War veteran’s hippie awakening
HAIR tells the story of a Vietnam War draftee who meets and befriends a tribe of long-haired hippies on his way to the army induction centre.
The hippies introduce him to the environment of marijuana, LSD, unorthodox relationships and draft evasion in the 1979 musical war drama film adaptation of the 1968 Broadway musical Hair: An American Tribal Love-Rock Musical.
The original production opened at the Biltmore Theatre on April 20, 1968 and ran for 1750 performances before it closed on July 1, 1972.
The production was nominated for the 1969 Tony Awards for Best Musical and Best Direction of a Musical.
Singers Madonna and Bruce Springsteen auditioned for parts in the film, while Betty Buckley’s voice is used for the Vietnamese girl singing “Walking In Space”.
More than about 20,000 extras and background artists participated in the musical numbers “3-5-0-0” and “Let the Sun Shine In” which were both staged at the base of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC, USA.
The film is being screened as part of USQ Artsworx’ Friday at the Flicks monthly movie program.
The program screens classic, significant and challenging films.
A five-minute pre-screening talk sets the context and then post-show drinks and nibbles allow for a discussion with a community of film enthusiasts. Tickets cost just $15.50 general admission. For more information about the screening call Artsworx Box Office on 4631 1111 or visit artsworx.com.au.