HAIR- 6.25.09

[WishingOnlyWounds2]

Posted: 6/26/09 at 1:24am

When I first heard 'Hair' was returning to Broadway, I thought to myself... "eh, I'll probably go." Then when the casting was announced and I heard my beloved Caissie Levy and Saycon Sengbloh were in it I just had to get ticket; but I fell in love with other shows of the new season first and wound up seeing them a few times but I finally got to 'Hair'!

Tonight's understudies:
Berger- Steel Burkhardt
Dionne- Saycon Sengbloh
Abraham Lincoln- Nicole Lewis
Hubert- Josh Lamon
Tribe- Chasten Harmon
Tribe- Ryan Link
Tribe- Michael James Scott

You can just imagine how ecstatic I was when I saw the understudy board and saw that Saycon would be going on for a lead. I was actually thinking on the way to the City, "Wouldn't it be great if Saycon was on for Dionne?" not even knowing she covered the role but just dreaming of something I thought would never happen!

On to the cast:
Gavin Creel was great as Claude and I really found myself able to connect to his character, that said with the book for Hair there is only so much to say about his acting but his singing was phenomenal!

Steel Burkhardt was amazing as Berger! I honestly can't imagine a better performance than what he just gave. His voice was great and his comedic timing was even better. His mom was sitting in the first row, center and right after "Aquarius" when he walked along the stage in the first row he stopped and said "Look it's my mom!" and pulled her up and hugged her.

Caissie Levy- now I'm going to be biased in my thoughts on her but she was sensational! I absolutely adore her voice and just can never get enough of it, I'm so happy she found a role that allows to go all out eight times a week without hurting her voice.

Saycon Sengbloh was fabulous as Dionne, and while I'm biased with her too the people around me were also saying her excellent she was. Her voice is slightly deeper than Sasha's but it really worked. She really played the role well and acted the sh*t out of "Aquarius."

Allison Case, Darius Nichols, Bryce Ryness, and Kacie Sheik were all also phenomenal and great in the roles.

The whole Tribe was great too and really helped to carry the show.

I guess you can say I've fallen into the 'Hair' trap (or Hair Net... too corny?) I honestly am at a loss of words for what I just saw. I also wasn't familiar with the story of most of the songs either so the ending really got me. I plan to be going back before the current cast leaves.

Now at the end of the show I did run on stage and it was... I can't even think of words to describe it. I was almost brought to tears, I never thought I would be able to dance on a Broadway stage (well, not for a few more years at least) and I just had so much fun, I was dancing with complete strangers and just jumping up and down like there was no tomorrow. But, boy, is that stage on an angle, I felt it as soon as I ran up.

At the stage door everyone came out, signed and took pics except for Gavin and Saycon. Gavin came out, but only signed and Saycon didn't come out at all, which I was pretty upset about. But, hey, it's not part of the job although I really would have loved to finally meet her and compliment her on her performance. Everyone was extremely nice and Caissie Levy even hugged me! Diane Paulus also came out of the door and I got her to sign my playbill.

It was an amazing night and I can't believe it took me this long to see 'Hair'!

If you haven't seen it yet, go!

5 out of 5 stars!

[adamgreer]

Posted: 6/26/09 at 1:29am

Other than singing Aquarius, Dionne doesn't get a lot to do. I think Saycon gets to do more when she's in her regular track.

I bet her rendition of Aquarius is fabulous, though.

[WishingOnlyWounds2]

Posted: 6/26/09 at 1:40am

Oh, and the one slight disappointment of the night, which wasn't really a big deal I just kept expecting it and it never came.

There was no walking on the seats. There were two occasions where Gavin and Steal were standing over the aisles with one foot on the armrests of aisle seats but no walking on chairs.

[SNAFU]

Posted: 6/26/09 at 1:43am

The "mom moment" is in the script. Berger finds his mom in the first row every night.

[WishingOnlyWounds2]

Posted: 6/26/09 at 1:45am

Oh, heh, I feel stupid now. But, it was his actual mom. She walked out from backstage after with the rest of his family.

[bdwaygirl]

Posted: 6/26/09 at 2:44am

Gavin did crawl along the first 6 or 7 rows orchestra left tonight.

Fabulous show! I plan on going back soon!

[WishingOnlyWounds2]

Posted: 6/26/09 at 2:50am

Oh, I was Center Orchestra, Row L (great seat by the way) and we go nothing.

Just be-in fliers from on of the tribe members, not complaining though.

[bdwaygirl]

Posted: 6/26/09 at 2:55am

I was 5th row center, and was pretty much keeping my eyes on him all night.

I got a flyer and a flower. Fun night!

[dramamama611]

Posted: 6/26/09 at 5:23am

I was going to make the whole mom comment as well...but since it was his first time performing on B'way as Berger...I wasn't going to be suprised if it actaully WERE his mom.


I'm glad you were exhilarated by the show! I can't wait to get back, but have to wait until August. (It's killing me!)

[lakezurich]

Posted: 6/26/09 at 11:06am

I saw Saycon go on for Sasha Allen when I was in NYC at the end of May. And, though disappointed I was, I was also very excited to be seeing Saycon going on for Sasha. Having seen multiple videos of her going on as Elphaba in Wicked I knew we were in for a treat... and she did not let us down.

I am thinking about taking another trip to NYC in October to see this SPECTACULAR show again. It will be a VERY long time until I see a production that measures up to the quality of the current HAIR revival.

[yay_gerb]

Posted: 6/26/09 at 11:17am

i'm happy to hear Steel was good! i really want to see him go on. you should check the show out again tho, Will Swenson is really incredible. i saw Saycon go on for Dione back in April and thought she was really great. her voice is obviously not as insane as Sasha Allen's voice but she did "act the sh*t" out of it when i saw her.

[itwontbelongnowx]

Posted: 6/26/09 at 11:21am

It wasn't his actual mother in the front row. Yes, his family and friends saw the show, but that was not his actual mother.

[WishingOnlyWounds2]

Posted: 6/26/09 at 11:35am

Oh, well she walked out with someone's family after then.