Central Arkansans have a chance to see the original rock musical when Celebrity Attractions brings Hair to Robinson Center Music Hall next week.
The musical follows a “tribe” of politically active hippies living in New York City in the 1960s. Scenes depict burning draft cards, a mockery of the American flag, hallucinogenic trips, anti-war protests and orgies — what more could you want from a musical about the 1960s counterculture?
Though the original script includes some nudity and plenty of f-words, there’s none of that in the production visiting Robinson, though that doesn’t exactly make it a family friendly production; the musical is still recommended for “mature” audiences only, “due to the nature of the simulated drug use and other adult themes,” Celebrity Attractions’ Amanda Moore says.
The original book and lyrics, written by James Rado and Gerome Ragni along with music by Galt MacDermot, crossed into plenty of new ground when Hair opened on Broadway in 1968. Besides a script riddled with profanity, sex and drugs, the musical rejected many of the conventions of musical theater before it. Songs start and end without the typical fanfare of a clear beginning and ending, so audience members might not even know when its time to applaud. In addition, the audience is invited to join cast members onstage during the finale of “The Fresh Failures (Let the Sunshine In).” Free love, y’all.
Hair was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Musical when it debuted in 1968 and won the Grammy Award for Best Score from an Original Cast Show Album. In 2009, when the show was revived on Broadway, it won the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical and was nominated in seven other categories.
Hair’s run at Robinson Center Music Hall begins Tuesday and continues through Feb. 20. Shows start at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $16-$47 and are on sale at the Celebrity Attractions ticket office and through all Ticketmaster outlets.