HAIR Playbill

MG: When people think of Hair, they are often talking about the infamous nudity in the final scene. What do you think of this being part of its legacy? SG: Most of the stories about the nudity in Hair is that it was introduced as a way to sell tickets. If you look at the text of Hair, there is no mention of nudity in the script. However, it did become a defining moment in the Broadway version. When I was thinking about the show and the idea that the nudity doesn’t have to be there, we decided to explore it as a company because of how incredible an expression of love and freedom it is. It’s a great moment to show how these people who are putting the show together all trust one another, trust in the audience, and trust themselves and their sense of freedom. The nudity is entirely the company’s choice, and it might change night to night. We are discovering the show each night with the audience as we go. MG: What do you hope audiences do after they see Hair? SG: I hope they keep dancing. I hope people go home or just dance or go out to the Green and dance. But I also hope that people talk to each other. There’s this classic moment in the show when Margaret Mead, who is a historical figure, comes forward and says, “I want to say to all the parents out there, talk to your kids and accept them.” I really hope that everyone leaves the theater, the people onstage and in the audience, and they go home and start some of the conversations that the show asks for.