted: 5/16/12 at 10:03pm

The off-Broadway script is published in a book called Rock Musicals from the 70s. It has a fake libretto for Tommy in it as well based on the album notes (didn't become a musical until the 90s.

Cut songs include (from memory) Manhattan Beggar, The Bed, The Climax, Dead End, and a different finale... Don't remember if it's So Sing The Children of the Avenue or Washing The World or what, it's not Let The Sun Shine.

There are probably more changes too, just don't remember.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 5/16/12 at 10:08pm

I think it's "Eyes Look Your Last/Sentimental Ending." I don't think Washing the World or So Sing the Children were ever actually in it.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 5/16/12 at 10:09pm

Actually what is published is not the Off Broadway script- in fact it's a script that was sculpted specifically for the publication as a sort of hybrid between the Off Broadway script, the Broadway script and some material that never appeared in either.

I have seen the original Off Broadway script and it does contain different lyrics to Aquarius.

[EatTheBrownie]

Posted: 5/16/12 at 10:18pm

YES! It is Eyes Look Your Last/Sentimental Ending. I remembered the Eyes Look Your Last Part, but that part segues into the last song... couldn't remember... but now I'll never forget.

Sentimental Ending and it's bizarre chanting. How could I ever forget???

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 5/16/12 at 10:21pm

Their "original Grease" turned out to be basically, as mentioned, more a hodge podge with some new stuff, some never performed stuff, some stuff from the original original dropped anyway, etc, right? Did anyone see it? Was it more than just a curio? (not a massive Grease fan, anyway, I admit but the whole pitch of the production was awfully pretentious).

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 5/16/12 at 10:48pm

They're fools not to mount the Harlem production of HAIR.

[gvendo2005]

Posted: 5/17/12 at 12:04am

^ Oh, look, my stalker's back. Funny you should mention the producer who's worked in Harlem, as he was the director of the first professional Off-Broadway revival of Hair in 1980/81 in NYC. But I won't go on about that, because heaven forbid I ever be proud of a production my company has been involved in.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 5/17/12 at 12:10am

I was in Hair two summers in a row in the early aughts.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 5/17/12 at 12:10am

The funny part is that what you write makes it look like you had even been born when it happened.

[gvendo2005]

Posted: 5/17/12 at 12:18am

Well then, go back to the old folks' home. They're looking for you; it's time for your nap.

[3bluenight]

Posted: 5/17/12 at 3:09am

I've just been reading through this thread and thought i'd add,
I have a 1st printing (per the copyright page) September 1969 script.

The ending has the tribe singing "Sentimental Ending" According to the contents act two musical numbers list as follows:

Electric Blues
Easy to be Hard
Manchester Reprise
White Boys
Black Boys
Walkin in Space
Prisoners in n*town
Walking in Space Reprise
Good Morning Starshine
The Bed
Exanaplanetooch
Climax
Sentimental ending

It opens with Aquarius