Stage Right's 'Hair' celebrates 1960s hippie vibe

For the Stage Right Theatre Company, the rock musical “Hair” isn’t just an anachronistic snapshot of the peace and love era of the 1960s.

Cast members in their 20s and 30s are finding parallels between the “Age of Aquarius” and the present day, said Director Tony Marino.

The troupe will present the landmark musical at 8:30 p.m. July 8-10 in the Smail Amphitheatre at Hempfield Park in Hempfield.

Debuting in 1967, “Hair: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical” tells the story of a group of politically active, long-haired young people living a hippie lifestyle in New York City in the shadow of the Vietnam War.

Members of the “tribe” struggle to navigate life, love and the sexual revolution while rebelling against the war, society and their conservative parents.

Iconic songs from the musical include “Hair,” “Aquarius,” “Let the Sunshine In,” “Good Morning Starshine” and “Easy to be Hard.”

“‘Hair’ as a show is a fascinating snapshot of that period in history, with a lot of parallels between then and today,” Marino said. “We have assembled a great cast of actors who are not only talented, but in all cases they are actors who connect with the ethos of the characters whose stories they are telling.

“When we sat down first night, I asked how many of them had attended a rally or contributed to a cause in the last year, and every hand went up,” he said.

While rehearsing the protest scene, Marino said, “We had someone get very emotional, because they had been at a rally where things threatened to become violent. So, they’re making those connections.”

Obvious differences

Though political unrest and activism are threads connecting young people of the ’60s and today, Marino said, there are obvious differences, too.

“In the ’60s, they actually believed they could change the world with things like love. They really thought they could levitate the Pentagon with the power of their minds — that was really a thing,” he said. “Today, the young protesters are angrier and have a more cynical point of view because of what they’re seeing in the world.”

And while the musical reflects the free-love vibe of the ’60s, “we’re in the midst of a generation that is not as interested in sex and intimacy,” Marino said.

Staging of the musical involves discussion of body autonomy and consent, in terms of how the actors want to be touched and where, he said.

Featured cast members are Cav O’Leary as Berger, Anthony Marino Jr. as Claude, Ryan Jordan as Sheila, Mandie Patsy as Jeanie, Brady Patsy as Hud, Rylan Jenkins-Snaith as Woof, Katherine Harkins as Crissy and Greg Kerestan as Margaret Mead.

Supporting players include Anna Stewart, Courtney Harkins, Myah Davis, Maria Jose Hurtado, Logan Hensell and Channing Griffin.

With original book and lyrics by Gerome Ragni and James Rado and music by Galt MacDermot, the Stage Right production is choreographed by Renata Marino with musical direction by Christopher McAllister.

Audience members should be prepared to be immersed in the action, Marino said.

“People coming to the park will be coming to the ‘be-in’ where the hippies go to the park to freak out the squares,” Marino said. “That part is a lot of fun.”

The amphitheater does not have seating, so audience members should bring chairs or blankets. In case of rain, the show will move to the Lamp Theater in Irwin and curtain time will be 8 p.m. each night.

Tickets at $20, or $15 for students, are available at 724-832-7464 or stagerightgreensburg.com.