LINK: About the nudity in 'Hair'
Timothy Letheic Goins has faced plenty of challenging roles in his 16 years as a globe-trotting professional actor.
But for the 1994 Weber State University graduate, no part has pushed as many emotional buttons as that of Hud, a character in the 1967 musical "Hair."
Hud, who is black, faces racism head-on and in one song utters a lengthy string of hateful racial slurs that have been used against African-Americans.
"For me as an individual, it's hard to hear those words, even when they are coming out of my mouth," said Goins, 39, now a New York City-based actor. "They are words I definitely wouldn't say myself. As an actor, it's something I've had to get over, and dealing with it makes me a better performer."
Fred Lee, of Centerville, plays the lead role of Claude in the same production of "Hair," opening a week from tonight at the Egyptian Theatre in Park City. Seven actors in the 12-person cast have strong ties to Weber and Davis counties, as do several of the musicians.
"When I auditioned, the director said he was planning on doing the nudity, and asked if I had a problem with that," said Lee, 29.
The musical has one scene in which characters undress, and are nude or nearly nude for about 20 seconds before the lights go down. The nudity is intended to illustrate personal freedom and self-expression, as well as vulnerability -- and not anything sexual.
"I do have a few hesitations on nudity," Lee said. "I grew up in a more conservative realm."
But as it turned out, Claude would be the only clothed character, singing as the others disrobed in the background.
"By then, we were so close as a cast, I wanted to be on the same level of equality and vulnerability as the others, and I told the director maybe we could find some way for me to be naked."
Lee is suggesting his conservative friends, co-workers and family members skip this show if his nudity would make them uncomfortable.
The hippie play
More than four decades after its debut, "Hair" is still a show that sparks controversy and strong emotional responses.
Packed with comedy and drama, it features uplifting songs, including "Aquarius" and "Good Morning Star Shine." Songs that may get mixed reactions include "Hashish" and "Sodomy."
"This show is not for everyone," said Lee. "There's adult material about drugs and sex, along with love, peace and freedom. This show pushes the limits, but for people who come with an open mind, it's an amazing piece of theater history that is still very relevant for today's audience."
Baby boomers will feel ancient when they read this, but director Jerry Rapier approached "Hair" as a historical piece.
"I was born in 1971, so I'm younger than the play, and I've never done any drugs, so it's been an interesting journey and very educational," said Rapier, also the artistic director of Salt Lake City's Plan-B Theatre.
"I've had to do lots of research, and draw on the plentiful experiences of the people around me," he added, with a laugh.
Rapier already had a healthy respect for "Hair."
"It was the original rock musical," he said. "Without 'Hair,' there would be no 'Jesus Christ Superstar,' no 'Rent,' no 'Spring Awakening.' 'Hair' created the genre."
"Hair," with book and lyrics by James Rado and Gerome Ragni, music by Galt MacDermot, was written to reflect its time, and features a tribe of hippie characters protesting the Vietnam War, racism, and restrictive laws and societal norms. It supports free sex, illegal drug use and freedom of expression.
Claude grapples with whether he should honor his draft notice and make his parents proud by going to Vietnam, or whether he should illegally burn his draft notice and stay behind to live in peace with his loving, uninhibited hippie friends.
"In some ways, it feels like it was written for today," Rapier said. "We understand being at war, and we're still talking about government, prejudices, drugs, sexual liberation, and what love really means. The big difference is the idea of being drafted makes no sense to young people today."
Plenty of research
Goins has three uncles who fought in Vietnam, and who still struggle with what they experienced during the war.
"My Uncle Frank talked about fighting for his country, taking bullets and doing unspeakable things, and still being considered scum of the earth by his fellow soldiers because he was a black man," Goins said. "People would tell him, 'Hey, go eat your chitlins and fried chicken.' "
Lee watched documentaries on the 1960s and the Vietnam War, and he read up on the playwrights' lives and motivations.
David Holmes, a former Bountiful resident who plays Woof and who choreographed the show, shared stories about his Vietnam veteran father with cast members.
"We have had tons of conversations about him, and the effects the war had on our family," said Holmes, 28.
Goins and ensemble member Latoya Rhodes, 25, of Clearfield, were able to see the current Broadway run of "Hair," and were awed by the theatrical artistry they witnessed, and by the show's 40-member cast.
Rhodes said she's happy being part of a smaller cast.
"It's an awesome challenge, trying to do everything, being able to play more different characters, and sing and dance for the whole show," she said. "I say 'Bring it on, man.' "
Rapier said costumes are based on photos from the era, not just from the multi-hued, tie-dyed stereotypes of what people wore in the late '60s and early '70s. Most costumes are in earth tones, and some use leather and fringe.
"It's the same kind of things you could find in upscale stores now, which is another parallel to today," Rapier said.
Holmes said creating choreographing for "Hair" has been a theater experience unlike any other.
"It couldn't look Broadway-style or jazzy, it had to look authentic and spontaneous," he said. "The tribe members couldn't look like trained dancers. I had to find the fine line between set choreography and movement that still looked organic and spontaneous. It was challenging, but so fulfilling and fun."
Audience reactions
Kandyce Marie Gabrielsen, 26, of Roy, hopes audiences will be as moved by the musical as are the cast members.
"There is so much to love about the show," said the actress, who plays Dionne. "It's got everything. I love the story, and the fact that the time relates to this time, and that it deals with war and peace, and issues that are still important. It carries such a beautiful message of love and equality. It will make people want to get out of their seats, sing and dance and move around."
Which is fine with her.
"I hope people will come and expect to have a good time," Gabrielsen said. "They should be prepared to feel a lot of energy from us actors onstage, and we hope they will return it, and send energy back to us."
Audience members can choose what they get from the performance, said Luke Monday, 18, an acting student at Weber State and a "Hair" ensemble member.
"It all depends on how you look at the show," he said. "There's so much you can take with you. There's the amazing music, the acting, the dancing. There's a message, a moral, and how it makes you feel."
Goins, who has performed in Asia, New York, and around the world, said he's struck by the high quality of the production.
"I'm proud to be part of this cast," he said. "I'm always amazed with the talent that comes out of Utah. This is a beautiful, inspiring piece of theater. If you come with an open mind, you will leave feeling you've gained so much more than you came with."
PREVIEW
l WHAT: 'Hair'
l WHEN: 8 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, 6 p.m. Sundays, June 25-July 25
l WHERE: Mary G. Steiner Egyptian Theatre, 328 Main St., Park City
l TICKETS: $22 in advance, $25/at door, available through 435-649-9371 or www.egyptiantheatrecompany.org.
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