Contextual Research : HAIR THE MUSICAL

   HAIR The Musical opened in Broadway in October 1967. PlayWrights James Rado and Gerome Ragni worked together to create the most controversial musical 1960’s America had ever seen. On Stage Nudity had been banned since the nineteenth century, when the law was lifted HAIR being the over sexualised production that it is, was the first Musical to take advantage of the now uplifted law.

Staging:

Stripped stage. One raked playing area intimate to the audience; very easy access to audience and back. Totem poles (scaffolding decorated with the accoutrements of an affluent society), ramps and levels, tattered clothes, hangings, hippie decorations and posters. "Love" and other graffiti painted here and there.

Costumes:

The turned-on hippie generation: Indian-like buckskin jackets, loincloths, moccasins, pants, blankets, tribal masks possible, tee shirts, sweat shirts, old military uniforms, a single sequined gown in which three girls can fit, Afro fashions, wild flower-power shirts, pants and shifts, Indian bead headbands, Levis, bell bottoms and other Now fashions. White Indian linen, gold-embroidered gown.

Lighting:

Strobe lights, psychedelic coloured lighting aimed among the audience, fireworks, tightly controlled lighting that often changes rapidly, moving light projections, sound-mixing equipment required, hand mikes. Projection of dark mysterious men, FBI, and CIA agents. Police puppets.