Interview from HAIR...

I recently caught up with Josh Lamon of the touring Broadway production of HAIR. Extremely gracious with his time, Josh and I chatted briefly about the impact of HAIR in today's society, the Tony Awards and his interesting story of being cast in the classic American tribal musical.

onstageTampa: Any cool story about how you got attached to HAIR? Did you audition for it; were you approached for it?
Josh Lamon: Well, it's kind of funny. I was doing Little Shop of Horrors at the time, an my agent called me and told me they wanted me to go in for it, and at first I turned down the audition. I mean because the show was such a hit and was in the park; it was coming to Broadway and they were looking for swings. You know, swings are normally dancers, and I'm not really a dancer. There was that aspect and from my mind I'm not some young, twinky thing with crazy hair. I'm balding, I'm a character actor; I just didn't want to waste anybody's time. So I turned it down, and they called me back and said they really want to see me. So, I went in and sang 32 bars of a song and literally didn't give a crap. Then a couple of weeks later, there were the final callbacks and there were 50 of us in the room for a total of 5 jobs, and it was crazy. It was like a dance off except it was more a hippie-off. It was a battle. I left there, went home, and I got the call the next morning.

onstageTampa: As I'm sure you know, HAIR is an iconic show. The show has been around for forty-plus years, there's been different ways they've done it and such. But, the further we get away from the time, the references are meaning less and less to the people of my generation and people who are younger and coming up. What do you think it is about the show that keeps people coming to it even though we're further away from the 60's and the free love movement?

Josh Lamon: Because I think it all still resonates today, I really do. I mean, the beautiful thing about the history of the show is how a generation cared so much that they made a movement, a change, they helped stop this war. Granted it's not the same right now, but our world is, you know, we're in so much turmoil right now. With everything, with our own country between Republicans and Democrats, our government and their involvement with the rest of the world. And with this War or Terror in 2011 they did talk about doing a draft. I think if they would have done the draft, then the war would have never happened.

The show is important because it teaches people of our generation and younger that it is important for us to have opinions, fight for those opinions, and believe in our opinions. And that believing in those things is patriotic.

onstageTampa: What do you hope people take away from the show, even though they may not know who LBJ was or understand things of the times. I know you touched on that briefly, but is there anything else that you hope people take away from it?

Josh Lamon: Well, most importantly the show at the end of the day is about love. And I hope people walk away maybe judging a little bit less, maybe a little bit more open to other people who are different from them. It's like at the dance party at the end of the show, one of the beautiful things is seeing strangers hug each other and dance together. I think the show brings that kind of element out in people and they can walk away with that. I hope that it also teaches people, from our generation to younger not to forget the history of what happened and how important it is to learn from our country's past mistakes.

onstageTampa: For however long you're going to be on HAIR, what's next for Josh Lamon?

Josh Lamon: I don't know. There's a lot of stuff in the works, but right now I'm really happy with HAIR. It's the longest I've been with a show.

onstageTampa: Because you were with it on Broadway and you're on tour now correct?

Josh Lamon: Yeah, I've been doing it for two and half years I guess, altogether. So we'll see what happens next.

onstageTampa: Do you have any predictions for the Tony's this year?

Josh Lamon: Yeah! I mean, I don't want to come off as a jerk, but the Tony's are not necessarily a popularity contest as much as it is a publicity contest. Book of Mormon is going to win everything. War Horse is going to win everything. As far as actors I think Josh Gad is going to get it.

Here's what I think about the Tony's this year. In the past years I've been disappointed. This year I'm thrilled with the Tony's, because for the first time in a long time, they have taken shows that aren't running anymore and they're recognizing and celebrating the great work that it is. That to me is what the Tony's should really be about, and unfortunately the Tony's aren't always like that.

onstageTampa: Josh, do have any thanks or plugs you'd like to shout out?

Josh Lamon: Watch Touring with Josh and Allison, it's a lot of fun. And follow me on twitter.

I want to thank Josh Lamon for taking a few minutes out of his day to talk with me about time with HAIR, the Tony's and everything in between. Be sure to catch Josh in HAIR in Tampa this week and be sure to continue supporting the arts in whatever capacity you do.

Music of the Post - Chorale and Shaker Dance

reasons to be pretty...

by Neil Labute
Jobsite Theater
Tampa, FL
May 12th, 2011


Watch what you say, especially with whomever may be listening.


Jobsite's latest effort reasons to be pretty takes us on a journey of modern relationships between men and women as well as the ubiquity of self esteem, vanity and confidence. Jobsite brought Neil Labute's Tony nominated play to life in a palpable and refreshingly forward thinking manner I've come to expect.

Jobsite's wonderfully gifted cast shine once again in this alarmingly relevant production. The show begins with Jobsite favorites Kari Goetz and Dayton Sinkia as our failing and feuding couple. Goetz's foul-mouthed portrayal of a woman scorned to woman empowered was played with great care and never seemed forced. Dayton Sinkia's characterization of Greg found a nice balance of absent-mindedness and resolve; which naturally progresses his character from beginning to end. Grace Santos Feeney's role of well meaning Carly was adequately performed and didn't leave anything to be desired.

If I could applaud through the review, I would do so for Chris Jackson's role of Kent. Jackson's explosive and polarizing performance was without doubt the anchor this production. Jackson's clever and witty delivery coupled with his incendiary intensity during his final scene were the capstones of an already impressive show. Bravo.

Cast of reasons to be pretty

l to r: Dayton Sinkia, Chris Jackson, Kari Goetz, Grace Santos Feeney

c/o jobsitetheater.org

As soon as the lights go up over the stage, Jobsite's production buckles you into your seat and takes off at 100mph. Jumping right into a domestic dispute spawning from one little comment, reasons to be pretty employs colorful, contemporary language we've all used in moments of passion. We slowly piece together the catalyst of Greg and Steph's argument and learn his comments about her "average" appearance. The argument continues as they consider their future with or without each other. We are later introduced to Carly and Kent and their superficially sound but ultimately rocky relationship. The play bounced from conversation to conversation with insouciant staging, setting aside the need for spectacle and allowing the dialogue to reign supreme. reasons to be pretty touches on elements of infidelity, reconciliation, friendship and yes, beauty.

All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed reasons to be pretty. Having heard or said something emoted on stage at one point or another in my life reminds me of this achingly real subject matter. This play had me cringing at certain points due to its acute realism with respects to dialogue and performance. Any one who has ever gone through a bad break up will surely relate to one or all moments on stage. I would recommend this play to everyone in town and I hope you get a chance to see it and possibly apply something you learn to a existing or future partnership.

reasons to be pretty has been extended through June 5th thanks to strong ticket sales. Jobsite has a knack for making the intimate Shimberg Playhouse a great venue with no bad seats. Be sure to click here for more information on reasons to be pretty and Jobsite Theater.

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Music of the Post - copeland