[NEohioPAL] Berko bio on Steel Burkhardt, BW grad and HAIR star

[Roy Berko]

*The Steelman of HAIR, a BW product!*



He has a superman inked logo on his arm with flashes of fire shooting out
around it.  He devotes huge amounts of energy working out at the gym.  He
spends a lot of time in public with either no clothes on or clothed only in
a loin cloth.  Fans are drawn to his charisma.  Is he a super hero?  No,
he’s Steel Burkhardt, who plays the role of Berger in the touring
production of HAIR, which is going to be playing at the Palace Theatre in
downtown Cleveland from January 17th through the 29th.



Burkhardt, whose nickname is Steelman, is from Union, New Jersey.  His
local claim to fame is his attendance and graduation from Baldwin Wallace
College.



How did he get from the Garden State to tiny Berea, Ohio?



During a recent phone interview, Burkhardt indicated that when he started
his search for the “right” college, he was drawn to BW because of it’s
ranking in the top five college musical theatre programs.  During his first
visit he instantly fell in love with the beautiful campus with places to
ride his bike, the curriculum’s emphasis on self-empowerment and
self-growth, the supportive rather than competitive nature of the program,
and the quality of instruction.



He praises such faculty members as voice professor, Timothy Mussard, one of
America’s most distinguished Heldentenors; Janeice Kelley-Kiteley, the
dynamic, now retired dance instructor; Dr. Ellen Posman, Associate
Professor of Religion; and, of course, Victoria Bussert, the heart of the
music theatre program.



Bussert returned the admiration when she said of Steel, “I loved having him
as a student -- always fun, generous and grounded.”



Burkhardt found that the BW stress on a music background, classical
training and a balanced program allowed him to soar.  It allowed him to
present himself to potential agents and casting directors when he performed
in the 2007 Senior Showcase in New York.  It was from this experience that
he got his agent and eventually was cast in the Central Park production of
HAIR, which was followed by his performance in the revival of the show on
Broadway, the London production, and now, the lead role of Berger in the
touring production.



Ironically, Brukhardt’s introduction to HAIR was when he appeared in the
show at BW.



Answers to questions he’s asked about the touring production:

•Yes, the famous nude scene, which caused bomb threats and pickets during
the NY and touring show, climaxed on April 25, 1971, when a bomb exploded
in front of Cleveland’s Hanna Theatre during the Age of Aquarius show’s run.
Cast members are encouraged but not required to take off their clothes.

•The long tresses he displays on stage are his own…no extensions or a wig.  He
washes his hair once a week and just shakes it out and he’s ready to go.

•The show is Claude’s journey through free love and is personified by his
love affair with Burger, which is implied but never really acted out on
stage.

•The dance party at the end of the show when the audience members are
invited up on stage to rock away is always energizing and is a celebration
of life which encourages audience members to be “who you are.”

•The tour ends, ironically, in Cleveland, and then Burkhardt is back to New
York to try out for hopefully a major role in another show.



An online  bio summarizes Steel Burkhardt and HAIR.  “Once upon a time
Steel graduated from a school called Baldwin Wallace.  He was shy in a
small concert, then got naked in Central Park, was nude on a Broadway
stage, then bared it again on the West End.  Now he is ready for
America…then perhaps the World!”



*Special note:  For a enlightening backstage tour of HAIR conducted by
Steel Burkhardt go to:
http://www.broadway.com/shows/hair/buzz/157333/hair-star-steel-burkhardt-invites-you-on-an-exclusive-backstage-tour/
*
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