Short North Stage’s revival of 'Hair' celebrates the spirit of youth
Short North Stage ends its 2023-2024 season with a fresh take on the landmark 1968 musical, which opens May 9 at the Short North’s Garden Theater.
Broadway’s first rock musical, suggested for mature audiences because of nudity and profanity, focuses on alienated youths who forge a tribal bond in the late 1960s.
“‘Hair’ feels different than other musicals because it’s nonlinear... You see a family or tribe being created and how they respond to one member facing the prospect of going off to war,” producing artistic director Edward Carignan said.
A reason for revival
Short North Stage first performed “Hair” in 2018, when it broke Garden Theater box-office records.
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“We caught lightning in a bottle,” Carignan said, adding that since then, patrons have requested “Hair” as the musical they most want to see.
“I’m excited to do a revival, because ‘Hair,” more than any other musical, offers opportunities for collaboration between the director and the actors playing the tribe,” said Carignan, the director-choreographer.
“Everyone has a seat at the table at Short North Stage, but with this show, the cast contributions are greater than any other show I’ve worked on,” he said.
New theatrical possibilities
The 2024 production, which includes seven actors returning from the first cast, also gave Carignan, now 39, the chance to reimagine “Hair.”
New wireless lighting and sound technologies, added to the Garden Theater, help make this production “cooler” and more psychedelic, he said.
For instance, voices now can be distorted theatrically during the second act’s “acid-trip” sequence linking “Walking in Space” with other songs.
Carignan also structured improvisational exercises with the ensemble to create fresh approaches to scenes and movements.
“Even if they’ve seen ‘Hair’ here, people will be surprised by how our ideas have evolved,” Carignan said.
What motivates Claude?
New York-based Michael Lepore, 25, plays Claude, about to be drafted to fight the Vietnam War.
“Unlike the rest of his friends, who burn their draft cards without a thought, he somehow can’t do that himself. He wonders what’s right, what’s wrong and what he’s meant to do with his life,” Lepore said.
“I feel connected to Claude because he has such a human journey, asking the huge existential questions that everyone asks,” he said.
Claude develops close relationships with his Manhattan tribe, especially best friend Berger and girlfriend Sheila.
“I think Claude is in love with both... They share a love triangle born of deep friendship and shared ideals,” Lepore said.
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Who’s Sheila?
Israeljah Reign, 23, plays Sheila, a university student.
“She truly loves everyone. Sheila acts as mother activist and female protector of the tribe because she cares about freedom and humanity,” Reign said.
As an African American playing a traditionally white role, Reign said, she also strives to portray Sheila’s complexity, compassion and concern for racial justice.
“Sheila does what she can to protect others, but sometimes fails to protect herself,” Reign said.
Reign said she identifies with her role.
“My mom always called me her flower child... I resonate with the show’s themes of peace, love and happiness. Everyone should be free to be who they are and do what they wish, so long as they don’t hurt anyone,” she said.
The power of music
“Hair” may be best known for its chart-topping score by composer Galt MacDermot and author-lyricists Gerome Ragni and James Rado.
“Music is the most important part of ‘Hair’... beautiful poetry underscored by some of the late 1960’s most interesting, melodic pop. The show flows like a music album in terms of feeling,” Carignan said.
Among the songs are “Aquarius,” “Easy To Be Hard,” “Good Morning Starshine,” “Let the Sun Shine In,” “Where Do I Go?” and the title number.
“The songs tell a clear emotional story... expressing the wild, crazy feelings of youth. Those moments of catharsis make the numbers electric to perform,” Lepore said.
An apocryphal tale for today
Beyond its anti-war politics, Carignan sees ‘Hair’ as a messiah story with spiritual dimensions, comparable to “Godspell,” “Jesus Christ Superstar” and other youth-oriented rock musicals of its era.
“(Members of) The entire tribe are like the disciples of Christ, with Claude representing Jesus, Berger representing John the Baptist and pregnant hippie Jeannie as Mary Magdalene,” Carignan said.
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Overall, Carignan said he aims for the revival to evoke a visceral experience reflecting today’s younger generation. The actors idealistically share that vision.
“People say ‘Hair’ was long ago... The real truth is that as long as wars and bad things happen in the world, young people will always be the first to get out, be vocal and have big feelings about it,” Lepore said.
“We’re building the world we want to live in,” Reign said. “Leading with new ideas, kindness and love is what ‘Hair’ is really about.”
@mgrossberg1
At a glance
Short North Stage is to present “Hair” on May 9 through June 9 at 7 p.m. Thursdays through Fridays, 2 and 7 p.m. Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays at the Garden Theater, 1187 N. High St.
Tickets start at $33.33. For more information, call 614-469-0939 or visit cbusarts.com.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Short North Stage has new, fresh take on 'Hair,' showing May 9