It’s the dawning of the age of Aquarius, as Nancy Stevens previews the arrival of Annie and Hair at MK Theatre in July.

Fab-u-lous. Strictly’s meanest judge, Craig Revel Horwood, sashays into Milton Keynes Theatre 1st- 6th July, in Annie, as the gin-sozzled, tyrannical Miss Hannigan.

Set in 1930s New York during The Great Depression, Annie is living a life of misery at Miss Hannigan’s orphanage.

But guess what? Her luck is about to change as she’s chosen to spend Christmas with famous billionaire, Oliver Warbucks (Alex Bourne). Meanwhile, the only Christmas spirit that Miss Hannigan tolerates comes in a bottle as she plans to scupper Annie’s happiness by foiling the search for the little redheaded moppet’s true family.

Annie includes the unforgettable songs It’s The Hard-Knock Life, Easy Street and you will go home singing Tomorrow, Tomorrow, I love ya, Tomorrow, it’s only a day a-waaaay – you can bet your bottom dollar that you’ll love it!

When the moon is in the Seventh House and Jupiter aligns with Mars then either this is a horoscope or its news that Hair, The Musical, is here at Milton Keynes Theatre on 15th -20th July!

Fifty years ago, the safe world of musicals changed forever. As the curtain fell on centuries of theatre censorship, the legendary rock musical burst onto the scene in all its psychedelic glory and liberating rallies against Vietnam.

With free love, mind-altering substances and a lot of hair, the hippie ‘tribe’ of politically active youngsters living a Bohemian existence in New York set out to dodge the draft and change the world through protest and song.

Never before had bisexuality, interracial relationships and nudity been seen, yet alone celebrated, on the London stage.

And half a century later the life affirming, anti-establishment, energetic spirit of the show still has the power to break through the oppression of negative karma.

Hair stars Dancing on Ice winner Jake Quickenden and songs include Good Morning Starshine, Aquarius and Let the Sunshine In.

Listen to Nancy Stevens’ award winning local arts show on Secklow Sounds 105.5FM on Sunday nights from 6pm-8pm. Listen again at spreaker.com/show/stevens-on-sunday.

This feature was published in the July 2019 issue of Celebrate:MK lifestyle magazine. Read the full magazine above or by clicking on this link.