BWW Interviews: HAIR's Allison Case

Hi Ali! A little late, but welcome to London! How are you enjoying life here so far?

Loving London! It's very cool to explore a new city. One minute you are in front of Starbucks, and the next in front of Big Ben. Being in a city with all these crazy old beautiful buildings with amazing history has such a cool energy. I'm learning so much. There are pubs here older than the United States. We are so grateful to be here!

Have you noticed a difference between US and UK audiences at all?

UK audiences are a little quieter sometimes - but even so, by the end they are on their feet and up on stage dancing! They have been very kind and seem to have a good time.

How has it been gaining new British tribe members?

Great! Swings work so so so hard and they have been amazing. Hair is a hard show to track people, too - we are always running around in circles and it's not always the same every night. We are lucky to have these guys with us, they're brilliant! (I'm sooo British!)

Hair is such a fun and lively show...have there been any major bloopers so far? Or any funny stories you'd like to share with our readers?!

Last week, right before 'Frank Mills', I said my line to Jeanie (Kacie Sheik), "No, I'm gonna wait...wait....wait....wait...wait...", and my mic accidentally had an echo effect on! The audience started laughing and I just turned to them and dropped my jaw. Kacie and I ended up cracking up and hugging to try and pull it together. We both agreed we had never experienced anything like that. So fun!

What is your favourite song from the show to perform, and why?

'Where Do I Go' is one of my favourite songs in the show. And '3-5-0-0' is so raw. I love singing both. Also love singing 'Eyes Look Your Last' in 'Flesh Failures'. My favourite song that I don't sing is 'Yes I's Finished on Y'all's Farmlands', ah it's so good. Oh! And my favourite line of the show: "Life is around you and in you".  OK, I failed at this question! 

If you could play any other character in the show, male or female, who would it be and why?

Jeanie, because I wonder what it's like to do the show pregnant?! Or Dionne because she is so fancy! Or maybe that's just Sasha. 

And now for the question everybody will be wondering about! Were you all nervous the first time you had to strip off in front of a live audience?

No way! [laughs] I don't really think about it to be honest.  We are all so supported by each other on stage that it's just another part of the show that we do together. Naked.

Has anyone in the audience ever become so swept away by the show (or perhaps by over-consumption of alcohol?!), that they've decided to join in your naked protest?

We had a group of guys come and dance on stage and they all took off their shirts. This inspired more people to do so, and some of the guys in the cast did too. Everyone was jumping - it was like a rock concert. I didn't take my shirt off, but I think I was on the ground laughing too hard to think of it!

Hair seems to bring people back time and time again...What is it about the show that you think touches people so much?

Hair really does mean different things to people. I think the history definitely plays a part, and history seemingly repeating itself today. But there is also a 'be so alive right now' factor that's pretty incredible. The audience, I think, begins to feel - as the night goes on- that there are no rules, or walls, or a 'you are different from me' thing going on. Everyone is invited to jump in, be a part of the tribe, decide what Hair means to them and have that be right for them that night. They are invited to be moved in any way that feels right and to forget any thoughts of 'you should be this way' or 'there is a right way to go about living your life to be successful or normal'. Forget all that silliness and celebrate being alive and being free!! (Just as long as you don't hurt anybody!).

How does it make you feel when you see so many people getting up on stage at the end of the show to dance and celebrate with you all?

It's inspiring! Some people are lining up before it's time because they know the dance party is happening. Some people jump out of their seats when they understand what's going on and rush the stage. Some people stay and dance at their place, or sit and observe and that's a huge part of the dance party too. Some people are nervous and hesitant but decide to go for it and slowly come up and dance. To be in the mix of all these people is incredible. I now have dance parties by myself in my flat all the time - it makes me laugh, puts me in a good mood and gets me pumped for the day! [laughs]

It seems you've been making the most out of your time here, taking part in all sorts of wonderful events like West End Live, Pride, Latitude, the Be-In...what has been your favourite non-Gielgud performance in the UK so far, and why?

They all have been so different! Latitude and the Be-In were probably tied for my favourite. We had this huge stage at Latitude and we had already choreographed what we were going to do. But when 'I Got Life' started and we realized there were people on all sides of the stage, we just ran out and jumped and did turns and it felt so free. We were laughing so much out in the sun with awesome groovy people everywhere! Plus we got to go watch other bands play...SO FUN! The Be-In was kind of a last one with this much of the company together...so it was really emotional. And anytime I can watch my friends be amazing I am so, so, so inspired by them. 

What have the hippies been getting up to in their spare time?

Travel! Some of us have actually become obsessed. We will get up at, like, 4am on our day off (Sunday) to make a 7am flight and be there until early afternoon Monday, and then fly back to make the night show. I never thought I would have the chance to see this much of the world! It really does open your eyes. I went to Italy by myself for four days. To be alone, surrounded by people you don't know, who know nothing about you or your life or anything is rad! I found myself so still and observing so much. The stuff that's really important in my life became illuminated. Grateful!

What's next for London's favourite hippies after September 4th (which will be a sad day for all)?

It will be a tough, bittersweet, celebration. For me this will be the grand finale of a 3-year journey. The show, the people, and the process have all touched my life in a pretty profound way. But now it is a part of me as I move on and tell new stories and meet new people and have different processes. The beautiful fans and friends that have supported and sent love through the years have touched me deeply. THANK YOU!

Thanks for answering our questions, Ali! We wish the Tribe all the best for the future.

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