Near West Theatre announces AUDITIONS for HAIR, the Love-Rock Musical May 19th, 20th, & 21st from 7-10pm Tuesday, Wednesday, & Thursday (Come ONE of these evenings) AGES 16-25 (or believably 25) HAIR runs July 24, 25, and 31, and August 1, 2, 6, 7, 8 & 9. Rehearsals begin Sunday, June 7th. AUDITION SITE: Near West Theatre - NEW LOCATION! 6702 Detroit Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44102 Questions? Call our office at 216-961-9750, M-F 11am-4pm or EMAIL info@nearwesttheatre.org<mailto:info@nearwesttheatre.org> ABOUT THE AUDITION: This is a group audition in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere. No experience or preparation required. Dress for movement. Please plan to stay for the entire time specified, and arrive 15 minutes before audition time to register. At Near West Theatre we encourage everyone to audition. People of all experience levels, races, ethnicities, neighborhoods, sizes, gender identities and backgrounds are needed. We use theater to build community and relationships. We're a great place to express yourself and make friends. Come try us! Bring a friend! PLEASE NOTE: The show includes profanity, the depiction of the use of illegal drugs, free love and sexuality, & an irreverence for the American flag. Its themes are many including pacifism, environmentalism, anti-war protest and religious satire especially toward Catholicism. There will be depictions of graphic violence. The production will include partial to full nudity. About HAIR and Near West Theatre's production, from the Director, Bob Navis Jr: "HAIR tells the story of the 'tribe,' a group of politically active, long-haired hippies of the 'Age of Aquarius' living a bohemian life in New York City and fighting against conscription into the Vietnam War." - Wikipedia Near West Theatre is looking to cast an open-hearted, free-thinking & adventurous ensemble of young people, ages 16-25 (or believably 25!) for our upcoming production of HAIR, The Love-Rock Musical. Breaking all the rules back in the sixties, its poetic, non-linear and political nature changed musical theater forever. The cast must be racially diverse, explosive in song and dance and emotion. Open to forming a tribal experience at rehearsals and in performance. This theatrical journey will ask all of us to question our core beliefs and assumptions... our definitions of ourselves, America, and all we say we stand for. "It is an obscene and yet serene parade of shaggy-headed black and white people, coming, going, sometimes angry, sometimes sweet, sometimes bitterly truthful... The flag endeared and chided. The war, ignobled and dishonored. A mockery of self. People nude and spiritual. Spirited people in raggedy, kooky clothes... psychedelic lighting. A love affair between the cast and the audience." - EBONY MAGAZINE, May 1970 CHARACTER BREAKDOWN: CLAUDE - Male, Caucasian, 20s, the young soldier going off to war. Vocal range: Rock baritone - tenor. The most beautiful beast in the forest. Smart, attractive male, with a playful side. A lover of life and the picture of a young man next door of the 60s. Strong actor. Berger's best friend. A charismatic leader that women adore, boys emulate and men will follow into the breach. A man of conscience who struggles with the conflict of what his heart tells him is right and what the authorities around him lead him to believe. BERGER - Male, Caucasian, 20s, the charismatic tribe leader. Vocal range: High baritone. A social activist recently banished from high school. An unrestrained animal. He knows what is right and sticks to it no matter the consequence. The leader of the tribe... the ringmaster. High energy, athletic, wild, strong presence and, though he may be a young man, he is looked up to. SHEILA - Female, Caucasian, 20s. Vocal range: High belt. A second semester student and passionate protestor from NYU who lives with Berger and Claude, aspires to spread love and peace. The most intelligent of the tribe. Wants to change society through peaceful protest. Not necessarily perfect on the outside, but must have a strong voice and presence. CRISSY - Female, Caucasian, 20s, innocent, pure. Vocal range: High folksy voice. A girl on the verge of womanhood. Strong-willed and looks up to Sheila. Believes in causes. Urges the tribe to take action. Fraternal twin of Cris. JEANIE - female, Caucasian. Pregnant, Claude-obsessed. Vocal range, Alto. A follower, not a leader. Incredibly sweet, understands Claude better than anyone. Wise, passionate, creative woman, who is pregnant with the tribe's baby. She has taken every drug and takes care of the tribe. Strong actress to play comedic and dramatic scenes. HUD - Male, African-American, 20s, tribe member. Vocal range: Bass/Baritone. Speaks his mind and hopes you can keep up with him. High energy, spiritual performer with a strong voice and presence. A natural on stage in any situation. He has an energetic personality. He is both intellectual and street hip. He scans the New York Times and The East Village. At times he is like a wise overseer. DIONNE - Female, African-American, 20s, tribe member. Vocal range: High belt. She is warm and compassionate. A strong presence with a strong sense of justice and irony. A little sassy and lots of fun. Great with comedy and ad-lib vocals. WOOF - Male, Caucasian, 20s, tribe member. Vocal range: Tenor with rock falsetto. May not want to admit that he might be gay. A young animal. High energy, versatile performer. Must be a natural with comedy. Looks up to Berger and Mick Jagger... in many ways. He is sexy, good looking, masculine but with an androgynous quality. A free-love nature freak granola boy. He is very much in his own world, a bit of a space cadet. MALE and FEMALE "TRIBE": 16 - 25-ish, All ethnicities. All types. Strong versatile singer/dancer/actors who move well. Will play multiple roles. Open on vocal range. MEMBERS OF THE TRIBE PLAY MULTIPLE OTHER ROLES THROUGHOUT THE PRODUCTION INCLUDING: 3 Moms, 3 Dads, 3 High School Principals, 2 Policemen, Electric Blues Quartet, White Girls Trio, Black Boys Trio, "The Supremes Trio", Army Sergeant, A Lincoln, J.W. Booth, C. Coolidge, Clark Gable, Scarlett O'Hara, Aretha Franklin, Colonel Custer, Shoeshine Boy, 3 Buddhist Monks, 1 Thousand Year Old Monk, 3 Catholic Nuns, 3 Astronauts, 3 Chinese, 3 Guerillas, 1 Native American Indian and OTHERS.