City Circle Acting Company of Coralville will present the American Tribal Love-Rock Musical Hair August 1-3 at the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts. Performances are August 1 and 2 at 7:30 pm and August 2 and 3 at 2:00 pm.
Hair arose from the hippie counterculture and sexual revolution of the 1960s. It debuted on Broadway in 1968 and had a long and successful run, despite its controversial themes. The book and lyrics by James Rado and Gerome Ragni don't shy away from politics, drug use, sexuality or racism. Many songs from the musical (music by Galt MacDermot), including "Aquarius," and "Flesh Failures" (Let the Sunshine In) became popular anthems of the protest movement against the Vietnam War.
This version of this classic show is directed by John Cameron of the University of Iowa's Theatre Arts Department. Cameron has expressed his conviction that Hair not be treated as a cute and charming period piece, but rather a celebration of a time when a generation of young people took a stand for peace and freedom and affected real change in America. Such sentiments certainly remain appealing today. Because of language and adult themes, this production is considered rated PG-13.
Hair features fourteen local actors, some of whom have been seen in previous City Circle productions including West Side Story, Shrek, Rent, and this summer's hit The Mystery of Edwin Drood.
The musical runs one weekend only, August 1, 2 & 3. Tickets cost $12-$27 and are available at the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts box office, 1301 5th Street, Coralville, IA 52241; by phone at (319) 248-9370 or online at www.coralvillearts.org. Groups of ten or more receive a 15% discount on tickets. To arrange a group purchase, call (319) 248-9370.
