STATE COLLEGE — Welcome to the Age of Aquarius, as the season continues for Penn State Centre Stage with its staging of the musical “Hair.”
In 1968, when “Hair” opened on Broadway, it was a sensation that had fans lining up for tickets. Dubbed the “tribal love-rock musical,” it was both the music and — one supposes — the nudity on stage that grabbed the collective attention of audiences throughout the nation.
The Penn State Centre Stage production has two previews — Tuesday, March 29, and Thursday, March 31 — and runs Friday, April 1, through Saturday, April 9.
It is directed by Emmy Frank, a graduate student director in the School of Theatre.
“I love theater and I was kind of bossy in high school. So, I did a lot of directing and acting,” Frank said. “I am glad to be directing ‘Hair.’ No historical period is more like 2016 than 1968. The current political climate is shockingly similar to what happened back then.”
Frank feels that the musical speaks to every generation and is very relevant today. “And the music is iconic and quite beautiful,” she said.
Set in the East Village of New York City, “Hair” follows the exploits of a group of politically active hippies.
“Interestingly, the writers of the musical were not hippies,” said Frank. “I did a lot of research on the history of the show and the creators were simply making observations of what they saw happening in New York in 1967.” The show’s book and lyrics were by James Rado and Gerome Ragni, with music by Galt MacDermot.
Frank said that the process of bringing the show to life has been a great deal of fun for her, her design team and cast.
“It is my hope that audiences leave more enlightened about the time they are living in,” Frank said. “I am sure it is going to spark conversation and encourage empathy. If the audiences gets a small percentage of what we are trying to do, I’ll be satisfied.”
The story of “Hair” centers on Berger, the charismatic leader of the “tribe,” and Claude, the sweet-natured guy who is about to be drafted and sent to Vietnam.
The collaborative effort that led to this production was most enjoyable, according to Frank. “It was pure joy,” she said. “It has been a pleasure to work with them every day.”
Frank said the greatest challenge the cast faced was confronting the “N” word, which is used often throughout the show.
“It’s used by the entire cast, and it has been difficult to ask the cast to say it. It will be tough for the audiences to hear it as well,” Frank said. She added that the show’s nudity was not a great concern for the cast.
No one under the age of 18 will be admitted without a Penn State ID or a parent or guardian.
