Monday, July 15, 2019

Commune in Peace and Love at HAIR

Serenbe Playhouse has brilliantly bought to life its Season X: America series, particularly with Hair, a musical before—and of—its time, now on stage through August 18. This onstage singing hippie counter-culture and the sexual revolution of the '60s will have you applauding, laughing, and even gasping...all for good reason! 

Casey Shuler, cast of Hair | Serenbe Playhouse | Photo: BreeAnne Clowdus
Casey Shuler, cast of Hair | Serenbe Playhouse | Photo: BreeAnne Clowdus

Founder of Serenbe Playhouse and Director of Hair, Brian Clowdus said, "For our Tenth Anniversary Season, we will revive the Tony-winning rock musical in a brand new, larger than life production. During Season Four, Hair was a game-changing show for
Serenbe Playhouse, and there is no better time to revive it than in 2019 with the 50th Anniversary of Woodstock!"

Pictured above is Casey Shuler (Sheila) who has—in my humble opinion—the most magnificent voice. I've been a fan of Casey's since she came to Serenbe Playhouse as an apprentice. She has appeared in a wide array of shows and roles, but she shines brighter than ever in Hair


Cast of Hair | Serenbe Playhouse | Photo: BreeAnne Clowdus
Cast of Hair | Serenbe Playhouse | Photo: BreeAnne Clowdus

Even if you've never seen Hair, you've probably enjoyed the music at some point, but you don't have to know anything about it to fall in love with this show. 

There is the fact that it's an exploration of a divided country in the 1960s, so it may heighten your sense of divisiveness in our country right now, or it may just be the escape from that that you've been looking for. In the end, our cast of characters put forth the importance of taking care of each other, of putting those you love, those in you "tribe", first. 

Peace and love is the ultimate dream for this tribe, but not all dreams come true, but you've never had so much fun questioning authority or the society you live in. These characters truly let their hair down...


Adante Carter, cast of Hair | Serenbe Playhouse | BreeAnne Clowdus
Adante Carter, cast of Hair | Serenbe Playhouse | BreeAnne Clowdus

Adante Carter (Berger) is brilliant! The leader of his hippie "tribe", he navigates his incredibly complex role with high energy and perfectly executed humor...he's mesmerizing and wholly unforgettable! Barry and I got to meet him and his dad after the show and they were both generous with their time and Adante is as funny and charming off stage as he is on. I'd say to follow his career, but it's already and going to be so magnificent, you won't be able to miss it!

This is indeed a musical, just one where drug use, sexual liberation, and political activism permeate the entirety of the performance. If you didn't know already, this is not a show for the kiddies. Not only is there everything I just mentioned, there's full nudity, too. That'll of course encourage some of you to attend, but it's noted here for those whose sensitives aren't quite ready for that. 


Casey Shuler, cast of Hair | Serenbe Playhouse | Photo: BreeAnne Clowdus
Casey Shuler, cast of Hair | Serenbe Playhouse | Photo: BreeAnne Clowdus

I would venture to guess that nearly everyone, at some point in their lives, has heard any number of the "classics" in Hair, written by Galt MacDermot (1928-2018), and that our feet get to tapping every time we hear one.

You never know who you're going to meet at Serenbe Playhouse. I've run into countless friends and made a number of new ones! At this performance of Hair, we ended up sitting next to Christopher Hampton (Dramaturg for this production of Hair) and his girlfriend. We had a blast chatting with them about all-things-theatre after the show!


Zane Phillips | Hair at Serenbe Playhouse | Photo: BreeAnne Clowdus
Zane Phillips | Hair at Serenbe Playhouse | Photo: BreeAnne Clowdus

Hair opens with "Aquarius", vocals by Stephanie Zandra (Ronny), Alexandria Joy (Dionne), and cast—I'm an Aquarius, so I've always loved this song, but I'd never, ever seen it performed so magnificently as it was on stage at Serenbe Playhouse this evening! 

The show closes with "Eyes, Look Your Last", vocals by the phenomenal Zane Phillips (Claude), the incredibly talented Casey Shuler (Sheila), Alexandria Joy (Dionne) and full cast. 

"Let the sun shine in..." to illuminate and celebrate this fantastic cast, as well as shine on the fantastic work that Serenbe Playhouse has done over the last 10 years. As Brian says, "The best is yet to come..."

1 comment:

Sarah said...

Thank you for this exciting journey into a world of peace and love at Hair Commune! Your review made me think about how important it is to have a unique and stylish hairstyle that expresses our individuality and spirit of freedom. When it's time to update your look and find a place to share your love for style and hair care, I would like to mention this barbershop. In this hair salon you will find professional stylists to help you create a new hairstyle that reflects your uniqueness and allows you to be yourself.