In 1962, the cost of gas was 27 cents per gallon. The mashed potato was a good and a popular dance. The smell of hairspray filled the air, and on your living room TV, teens dancing the jitterbug and cha-cha to the lates tunes. The influence and power of television was strong as people watched the square box to find the latest trans in products, much like how people stare at a phone screen watching videos on their phone. TV networks, advertisers, and let’s even say influences today, hard at work creating the image of the “American dream.” However, the world outside the black and white box was changing quickly as the fight for human rights and quality has begun, and the picture was developing into a full, Technicolor world. Today we’re continuing to work on this, this time for greater towards a high-definition world.
As we dive into the musical, we have Tracey, this girl who wouldn’t accept the world as it was and did something about it. Breaking down prejudice, systemic privilege and barriers created by stereotypes. Tracy sees people as individuals and believes in a better world. For some, they may call Tracy naive, but for others, we applaud her ability to see hope.
I invite you to enjoy the nostalgia of the fashion, music, the dancing and to take a step back in time to a different era. Take a bit of hope from Tracy with you when you leave the auditorium. Turn to the person next to you, look them in the eye, dance, sing along, laugh and cheer. Together we can do so much more to overcome what has divided us in the past. Enjoy the show and don’t forget, “you’ve got to dream big to be big.”
Dr. Xavier Rodriguez
Director of Fine Arts, Music & Media
