Shear Madness! A Cut Above the Rest

Shear Madness opened at the Hippodrome on June 4 where hair stylists from all over Gainesville provided attendees of the show with blow-outs and updos. For the rest of the summer, participating salons will compete to see who can send the most clients to the show. Those involved are: Absolutely Hair Styling, Charisma for Hair, Elan Hair Studio, The Hair Groomers, Jacquelyn Totura Hair Salon, Mode Salon, Nice Cut!, Scissors, 6th Street Station, Tecnicolors Salon, The Salon @ 716, The Strand, Thornebrrok Hair Design, Total Image Salon and Veda Salon & Spa.

Shear Madness is a comedic murder mystery that will be different every night it plays. It calls on the audience to solve the crime, making it a mix of comedy, mystery and improvisation. It also incorporates current events, celebrities and gossip into the script. Each show will be different and fresh, keeping you guessing no matter how many times you attend a production of Shear Madness this summer.

How Can You Be a Lawmaker? Act It Out!

Popular belief is that the theatre exists for entertainment purposes. It can comment on society and possibly raise awareness of issues, but its main purpose is to provide amusement and distraction from daily life. However, the Hippodrome State Theatre is hosting a two-day workshop by Julian Boal, director and innovator of the Theatre for Social Change. He will be using techniques from the Theatre of the Oppressed, specifically Forum and Legislative Theatre. The workshop will take place Wednesday, May 19 from 1-6 p.m. and Thursday, May 20 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Forum Theatre presents a scene where the protagonist encounters a situation of oppression in which he or she fails. Next, the "spect-actors" in the audience help recreate the scene with suggestions on how to remedy the situation using possibilities that exist outside the theatre. Legislative Theatre tries to make citizen desires into actual laws. After a Forum session, the group creates a mock-Chamber and perform a ritual of lawmaking. At the end, suggestions are collected and pressure is put on the true lawmakers to put legislation into action. It creates an environment where actors (and nonactors are welcome to join) can come up with real solutions to real problems on a local level. The workshop is open to everybody, but there is only space for 30 participants. The cost for both days of the workshop is $60. There is a final performance on Thursday at 6:30 that is free and open to the public.

The Hipp is Hot for the Holidays....

...perhaps a bit too hot! One of the stage curtains at the Hippodrome State Theater, in the heart of historic downtown Gainesville -- caught fire Wednesday evening! Thankfully everyone is fine and so is the theater so run don't walk to enjoy a production of either of their incredible holiday stage productions....for the classic-seeking theater aficinado, "A Christmas Carol" is a perfect choice. For those seeking to blend giggles and jingle bells, the Hipp's original production of "A Tuna Christmas" fits the bill to a tee.

Gift yourself or some well-deserving friends and family with a ticket to the Hipp for the Holidays!