St. Theresa, world champion baton twirling, the Rockettes, drug abuse and baldness are all integral parts of Jeff Shade's Watching My Hair Grow, making its New York City premiere at the Chelsea Playhouse Nov. 16-28. Riverside Stage Company artistic director Brian Feehan directs. In the autobiographical one-man show, Shade performs a dance-theatre examination of his own life thus far, from growing up as a gay champion baton twirler in Pittsburgh to making his big debut on Broadway. Watching received its world premiere at the Pittsburgh City Theater in August 1996, with follow-up performances at the Boston Center for the Arts two years later.
Shade is currently a swing and the dance captain in Broadway's Chicago, following a stint in the national tour. His bio lists Sweet Charity as his favorite Broadway performance and "Mr. Rogers Neighborhood" as his favorite TV appearance.
Tickets are $32.50 and available by calling Ticket Central at (212) 279 4200. The Chelsea Playhouse is located at 125 West 22nd Street. Watching My Hair Grow is on the web at http://www.watchingmyhairgrow.com.
-- By Christine Ehren
