Cheryl Barnes
Encyclopedia
Cheryl Barnes is a singer who starred in Miloš Forman
’s film adaptation of Hair
as the mother of Hud’s little son.
Cheryl gave an audition when she showed up at an open casting call. She had no agent and was working as a maid in a motel in Maine
. Her song "Easy to Be Hard" took only one take and this is the take you see in its entirety in the film. Her later scene in the desert outside the army base was filmed in Barstow
, California
. Cheryl stayed in Barstow. The director Miloš Forman talked her into coming to New York
for a few months as he didn't want to see such talent go to waste. However, Cheryl returned to Barstow where she worked as a piano teacher. She remained friends with Miloš and accompanied him to Prague
, where he was shooting the film Amadeus
.
Her first professional experience as a singer came while in school at Union College (in New Jersey), when she joined the rock band Eve's Garden. With that band, she played a number of dates as the opening act for groups such as the Classics IV, the Vagrants (Leslie West) and Ten Wheel Drive
. Cheryl performed in Leonard Bernstein
's Mass and on Broadway in The Last Sweet Days of Isaac
, Godspell
and Jesus Christ Superstar
. She sang the song "Love and Passion" (music by Giorgio Moroder
and lyrics by Paul Schrader
) for the soundtrack of the 1980 film American Gigolo
. She portrayed Dina, the handmaiden, in Doug Henning
's The Magic Show
.
Miloš Forman
Jan Tomáš Forman , better known as Miloš Forman , is a Czech-American director, screenwriter, professor, and an emigrant from Czechoslovakia. Two of his films, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and Amadeus, are among the most celebrated in the history of film, both gaining him the Academy Award for...
’s film adaptation of Hair
Hair (musical)
Hair: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical is a rock musical with a book and lyrics by James Rado and Gerome Ragni and music by Galt MacDermot. A product of the hippie counter-culture and sexual revolution of the 1960s, several of its songs became anthems of the anti-Vietnam War peace movement...
as the mother of Hud’s little son.
Cheryl gave an audition when she showed up at an open casting call. She had no agent and was working as a maid in a motel in Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
. Her song "Easy to Be Hard" took only one take and this is the take you see in its entirety in the film. Her later scene in the desert outside the army base was filmed in Barstow
Barstow
-Places:In the United States:*Barstow, California, a city in San Bernadino County*Barstow, Fresno County, California, an unincorporated community*Barstow, Illinois*Barstow, Maryland*Barstow, Texas-People:...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. Cheryl stayed in Barstow. The director Miloš Forman talked her into coming to New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
for a few months as he didn't want to see such talent go to waste. However, Cheryl returned to Barstow where she worked as a piano teacher. She remained friends with Miloš and accompanied him to Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
, where he was shooting the film Amadeus
Amadeus (film)
Amadeus is a 1984 period drama film directed by Miloš Forman and written by Peter Shaffer. Adapted from Shaffer's stage play Amadeus, the story is based loosely on the lives of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Antonio Salieri, two composers who lived in Vienna, Austria, during the latter half of the...
.
Her first professional experience as a singer came while in school at Union College (in New Jersey), when she joined the rock band Eve's Garden. With that band, she played a number of dates as the opening act for groups such as the Classics IV, the Vagrants (Leslie West) and Ten Wheel Drive
Ten Wheel Drive
Ten Wheel Drive were an American Jazz fusion band that existed from 1968 to 1974.-History:In 1968, after the final break-up of the all-female rock band Goldie & The Gingerbreads, Genya Ravan was looking for a new band, as were two New Jersey musicians and songwriters, Michael Zager and Aram Schefrin...
. Cheryl performed in Leonard Bernstein
Leonard Bernstein
Leonard Bernstein August 25, 1918 – October 14, 1990) was an American conductor, composer, author, music lecturer and pianist. He was among the first conductors born and educated in the United States of America to receive worldwide acclaim...
's Mass and on Broadway in The Last Sweet Days of Isaac
The Last Sweet Days of Isaac
The Last Sweet Days of Isaac is an American Off-Broadway rock musical by Gretchen Cryer and Nancy Ford, which premiered in 1970. It starred Austin Pendleton and Fredricka Weber, and later Alice Playten. It received positive reviews, and won three Obies, a Drama Desk Award, and an Outer Critics...
, Godspell
Godspell
Godspell is a musical by Stephen Schwartz and John-Michael Tebelak. It opened off Broadway on May 17, 1971, and has played in various touring companies and revivals many times since, including a 2011 revival now playing on Broadway...
and Jesus Christ Superstar
Jesus Christ Superstar
Jesus Christ Superstar is a rock opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber, with lyrics by Tim Rice. The musical started off as a rock opera concept recording before its first staging on Broadway in 1971...
. She sang the song "Love and Passion" (music by Giorgio Moroder
Giorgio Moroder
Hansjörg "Giorgio" Moroder is an Italian record producer, songwriter and performer based in Los Angeles. When in Munich in the 1970s, he started his own record label called Oasis Records, which several years later became a subdivision of Casablanca Records...
and lyrics by Paul Schrader
Paul Schrader
Paul Joseph Schrader is an American screenwriter, film director, and former film critic. Apart from his credentials as a director, Schrader is most notably known for his screenplays for Martin Scorsese’s Taxi Driver and Raging Bull....
) for the soundtrack of the 1980 film American Gigolo
American Gigolo
American Gigolo is a 1980 crime drama film, written and directed by Paul Schrader. It is informally considered the second installment in his "lonely man" trilogy, following the Martin Scorsese directed Taxi Driver and preceding Light Sleeper .-Plot:Julian Kaye is a male prostitute in Los Angeles...
. She portrayed Dina, the handmaiden, in Doug Henning
Doug Henning
Douglas James Henning was a Canadian magician, illusionist, escape artist and politician.-Early life:...
's The Magic Show
The Magic Show
The Magic Show is a one-act musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Bob Randall. It starred magician Doug Henning. Produced by Edgar Lansbury, it opened in May 1974 at the Cort Theatre and ran for 1,920 performances, closing on December 31, 1978...
.