HAIR

My thoughts on Hair or…time tripping to 1968 with all those flower children

Hair was a coming of age musical for me. I first saw it in London when I was in high school and much to the disapproval of my Methodist mother. I knew all the songs by heart long before I saw it on stage and wore out the cast album. It was the first musical to speak to a new generation, and I was one of those bell bottomed sandal clad kids who identified with its message of love, hope, and righting the wrongs of the world.

Through 2025 eyes and looking at the play critically now, I can see its flaws. The book of the musical is barely there and there is little in the way of plot development. But who cares, because those songs with lyrics by James Rado and Gerome Ragni and music by Galt McDermot are still passionate anthems of the late 1960’s and this cast rocks them so well that you’ll be reaching for your love beads and putting flowers in your hair before you can say “Good Morning Starshine.”

There’s plenty of psychedelic colors on the set designed by Allison Kline and scaffolding for the cast to climb and swing on and Beauty Thibodeau’s costumes are period perfect. There’s excellent lighting by Caroline Hodge and projections by Chanlyr Jordan. Movement Director Avery-Jai Andrews and Assistant Choreographer Willow Dubose make this immersive production come alive with inventive moves and dances that reflect the time period but feel fresh and new. Music Director Brandon Tyner and Vocal Director Dameron Growe have the production’s musical numbers soaring with a band that includes both Tyner and Growe and Kevin Martinez, Sienna Riehle, Wheeler Sparks, Lindsey Hertel, and Jeriah Mitchell. A special shout out to Dameron Crowe whose amazing vocal prowess brought power to the numbers when he became part of the tribe.

Brian Harden directs the production and also stars as Claude. He was also one of the few cast members who had the hair for Hair. A problem that I initially had was that Harden looks so much like the actors who have played Berger in the past, that it took me a while to get my head around him being Claude. One of the cool aspects of this Hair is that Harden chose to cast many non-binary actors including the terrific Henri Sudy as Berger. Both Sudy and Harden have the voices and acting chops to lead the tribe. I also liked Harden’s addition of the three Fates, played and vocalized marvelously by Taylor D. Williams, Jett Voss, and Sonya Andrews, who are interwoven into the story.

There are many outstanding tribe members. André Pernell Williams, looking like he just stepped out of 1968, is a powerhouse as Hud. Williams had the audience screaming with delight with his sexy moves singing “Colored Spade.” I literally thought the young woman next to me was going to knock over her chair. Jéssica Webba is a dynamite Sheila and sings the heck out of the heartfelt ballad “Easy to be Hard.” I loved Cameron Casey’s sweet, Mick Jagger obsessed Woof, Emily Truelove as Crissy delivering a plaintive “Frank Mills,” Lindsey Hertel's Jeanie looking for some clean “Air,” and Johanna Nchekwube who brings her super vocals to Dionne. The talented tribe also includes Imani Butler, Jennifer Mabus, KD Milligan, Maya Hernandez-Pearson, Sienna Riehle, and Willow Dubose.

All of the group musical numbers are well staged, especially the anti-war “Three Five Zero Zero” and the drug extolling “Walking in Space.” The dialogue scenes were sometimes difficult to hear in the cavernous Arts Mission venue, but since I know the play so well (I think this was my 25th time) it did not detract from my enjoyment. However, the sight lines are a problem unless you opt for a floor seat, table seat, or sofa. I would not recommend the general admission seats unless you are on the front row. I was on the second row of those seats and had to constantly maneuver to see over the heads of the couple in front of me.

Hair was the first play I saw in DFW. It was at Dallas Theater Center when I was here looking for a house in September 2017 and I don’t think it has been produced locally since then. I hope this high energy, (If Oncor could harness the energy of this incredible cast, we would never have another blackout) wonderfully staged production from Arts Mission Oak Cliff will encourage other companies to add Hair to their seasons. In today’s political climate, we need more peace and love.