Legacy of the King Family

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Martin Luther King, Jr. was born on January 15, 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia to Reverend Martin Luther King, Sr. and Alberta Williams King. He was the first son and second child, between an older sister, Willie Christine King, and a younger brother, Alfred Daniel Williams King. “The Mountaintop” by Katori Hall is a play that takes place the evening before the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and runs at Performance Network Theatre in Ann Arbor from April 25 – June 2, 2013. Click here for more information!

Martin Luther King, Jr’s birth name was “Michael King”, as was his father’s until they were both unofficially changed in 1934 in honor of the great German reformer Martin Luther. It is commonly said that the name change was inspired during a trip to Germany during 1934 by Martin Luther, the German theologian who initiated the Protestant Reformation. But according to an account Martin Luther King, Sr. gave to the New York Post reporter in 1957, he had always intended for his son’s name to be Martin Luther, and the appearance of the name ‘Michael’ in his son’s birth records was a mistake due to confusion over his own name:

“I had been known as Michael Luther King or “Mike” up until I was 22…when one day my father, James Albert King, told me ‘You aren’t named Mike or Michael either. Your name is Martin Luther King. Your mother just called you Mike for short.’ I was elated to know that I had really been named for the great leader of the Protestant Reformation, but there was no way of knowing if papa had made a mistake after all. Neither of my parents could read or write and they kept no record of Negro births in our backwoods county…I gladly accepted Martin Luther King as my real name and when M.L. Was born, I proudly named him Martin Luther King, Jr. But it was not until 1934, when I was seeking my first passport…that I found out that Dr. Johnson, who delivered M.L., had listed him in the city records as Michael Luther King, Jr., because he thought that was my real name.”

No records documenting a formal name change for either King yet have been uncovered, so legally, Martin Luther King, Jr.’s name officially remained “Michael” until his death.

On June 18, 1953, Martin Luther King, Jr. married the Coretta Scott, younger daughter of Obadiah and Bernice McMurray Scott of Marion, Alabama. Four children were born to Dr. and Mrs. King: Yolanda Denise (November 17, 1955 in Montgomery, Alabama), Martin Luther III (October 23, 1957 in Montgomery, Alabama), Dexter Scott (January 30, 1961in Atlanta, Georgia), and Bernice Albertine (March 28, 1963 in Atlanta, Georgia). All four children later followed in their parents’ footsteps as civil rights activists.

Coretta Scott King

Coretta Scott King played a very prominent role in the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s, including taking part in the Montgomery Bus Boycott of 1955, playing an active role in advocating for civil rights legislation, and working hard to pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Coretta Scott King graduated from Antioch College with a B.A in music and education, and won a scholarship to study concert singing at New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, MA. It was in Boston where she met a young theology student, Martin Luther King, Jr. They married in 1953 and she completed her degree in voice and violin at the New England Conservatory in 1954. Although the demands of raising four children and a family caused Mrs. King to retire from singing, she found another way to put her musical background to the service of the Civil Rights Movement. She conceived and performed a series of critically acclaimed Freedom Concerts, combining poetry, narration and music to tell the story of the Movement. Over the years, Mrs. King staged Freedom Concerts in some of America’s most distinguished concert venues as fundraisers. Listen to Coretta talk about her singing career here.

In the 1960s as Dr. King broadened his message and his activism to embrace causes of international peace and economic justice, Mrs. King found herself in increasing demand as a public speaker, including but not limited to becoming the first woman to deliver the Class Day address at Harvard, the first woman to preach at a statutory service in St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, and a liaison to international peace and justice organizations.

After her husband’s assassination in 1968, Mrs. King reluctantly took the helm of the movement after she offered the position as leader of the Civil Rights Movement to Josephine Baker who then turned the position down. Mrs. King broadened her focus to include women’s rights, LGBT rights, economic issues, world peace, and various other causes. As early as December 1968, she called for women to “unite and form a solid block of women power to fight the three great evils of racism, poverty and war”, during a Solidarity Day speech. As the leader of the movement, Mrs. King founded the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change in Atlanta. She served as the center’s president and CEO from its inception until she passed the reins of leadership to son Dexter Scott King in 1995. She remained active in causes for racial and economic justice, and her remaining years devoted much of her energy to AIDS education and curbing gun violence. She died in 2006 at the age of 78.

King’s Children

Yolanda King, the first-born child of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr and Coretta Scott King, was a human rights activist and actress. She was a member of the Board of Directors of the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change, Inc. and was founding Director of the King center’s Cultural Affairs Program. She served as a member of several other human rights organizations. She died on May 15, 2007.

Martin Luther King III, eldest son and second child of Dr. and Coretta Scott King, is an American human rights advocate and community activist. He is currently the oldest living child of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Coretta Scott King.

Dexter Scott King is the second son who became an actor and documentary filmmaker. He has been a dedicated vegan and animal rights activist since the late 1980s.

Bernice King, the youngest King child, is an American Baptist minister and is the only King child to have become a minister. She was the president-elect of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference starting in 2009 but then stepped down in January 2011.

Detroit actor, Brian Marable stars as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in “The Mountaintop” by Katori Hall now through June 2, 2013. Click here information!

10 QUESTIONS with Brian Marable

Get to  know our new blog series that will give readers a chance to learn about highlighted Performance Networkers in ten questions! Brian Marable stars as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Katori Hall’s THE MOUNTAINTOP coming to Performance Network on April 25. Today is Brian’s birthday, so we decided to kick off this new tradition with the Birthday Boy!

THE MOUNTAINTOP is an Olivier Award Winner for Best New Play and portrays Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. like you’ve never seen him before! Brian Marable is a part of the Michigan Premiere for this groundbreaking piece!

1) What was your first pet?
A dog. German Shepard. Sandy was her name.

2) What did you have for breakfast this morning?
McDonalds. A sausage biscuit, two hash browns, and a large orange juice… I probably shouldn’t have told you that. It was disgusting! … Actually it was pretty good.

3) What is your dream role?
I would love to play Langston Hughes.

4) What is your favorite quote from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.?
“I have a dream.” The reason is because the whole concept of dreaming and believing helps people continue on. I like anything that helps people keep going. It’s timeless. I’m a dreamer, obviously because I decided to become an actor!

5) What was your favorite birthday present?
Oh this is easy! On my 14th birthday my parents rented me a limo. Me and my top 11 friends cruised the town.

6) What’s the way to Brian Marable’s heart?
I’m a sucker for honesty and forthrightness. As long as we’re being honest, it’s hard for me to hold discontent with a person. I love honesty. Keep it real, folks.

7) What’s your favorite smell?
The grill. I don’t care. Ribs, hot dogs, everything smells good on the grill.

8) What’s your least favorite word?
Impossible.

9) What was your first role?
HA! HA! The father in “Hansel and Gretel” in the fifth grade.

10) If you were a type of beverage, what would you be?
A Bloody Mary. I got a little spice, but with the right amount of vodka, I’m smooooth.

Thanks to Brian for the great interview and come see him portray an imagined interpretation of Dr. King’s last night on earth in THE MOUNTAINTOP April 25 – June 2, 2013. Click here for more info!

Wealth Inequality in America

An infographics video was published a few months ago on YouTube examining the distribution of wealth in America. Reality, as this video points out, is not often what we think it is.

This video is extremely relevant to today’s economics and society, and to Performance Network Theatre’s production of “Good People” by David Lindsay-Abaire that is showing right now until April 7. Margie, a single mother in “Southie” Boston is facing eviction after losing her minimum-wage Dollar Store job. Mike Dillion, Margie’s classmate and “summer fling” from years ago, worked hard and was able to make it out of Southie Boston to becoming a successful doctor. Margie worked hard and ended up with a Dollar Store job, one that she loses because she is looking after her daughter who is sick because Margie can’t afford the doctor bills because she was trying to save some money. “Good People” provides a safe environment to explore and discuss the issues of the economic divide.

To join Performance Network for an evening of thought-provoking, powerful, and poignant reflections on today’s economic divide, call the Box Office at 734-663-0681 or book your tickets online. “Good People” has EXTENDED it’s run to April 7, 2013. We’ll see you at the theatre!

Delicious Recipes from the World of Good People

Prepare for an evening at the theatre of Good People by getting in the mood with some delicious Boston-area recipes!

Boxty
½ lb mashed potatoes
½ lb shredded raw potatoes
1 egg
½ c milk
2/3 c flour
salt, pepper, to taste

1) Mix potatoes, then add salt, pepper, and flour in a large bowl. Set aside.
2) Beat egg and milk together. Add the milk mixture to the potato batter.
3) Spoon out the mixture onto a heated griddle and cook at 350ºF until golden brown and potatoes are cooked.

Boston Cream Pie

Adapted from Kraft (http://www.kraftrecipes.com/recipes/boston-cream-pie-92009.aspx)

1 pkg (3.4 oz) Jell-O Vanilla Flavor Instant Pudding
1 cup plus 2 Tbsp cold milk, divided
1½ cups thawed whipped topping
1 round yellow cake (8 or 9 inches)
1 square (1 oz) unsweetened baking chocolate
1 Tbsp butter
¾ cup powdered sugar

1) Bake yellow cake according to package instructions in a 8 to 9 inch round baking pan. Let cool.
2) Beat pudding mix and 1 cup milk in medium bowl with whisk 2 min. Stir in whipped topping. Let stand 5 min. Meanwhile, cut cake horizontally into 2 layers with serrated knife.
3) Stack cake layers on plate, spreading pudding mixture between layers.
4) Microwave chocolate and butter in medium microwaveable bowl on high 1 min. or until butter is melted; stir until chocolate is completely melted and mixture is well blended. Add sugar and remaining milk; mix well. Spread over cake. Refrigerate 1 hour.

New England Clam Chowder

Adapted from Taste of Home (http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/
New-England-Clam-Chowder-3)

4 center-cut bacon strips
2 celery ribs, chopped
1 large onion, chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
3 small potatoes, peeled and cubed
1 cup water
1 bottle (8 ounces) clam juice
3 teaspoons reduced-sodium chicken bouillon granules
1/4 teaspoon white pepper
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme

1/3 cup all-purpose flour
2 cups fat-free half-and-half, divided
2 cans (6-1/2 ounces each) chopped clams, undrained

1) In a Dutch oven, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp. Remove to paper towels to drain; set aside. Saute celery and onion in the drippings until tender. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Stir in the potatoes, water, clam juice, bouillon, pepper and thyme. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 15-20 minutes or until potatoes are tender.
2) In a small bowl, combine flour and 1 cup half-and-half until smooth. Gradually stir into soup. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 1-2 minutes or until thickened.
3) Stir in clams and remaining half-and-half; heat through (do not boil). Crumble the reserved bacon; sprinkle over each serving.

Wassail Bowl Punch Recipe

Adapted from Celebrate Boston (http://www.celebrateboston.com/recipe/
holiday/wassail-bowl-punch.htm)
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon ginger
2 teaspoons nutmeg
1 teaspoon cardamon
1 cup lemon juice
2 cups water
3 quarts sherry or cider
Sugar syrup to sweeten
6 whole baked apples
Serves 30 punch cups

1) Boil spices with lemon juice and water for 5 minutes. Transfer to large double boiler and add wine. Sweeten to taste with syrup or sugar.
2) Put the apples in the punch bowl while hot and heat wassail just until hot. Pour over apples and serve. Usually a large copper, pewter, or earthenware bowl is used for this drink. Toasting to good health is to wassail.

Boston Baked Beans

Adapted from AllRecipes (http://allrecipes.com/recipe/boston-baked-beans/
detail.aspx)

2 cups navy beans
½ lb bacon
1 onion, finely diced
3 tablespoons molasses
2 teaspoons salt
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
¼ teaspoon dry mustard
½ cup ketchup
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
¼ cup brown sugar

1) Soak beans overnight in cold water. Simmer the beans in the same water until tender, approximately 1 to 2 hours. Drain and reserve the liquid.
2) Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).

3) Arrange the beans in a 2 quart bean pot or casserole dish by placing a portion of the beans in the bottom of dish, and layering them with bacon and onion.
4) In a saucepan, combine molasses, salt, pepper, dry mustard, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce and brown sugar. Bring the mixture to a boil and pour over beans. Pour in just enough of the reserved bean water to cover the beans. Cover the dish with a lid or aluminum foil.
5) Bake for 3 to 4 hours in the preheated oven, until beans are tender. Remove the lid about halfway through cooking, and add more liquid if necessary to prevent the beans from getting too dry.

Boston Lobster Roll

adapted from Boston Discovery Guide (http://www.boston-discovery-guide.com/lobster-roll-recipe.html#.UTtr9xkyEvo)

2 (1 1/4 pound) lobsters, boiled or steamed, meat chopped into small chunks
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
1 medium stalk of celery, finely diced
fresh ground pepper, to taste
2 New England-style hotdog rolls (split along top, not side)
2-4 tablespoons butter, softened
potato chips and pickle, for serving (optional)
4 lemon wedges, for serving
2 scallions (optional), sliced thin
cayenne (optional)

1) Mix lobster meat with mayonnaise in a large bowl.  Use just enough mayonnaise to coat the meat but not so much that it is holding the meat together.  Add 2-3 grinds of black pepper.  Mix in diced celery.  Cover the mixture and chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.
2) Meanwhile, preheat a skillet (preferably cast iron) to medium heat.  Spread the softened butter on both sides of each hotdog roll.  Place a buttered side down on the skillet and toast each side for 2-3 minutes, or until golden-brown.  You can also toast the bottom for a couple of minutes if you want.
3) Fill each toasted roll with the chilled lobster mixture.  Serve immediately with lemon wedges, potato chips, and pickles.  If you want a bit of spice to your lobster roll, add scallions and a dash of cayenne.

If you are interested in learning more recipes from the Boston, attend the event on March 14th at the Ann Arbor District Library with guests the Brass Sisters, who will teach attendees about heirloom cooking. Good People runs at Performance Network Theatre Feburary 21 through March 31! Tickets can be purchased online (https://tickets.performancenetwork.org/TheatreManager/1/tmEvent/tmEvent451.html) or by calling the Box Office at 734-663-0681.

Single Mothers like Margaret Walsh

Good People by David Lindsay-Abaire focuses on Margaret, a single working mother, who just lost her job at the local Boston dollar store and her only source of income. Margaret’s struggles to provide for her mentally disabled adult daughter and keep a roof over their heads provides the viewer with a window into the hardships single mothers run into in today’s world. Lindsay-Abaire presents a play with a sobering truth underneath the thin veil of comedy and makes us aware of the world we live in.

Single mothers are becoming an increasingly common member of society in 21^st century America. From 2000 to 2009, joblessness increased for single mothers at the same time that “welfare reform” was making welfare less accessible to single mother families in need.  Increased joblessness and decreased access to welfare have increased poverty and hardship. Here are a few statistics provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the National Women’s Law Center:

• In December 2007, the unemployment rate for single mothers was below 7%.  Today, that number has jumped to 12%.
• In 2009 over a quarter of single mothers were jobless the entire year, a third were jobless in an average month, and less than half were employed full-time year-round.
• Between 2000 and 2009, the percentage of single mothers with an income less than the poverty level rose from 33% to 38.5%
• Families with an income less than half the poverty level are commonly considered to be in “extreme poverty.”  The percentage with an income less than half the poverty level rose from 14% in 2000 to 19% in 2009.  Over that same period, the percentage counted as “food insecure” rose from 31% to 37%, and the percentage turning to food pantries to feed their families rose from 8.6% to 13.7%.

Boston, despite being a world-class city and a hub of industry, innovation, education, and sport, suffers from greater poverty rates than the rest of the Massachusetts state and nationwide average. According to Boston Rising, an organization dedicated to fighting poverty, more than 19% of all Bostonians, and 28% of Bostonians under 18 live below the federal poverty line, a substantial increase from 2000.  Additionally, 80% of open jobs are never formally advertised, and are therefore inaccessible to people who don’t have access to social networks that know about those jobs.

In Good People, Margaret finds it difficult to learn of, let alone apply, to job openings, partially because of her economic status and lack of accessibility to job networks.  As you watch the production at Performance Network Theatre, think about how many other struggling single mothers like Margaret there are in Boston and the rest of America. Good People runs from February 21st through March 24^th. Tickets can be purchased online or by calling the Box Office at 734-663-0681.

What are Preview Performances?

What does it mean when a theatre hosts “preview performances”?  Performance Network Theatre can give you the details, reasoning, and benefits regarding  previews. At Performance Network Theatre – preview performances are the FIRST FIVE shows of any main stage performance. Other theatres may host previews for 2-6 weeks depending  on the show and location of the theatre.

At PNT our first preview takes place on a Thursday as a Pay-What-You-Can performance. You get to decide how much to pay for your ticket! (We suggest a $15 donation, but  Pay-What-You-Can means you can buy a $1 ticket or even a $200 ticket!) After Pay-What-You-Can Thursday, the following  Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and next Thursday are preview performances.

Previews for “Good People” begin this Thursday, February 23.

Why would a theatre have preview performances? Essentially, previews are full productions, but they allow a creative team to put a show in front of an audience before the press attends a “regular performance.”  If you have ever been involved with the performing arts, you know it is an entirely different experience to present the show in front of a live audience. The audience may laugh at moments you didn’t know were funny (or they don’t laugh at a highly choreographed comedic scene). A piece of dialogue may have been mispronounced through rehearsals until a clever audience member notices an error. Performance Network Theatre collects audience feedback cards at the end of each preview performance. Comments are documented and discussed among the director, designers, actors and staff. So if you’ve ever walked out of a theatre and wished you could have shared your idea for the show – preview performances are exactly the shows you want to see! Your opinion can shape the final product of the show. After previews, the cast and crew are granted an extra week of rehearsal before the Opening Night Ceremony. After opening, there are no more rehearsals and the show runs as is until the final performance.

The Opening Night Ceremonies. At Performance Network Theatre – Opening Night takes place on the Friday after previews and is the first official performance of the run. Everyone is welcomed to attend this event! Many reviewers, board members, and major donors attend this event so it is a very special occasion  Our Opening Night Performances are followed by a champagne & hors d’oeuvres reception in the lobby with the director, designers, actors, and staff.

Be a Part of the Theatre Community! As you can see, our audience can have a very powerful voice during previews. We often recommend attending a preview performance and a post-opening performance to witness the final tweaks that were implemented in the final week of rehearsal. It can be quite amazing!

And remember, you may always send us your thoughts about a production or your experience at the theatre. We are constantly striving to improve and bring you the theatre you would like to see! Please visit our Facebook page or contact our Marketing Director at marissa@performancenetwork.org to share your thoughts, ideas, or support!

Fashion of the 1950s and Brill

Performance Network’s Brill takes place during an era of change.  In the years after World War II, the Big Bands with the rhythm and blues contributed to the creation of the “American Elegance” with its optimistic music that filled ordinary people’s mundane lives with memories of more sentimental and romantic times.  But, as Jimmy Wise slowly realizes in the show, the times are a-changin’ and Big Band music is slowly giving way to the new rock ‘n’ roll.  Teenagers like Margie Lesser are starting to have a growing influence on popular music and a greater voice in consumer culture.  These young adults not only helped to bring in rock ‘n’ roll, but also popular fashion trends.  With great costume design by Monika Essen, read on to learn more about the fashion of the 1950s and the defining characteristics of clothes that can be seen on the Performance Network stage!

Fashion in the years following World War II marked an end to the austerity of the war years.  The rationing of possessions, including clothing, and the “make do and mend” culture that had become a necessity faded away as ordinary people suddenly had time, money, and enthusiasm to put into reinventing the post-war world.  The 1950s became a decade known for experimentation with new styles and culture.  Clothes for the average working person became more readily available; not only was there a surge in the availability of materials and patterns to make your own, mass production “off the peg” or factory-made clothing became available at prices that allowed most people easy access to the latest fashionable styles.  New synthetic materials like polyester revolutionized the fashion industry for their ease of care and non-creasing abilities.

Youth fashion, known as teenage fashion today, was arguably born in the 1950s.  Never before had this age group of young adults had the available funds and freedom to spend in a way as the 1950s.   Teenagers quickly began to play an important role in consumer culture and, because of their newfound buying power, for the first time fashion companies scrambled to cater specifically to the young generation’s needs.  The birth and rise in popularity of rock ‘n’ roll created a youth culture that rebelled against dresses that were imitations of adult fashion.  Teenagers started to care about how they looked and pushed fashion in a direction that was different and allowed them to dress purely for show and attention.  Elvis Presley played a part in pushing the fashion boundaries in what was considered acceptable in the 1950s.

Defining Characteristics

For women, the World War II-era fashion of square shoulders and short skirts was replaced by the soft femininity of Christian Dior’s “New Look” silhouette, which in turn gave way to an unfitted, structural look in the later 1950s.  The “New Look” shape was characterized by a below-mid-calf length full skirt, pointed bust, small waist, and rounded shoulder line.  This haute couture, tailored feminine look was often accessorized with gloves and pearls.  Tailored suits and jackets with peplums were usually worn with a long, narrow pencil skirt.  Day dresses had fitted bodices and full skirts, with jewel or low-cut necklines or Peter Pan collars.  Shirtdresses, which a shirt-like bodice, were popular, as were halter-top sundresses.  Evening gowns were often the same length as day dresses (called “ballerina length”), with full, frothy skirts.

For men, Esquire introduced the “Bold Look” for men’s suits, with wide shoulders, broad lapels, and an emphasis on bold, coordinated accessories.  Trousers, following the easing of wartime restrictions on fabric, became fuller, and were usually styled with turn-up cuffs.  The suits were made of single-breasted jackets that were shorter than they were in the 40s and shoulder pads were gone.  Even though the suits were less structured than they were in previous decades, they were still made of heavy fabrics like flannel.  Men dressed conservatively and had little variation in their clothing.  In the beginning of the 1950s, suit colors were mostly solid and muted.  Later, patterned suits with quiet tweeds and tasteful thin stripes became popular.  Suits aside, the rise in popularity of polo shirts and show-sleeved button-front shirts in bold new designs gave men the opportunity to express themselves as individuals in the colors and patterns.  Long-sleeved button-front shirts also became available, and bright jeans and t-shirts became popular for some of the younger men and teens.  A trendy way to wear them was open at the neck and with the sleeves worn rolled up to the bicep.  Cardigan sweaters worn over button-front shits or polo shirts were frequently worn when dressing casual.

Hairstyles

Hairstyles for women in the 1950s were diverse, of varying hair lengths, although women older than 20 generally preferred short to medium-length hair.  A short bouffant style was favored, as were beehives and artichoke styles.  By mid-decade, hats were worn less frequent, especially as fuller hairstyles like short, curly “elfin cut” or the “Italian cut” or “poodle cut” became fashionable.  These styles, popularized by popular film personalities and fashion models, emphasized short hair with high volume.

Popular music had a major influence on 50s hair styles, especially men’s.  Elvis Presley and James Dean had a great influence on the high quaff/pompadour greased-up style or slicked back style with heavy use of Brylcreem or gel.  A variation of the pompadour was the Duck’s Ass, also called the “Duck’s Tail”, the “ducktail” or simply the D.A.  Even Frank Sinatra posed in a modified D.A. style of hair.  This style required that the hair be combed back around the sides of the head.  The tooth edge of the comb was then used to define a central part running from the crown to the nape at the back of the head, resembling, to many, the rear end of a duck.  The hair on the top front of the head was either deliberately disarrayed  so that the untidy strands hung down over the forehead, or combed up and then curled down into an “elephant’s trunk” which might hang down as far as the top of the nose.  A variation of the D.A. style, known as “the Detroit,” consisted of the long back and sides combined with a flattop.  Another variation was to comb longer top hair into a wavelike pompadour shape known as a “breaker.”  The Duck’s tail became an emblematic coiffure of disaffected young males and a sign of rebellious youth and of  a “bad boy” image.  The more clean cut style preferred by parents and school authorities was the military cut, short and squared off at the sides.  The crew cut, flattop, and ivy league were also popular, particularly among the young generation.  The crew cut style was derived from the military haircuts given to millions of draftees and was favored by men who wished to appear “establishment” or mainstream.

1950s fashion and hairstyles is easily identifiable and full of fun.  Many clothing brands that sell vintage-styles of clothing often sell 1950s styles of “New Look” dresses!  If you’re a DIY kind of person, it’s easy to slick back some hair, throw on a rock ‘n’ roll jacket, or put on a fabulous day dress and relive the glamorous fashion of the 50s.  You can also come see all of this fashion on stage at the Performance Network!  Brill runs January 10 through February 10!  Tickets can be reserved online or by calling (734) 663-0681.