There is NO way this can be done live in Prime Time for Middle America without utterly eviscerating the book not to mention the notorious nude scene ( which actually has a purpose in the show beYOND titillation)
Do they want to lose money ? Who is gonna sponsor this?
I actually never seen Hair before but that 2009 Broadway Revival Tonys Performance was wild and crazy to the max. But as for choice of next show, I expected something family friendlier.
Yeah, the second after I started this thread, I realized that the only way they can avoid ruining Hair is by just not doing it at all. It's just baffling that of the entire American musical theatre canon, NBC picked this one to broadcast live?
^ I doubt that NBC would agree to do a Disney Theatrical production (nor would ABC probably allow them to... ) With the current tug-of-war between Disney and Comcast for Fox, there is NO love lost between these two corporations.
I don't see how they'd be able to change a word or note of the show without the consent of the authors. According to Wikipedia, one of them is dead, and the other two are very old. Would they really allow their legacy to be permanently changed because of network TV censorship? I doubt it. The sex and drug references are pretty tame by today's standards anyway unless you're the kind of person who homeschools your kids.
I imagine the only thing that will be cut is the nudity in the Act I finale - which isn't really a cut anyway as it's not required in any production. Besides, when I saw the Broadway tour, the nude scene seemed completely gratuitous. Maybe it was radical and defiant in 1967, but in 2012 or whenever it was, it was just awkward. I still remember Steel Burkhardt as Berger really taking his time and being the last one to leave the stage, as if he was trying to make sure every single audience member saw his penis before heading out for intermission.
The Distinctive Baritone said: "... the other two (authors) are very old. Would they really allow their legacy to be permanently changed because of network TV censorship? I doubt it..."
See: Harper Lee.
Caption: Every so often there was a rare moment of perfect balance when I soared above him.
I just burst out laughing as I imagined them all standing, arms outstretched, in nude colored leotards. This is going to be a hot mess. I'm so excited.
In our millions, in our billions, we are most powerful when we stand together. TW4C unwaveringly joins the worldwide masses, for we know our liberation is inseparably bound.
Signed,
Theater Workers for a Ceasefire
https://theaterworkersforaceasefire.com/statement
In the WGI circuit, Pride of Cincinnati put on a great Summer of Love performance several years ago that edited out the nudity and R rated material. You can readily find the exhilarating show on YouTube.
WGI is Winter Guard International. The color guard finalists meet each April in Dayton.
I'm now actually thinking that it would be amazing if someone wrote a "Forbidden Broadway"-style show where they take shows like Hair, Rent, Spring Awakening, etc. and hilariously edit the most profane songs down to G rated versions. It could be very "meta," like "Welcome to Divinity Christian Church of Indiana's annual Broadway revue!"
Unplanned pregnancy, racial inequalty, racial sexual mixing, homosexuality, espousing psychedelic drug use, questioning (and resisting!) authority, a "date rape" situation,* living communally ( Communists!) oh an a lil reminder about a war America lost.
Make America Great Again
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Sheila being coerced to have sex w Claude when it's only Berger she wants)
"The sex and drug references are pretty tame by today's standards anyway unless you're the kind of person who homeschools your kids."
2ndly, who will want to be associated with this travesty? Name me a big name who'd do Berger or Sheila ? Ok name me a medium name? MAy be an unknown ( it is an ensemble show) people do want to work. but I can't think of anyone.
Somehow an elementary school production of hair would be better than this.
In our millions, in our billions, we are most powerful when we stand together. TW4C unwaveringly joins the worldwide masses, for we know our liberation is inseparably bound.
Signed,
Theater Workers for a Ceasefire
https://theaterworkersforaceasefire.com/statement