HAIR...returns to Broadway July 5th! Gerome Ragni rock musical timeless in appeal!

 



HAIR, the entertaining rock musical hit - authored by good friend Gerome Ragni - is going to land at the St. James Theatre in New York once it wraps up a National Tour in the next few months.

As I noted in a prior post - Ragni was anxious to cast me in the Toronto production - which was unveiled in all its joyous glory at the Alexandria Theatre at the tail-end of the heady 60's.

Just a few weeks ago, I trotted down to the Pantages Theatre to catch the latest raucous stage revival, which hasn't lost any of its appeal over the years.

Post: 01/21/2011

http://ijulian.blogspot.com/2011/01/haira-celebration-life-horrors-of-war.html

The tie-dyed celebration of life will open July 5th and run for 10 weeks 'til September 10th.

The Broadway encore will feature a celebrated mix of cast members from the 2009 revival (with Darius Nichols as Hud and Kacie Sheik as Jeanie) in addition to talented performers from the tour such as the ever-popular Steel Burkhardt (Berger), Paris Remillard (Claude), and Caren Lyn Tackett (Sheila) who pranced on the boards in the pre-Broadway run of the Central Park Revival (2008).

My "Body" is walking in space, alright!

Uh-huh!

Catch the Broadway launch - a must-see musical extravaganza - just betcha!

See 'ya there!

http://www.thetattler.biz



The naughty sexy tribe!

HAIR...memories of Gerome Ragni & rock musical! Revival @ Pantages Theatre!

 

When the moon is in the Seventh House

And Jupiter aligns with Mars

Then peace will guide the planets

And love will steer the stars

Chances are - you are keen to the fact that the above lyrics are from the hit song (Aquarius) penned for the Rock Musical "Hair" which was written by a good friend of mine - Gerome Ragni (and his sidekick James Rado).

 

I originally met "Jerry" in an odd way!

 

In the sixties, I was a street performer (known as "The Dancer"), who garnered a lot of public attention in the downtown streets of Toronto, during that heady era.

 

In fact, on one occasion on Baldwin Street, I was arrested for dancing on a police car during a scuffle that ensued during a rally (which was launched in a bold-faced effort to convert the tiny thoroughfare into a marketplace "sans" motor vehicles along the lines of the Farmer's Markets springing up around the Nation today).

 

Morley Markson - a filmmaker who was travelling around North America shooting footage on the sixties hippie movement - happened to be in attendance that day with his crew in tow and captured the whole episode on film.

 

Subsequently, the hilarious scene ended up being broadcast on the National News (CBC) in Canada with a Beatles's tune blaring in the background!

 

Later, Mr. Markson included the footage in his documentary - "Breathing Together"  - which was also known as the "Revolution of the Electric Family" - which won an award at the Cannes Film Festival in 1972.

 

Of course - clips of Abbie Hoffman, John Lennon, and Buckminster Fuller - didn't hurt when it came to drumming up interest in his delightful take on that outrageous unique era.

 

Meanwhile, elsewhere on the horizon, Mr. Ragni - the innovative writer/composer of the Broadway sell-out show - was in Toronto in preparation for the launch of a HAIR production at the Alexandria Theatre. 

 

One day I was dancing on Bloor Street in downtown "Cow" town, when Mr. Ragni happened to be cruising by in a taxi. 

 

As soon as he spied me outside of the passenger window of the cab, he bolted out the side-door, and dashed up to me on the street.

 

"You've got to be in Hair," he exclaimed excitedly.

 

Due to my highly-original dance routines and ubiquitous bohemian presence (coupled with scraggly curly locks similar to those featured on the album cover) it was pretty much a given to folks in Toronto that I was a perfect fit for the production of "HAIR"

 

Unfortunately, after I danced up-a-storm and warbled a heart-felt spirited tune at my audition, the producers arrived at their own conclusions.

 

"He's stoned," they lamented.

 

Next!

 

Understandably, a reporter - sitting in on the auditions - was quick to pose a question in the aftermath.

 

"What were you on?"

 

"The stage," I quipped without blinking-an-eye!

 

 Ba-dump!

 

Although I didn't end up on stage in the Toronto production of HAIR in a role, I was invited to the opening night celebrations, nonetheless.

 

Old photographs at the Toronto Star (Weekend Magazine) bare witness to the fact that I was center stage - and dancing alongside the cast (with Ragni) - when the final explosive scene rang down the curtain that night.
 

Needless to say, Jerry and I became good friends.

 

In fact, we were casual lovers - too - on the sly.

 

Jerry was married after all, and had a young son. 

To further complicate matters, I was underage (17).

 

The last time I was in the company of Jerry, it was a bizarre experience, too.

 

I was tripping around West Hollywood one day when I ran smack dab into Jerry near Duke's Restaurant (which used to be at the Tropicana Hotel on Santa Monica Blvd before it moved up to Sunset Blvd on the busy strip).

 

Jerry invited me up to his Hotel room (at the Sunset Marquis) for a light snack and coffee, but - wouldn't 'ya know it - our chance encounter ended up turning into a roll in-the-hay.

 

Just as we finished up doing the nasty (a phrase we used in those days), the front desk clerk called up from the lobby of the Hotel, with a message which struck like a bolt of lightning.

 

Treat Williams was downstairs and on his way up.

 

OMG!

 

Jerry was in a panic because he instinctively knew that Treat would figure things out at the drop of-a-hat once he spied us together in his suite. 

 

So, Jerry urged me to hide in the closet (!) until the two of them took off for an engagement across town (which had allegedly slipped his mind).

 

"Just let yourself out when we're gone," Jerry laughed.

 

And, that was the last time I saw his cheerful mug.

 

Gerome Ragni passed away in the 1980's but left a legacy of song!

 

"Hair" wasn't a hit at first, though.

 

According to Jerry, the musical languished off-off Broadway for weeks without much recognition or fanfare.

 

"It wasn't until we put in the nude scene," joked Jerry,"that we rustled up all the attention. At which point, the show took off."

 

"Hair" is slated for a revival at the Pantages Theatre next month from January 5th thru 11th.

 

If you have the opportunity, catch it if you can!

 

It's still a wonderful musical that is uplifting, spirited, and chock full of exuberance.

 

http://www.thetattler.biz/

 

 

Treat starred in film version of Hair!

Jeffrey Jones...Ferris Bueller "principal" charged with Felony! Failure to report...

Jeffrey Jones appears in court in real-life drama!

I was saddened to read in the morning daily that Jeffrey Jones (Amadeus) was charged with a felony for failing to update his registration as an alleged "sex offender".

A what, you say?

Startling, indeed, when you consider that Jones soared into the hearts of many film fans with his hilarious portrayal of the school principal in the hit comedy - "Ferry Bueller's Day Off " (which starred Mathew Broderick).

In 2003, as part of a plea bargain - and in addition to 5 years probation - Jeffrey was ordered to regularly register with the state as a "sex offender" on his birthday each year and participate in a counseling program.

The seasoned actor pled "no contest" to inducing a fourteen-year-old boy to pose for sexually explicit photos.

Personally, I was shocked by the whole scenario that went down.

I have known Jeffrey for over thirty years.

In my younger days, when I resided in Vancouver (B.C.), Jones often appeared in Shakesperean productions in one-line roles (playing guards and messengers and the like).

I actually attended one of those earlier stage presentations as Jeffrey's guest.

As his fledgling career took off - boy, did it! - he ended up taking up residence in the upper West Side of New York City (if I recall correctly).

In 1973-1974, I pursued stage work in the "Big apple" for a brief stint.

Regular readers of this blog will recall that I have written about my appearance in a "Hot Peaches" off-off-Broadway" production titled "The Magic Hype" (a side-splitting spoof on Warhol & his factory "stars").

One day out-of-the-blue, Jeffrey called and invited me to attend a sold-out performance by the legendary Bette Midler at the Palace (Barry Manilow on piano) fresh from the Continental Baths (a trendy gay bathouse frequented by the tony elite in NYC).

Although I was not a close personal friend of Jeff's, I had a few glimpses into his private life.

For a duration, he maintained a monogamous relationship with a young man who was definitely not underage!

So, with that in mind, understandably the "sex offender" charges appeared to be outlandish (and - no pun intended - out of character).

Needless to say, for his own reasons, Jeff chose to negotiate a plea bargain.

Prosecutors allege that Mr. Jones failed to renew his registration with the State within five days of his last birthday (September 28/2009).

After a brief hearing, Jones was released on $20,000.00 bail.

A future hearing will determine his fate.

In view of the foregoing, I have to shake my head in disbelief.

Like Lindsay Lohan who flagrantly thumbs her nose at the court, Jeffrey may have chosen to ignore (or did he simply forget to register?) the terms and conditions of his plea bargain agreement - and consequently - now faces additional fines and penalties (possible jail time?).

Frankly, I think it's tragic.

Once a defendant gets entrapped in the court's web (due to their own inability to emotional cope or what-have-you) they usually get caught up in an undertown in the legal system that is difficult to break free from.

Hopefully, on those occasions, the court shows mercy!

 

Jones as "The Emperor" in Amadeus

http://www.julianayrs.com/

Crystal Palin...seeks sole custody of child! Buffed Levi fights back...

Word out of the great white north is that Crystal Palin has moved forward with a court action, and is requesting sole custody of the child fathered by former boyfriend Levi Johnston, in addition to child support.

Not about to take it on the chin, Levi launched his own counter-attack against the Palin clan, by responding with a request for shared custody.

If recent comments made on the Joy Behar talk show during the course of a televised interview with Johnston are true (Sarah Palin inferred that Levi was not a good father because he was too busy selfishly pursuing fame and fortune on the celebrity beat) the young stud may have a nasty uphill battle on his manly hands.

Judging by the estranged father's response to the allegations that evening, I expect those were fighting words to his ears.

Then, there is the issue of his recent spread in Playgirl Magazine.

Will the Judge presiding over the case find that this kind of - um - exposure makes him unfit as a father or simply an uninhibited undressed one who just happens to be footloose and fancy-free?

News at 11!

A child in need

http://www.julianayrs.com

Sarah Palin...Levi Johnston stabs VP hopeful in back & front! Media whore goes for bucks...

Levi unzipped?

Well, Levi Johnston is taking a second shot at his fifteen minutes of fame.

And, like the mythical phoenix (a person or thing of peerless beauty or excellence that has become renewed or restored after suffering calamity) he has risen from the ashes of a torched political campaign to seek his rightful place in the sun.

But, he's a strange hybrid, that Levi.

While Brooke Shields wouldn't let anyone come between her Levis, the virile young dude from the wild Great White North, is ready to bare all of his studly assets (to the highest bidder, of course!).

So far, it's all been a co**  tease!

Unfortuntely, the groundwork has been shakey from the get-go, for the intrepid interloper.

A caller on a local talk show ranted:

"How dare he!"

Of course, the irate Palin fan was scorning Levi for stabbing Sarah Palin in the back (and front, it would also seem) in a fabled tell-all in a recent Vanity Fair interview.

In sum, he's a snake!

"She was the one who put him in the spotlight," she seethed.

No matter.

The so-called allegations caused many to shrug in disbelief anyway.

For starters, the square-jawed turncoat offered up fodder that didn't fall right as rain, if you know what I mean.

Why would Sarah Palin and the 1st Dude bandy about thoughts of divorce while Levi (the wide-eyed boy-child) was idly sitting by scarfing up every delicious morsel?

Another outrageous allegation - the revelation that sky-rocketed the little innocent into the limelight with promises of fame and fortune in more recent days - also didn't hold up from the get-go.

If you recall, Levi tattled to everyone within earshot that when Bristol became pregnant, the Palin's offered to adopt the child when it was born (in secret) so no one would know the ugly truth.

You betcha - thus salvaging - the former ice - um- beauty Queen's political career.

Guess what?

The conversation - according to the calulations of a handful of intelligent folks of the common-sense variety (if we're to ever believe it took place) apparently transpired before the VP slot was ever offered to the Alaskan Governor!

Duh!

Even still, a fashion lay-out in Vanity Fair roped in a handful with a weakness for eye-candy.

In fact, "Unzipped" (a gay rag that plies studly male flesh to horny young dudes around the country)  was the first to jump on the bandwagon and offer up big bucks for candid shots of bare-naked butt and the man-tool the kid's supposed-to-be packing up front.

"Sure, we'd love to have him (?). He's rugged. A man's man," a spokesperson from the skin mag noted in a slightly theatrical tone of voice.

Excuse me!

Bitchiness is a very poor quality in a fella, dude!

Will the media whore bite, though?

Sure, the fashion lay-out was flattering - Levi cut a fine swath in designer threads, in fact - but as one astute pundit laughed.

"How can you take him seriously when he's hanging out with B-lister Kathy Griffin?"

Nuff said!

Media darlings, oy veh!

http://www.julianayrs.com

Colin Farrell...porn footage on web site incites actor's ire!

Colin wears flesh tone and tats well...


According to a writer who pens a "tell-all" society column for one of the local gay publications (IN Magazine), Colin Farrell's attorney demanded that a video featuring titillating porn footage of the superstar actor be removed from the site.

Pronto!

In response, the journalist wondered aloud if the legal eagle's request wasn't a little off-base.

After all, he quipped, Farrell's performance on-camera was his best yet!

Apparently, the sexy thespian does a bang-up job between the sheets.

I've never known the columnist to be untruthful, so I expect his account of the events is correct.

From a legal standpoint - in my estimation - the scenario would hinge on the origins of the video, who owned the rights, how the webmaster got his little hands on it, and so forth and so on.

Stay tuned for updates, if any!

Sexy actor wears clothes well, too...

Harry Potter...naked Equus stint inspires dong parties!

Check out surprise nude shot at: http://www.julianayrs.com

News out of the "Big Apple" is that Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter) is piquing a lot of curiosity over his risque acting role in Equus where he appears nightly on stage - as the snotty English blokes would snarl - starkers.

The last stint in Equus - and the raft of nude stills that splashed onto the Internet worldwide in its wake - inspired die-hard fans to toss "Dong" parties for their pretty poster boy on campuses around the country.

I trust the trend will continue.

Don't forget your "rubbers" and "play safe".

Porn...Webmaster names site Julian Ayrs to rustle up traffic!

Yesterday, I was quite startled to come across a link with reference to me, while I was conducting a search of my name at GOOGLE to locate some client information.

Although the caption appeared to refer to a post from several months ago, there was a bit of "gobbly-gook" in the caption feed that didn't make any sense.

So, naturally, I clicked on the link to check it out.

The screen went black, my name (Julian Ayrs) scrolled up in the center, then the words "LOADING" signalled a countdown of some sort was underway.

Suddenly, about six panels of raunchy "PORN", splashed onto the screen!

For the most part, there were a lot of in-your-face close-up shots of pu**y, nubile displays of tender a**, and - of course - titillating images of lusty naked gals giving head to hunky dudes with humongous co**s.

Whoa Nellie!

Someone went to considerable time and expense to throw together the site.

An homage to me? A silly prank, perhaps?

No.

It dawned on me this morning that the Webmaster for the porn site must have been trying to capitalize on my successful blog (which is fed daily to popular blog sites like Zimbio, Technorati, and Wordpress).

Because so many people have been searchng for my blog - or specific posts - in recent weeks, it must have occurred to an enterprising individual that a site with my name, with an appropriate tag, would show up in a "Google" search.

By including my name in the "entry", the person no doubt anticipated that Internet surfers - seeking my blog posts - might click on their link by mistake.

And, in the final analysis, they might succeed in rustling up some new clients, sales, whatever!

Well, I'm flattered by all the attention!

Unfortunately, PORN is not my thing.

Sure, I’ve been in the shower at the gym on a few occasions when a couple of guys have approached me to do adult films.

While I believe that a person should show off their best assets, I have always followed the old axiom that you should never do anything you wouldn’t want your mother to see!

And, as I've always said, I'd rather partake in the lascivious acts, then watch someone else erotically perform 'em on screen.

As Robertson Davies once said,

Pornography is rather like trying to find out about a Beethoven symphony by having somebody tell you about it and perhaps hum a few bars.

Harry Potter...link to NUDE VIDEO requires Trojan protection!

In a recent post, I noted that nude photos of Daniel Radcliffe were inspiring Harry Potter fans to throw "dong parties".



Post:



http://www.ijulian.blogspot.com/2008/03/harry-potternaked-jk-rowlings.html

Today, when I logged into the blog, an anonymous person posted a link to view a nude video of Radcliffe. However, when I clicked on it, anti-virus software issued a warning, indicating the alleged Video was unsafe.



The message read as follows:



Discovered: February 19, 2004

Updated: August 15, 2007 3:51:25 PM

AKA: Trojan-Spy.HTML.Smitfraud.c [Kaspersky], Phish-BankFraud.eml.a [McAfee], Trj/Citifraud.A [Panda Software], generic5 [AVG]

Type: Trojan

Systems Affected: Windows 98, Windows 95, Windows XP, Windows Me, Windows Vista, Windows NT, Windows Server 2003, Windows 2000

Trojan Horse is a generic detection for various Trojan horse programs.



Well, you know what they say.

Play safe.



Don't forget your rubbers at the dong party!



Free Sample:



http://www.trojancondoms.com/Product/FreeSample.aspx

Abercrombie and Fitch...obscenity charges dropped; Virgin flesh prevails!

When it comes to sexy, titillating ADS promoting clothing to young adults - particularly teens - Abercrombie & Fitch has been the frontrunner.

But, a dash of fashionable cloth and a splash of tender flesh this past week, catapulted the retailer into the glare of the National spotlight when shoppers at a mall complained of images that were too provocative - on the edge of soft porn - some alleged.

The sizzling photographs - a display of three scantily-clad men with buttocks showing and one featuring a nubile young lady with a breast partly exposed - triggered the filing of a complaint with the local men in blue.

Initially, Abercrombie & Fitch was given a stern warning and ordered to remove the alleged "offending images" from a prominent display area in a store window, or face an obscenity charge.
The clothier was defiant, though, lamented to anyone within earshot.

"The images show less skin than most people would see on any summer day at the beach."

Well, in the cold light of day in a busy shopping mall - out of context - the overt erotic images may have been a bit too scandalous for the regular Joe to digest with wee tots in tow.

In the battle that ensued, the police lost out, and were forced to turn a - um - cheek.

The long and short of it?

Prosecutors said that they were unable to bring a case.

Deputy City Attorney Mark Stiles explained why.

"While the images might be technically in breach of the nudity section of the city's local code, they were in line with the other standards upheld by the law."

To successfully prosecute on the obscenity charge, the images would have to appeal to "prurient interests, lack any redeeming artistic merit, and be offensive to prevailing community standards".

In retrospect, it appears that Abercrombie's assessment of the reaction of city officials was on target.

"This was an incredible overreaction by city officials that would be comical except for its potentially serious legal implications," their press statement pronounced.

Mr. Stiles argued that the police acted in good faith and hinted that the execs at the Abercrombie & Fitch outlets may have courted controversy for publicity purposes.

No, you don't say!

"Abercrombie and Fitch", lawmakers contended, hatched these ads for one reason.

"It was all a part of a marketing plans to get as close to the line as they could get and then make it a judgment call for the officer on the street. I think that's what's happened here," he said.

Wouldn't the officers' time be better spent dealing with real crime in the city's mean streets than wasting costly resource on such trivial pursuits?

Just asking!

Bill Clinton...Viagra ad?

In the future I may be a little more cautious when I bend over and snatch up the Sunday paper...why?

Recently, the LA TIMES featured a handful of snapshots of politicians in various clinches - lip-locks with the Gores, the Giulianis - and yes - the Clintons.

Heh, I nearly lost my breakfast!

The caption read, "...in '08 a little leg may go a long way".

If sex sells, the probing Journalist theorizes, aspiring couples in the Presidential race - knowingly or not - may bring the issue to the fore.

The thrust of the article is whether "public displays of affection" (or PDA's,the code word we used as kids to signal a date to get the paws off) are an asset to a campaign or not.

One expert opines, "Politicians often say that a candidate's spouse is a negligible factor when it comes to choosing a candidate".

"A candidate's spouse has to be a possible enhancement, if not - at least cause no harm."

Well, in the instance of John Kerry, it may have been true.

How many voters were comfortable with the idea of the ketchup bottle heiress roaming the hallowed halls of the White House swilling an expensive glass of wine in hand?

If the photos are any indication, it is evident that calculated press ops should be kept at bay.

The Al & Tipper smooch is not only reminiscent of the forced one Michael Jackson planted on Lisa Marie's pert lips, but also the dry, uncomfortable peck Cruise tried to launch on Katie Holmes (Mission: Impossible).

The Giuliani still appeared staged and phony in one sense.

The Body Language - especially the prominent hand grips by both partners - on arm, shoulder, and face (!) - suggested that His Honor was holding on for dear life - lest the trophy wife take flight; while his other half may have been clutching just as fiercely for fear he'd catch the eye of a seductress seeking to be number four wife.

Notwithstanding, the impression elucidated subliminally, is that of sublime bondage, perhaps.

The shot of the Clintons takes the prize, though.

The whole attitude of the photograph - their stance - and especially her bare legs and his noticeable lack of muscle tone (the line in the song goes something like this: with a figure less than Greek...) offers up something entirely unique.

The image reminds me of two has-been celebrities trotted out on "Dancing with the Stars" - workin' out their moves - and praying for a second chance at the brass ring.

It'd make a good ad for Viagra or a time-share, without doubt.

One has to wonder, does Hillary still hanker for nookie with Bill?

Gee, if we don't ask, maybe they won't tell.