“What in the hell are we fighting for? Make love, not war!” This March, the Northeastern Department of Theatre presents the classic musical Hair, with book & lyrics by Gerome Ragni and James Rado, and music by Galt MacDermot.

Experience the dawning of the Age of Aquarius in the 1960s rock music happening in all its gleaming, streaming, beaded, braided, bangled, tangled, spangled glory. Berger, Claude, Sheila and the counterculture tribe let the sun shine in on political oppression, racial inequality, and the anti-war movement. The production is directed by Associate Professor Janet Bobcean and runs from March 22-April 1 in the Studio Theatre, located in the Curry Student Center. Click here to find information about showtimes, directions, and tickets. 

Hair is the result of the hippie counterculture movement, sexual revolution, and anti-Vietnam War movement of the 1960s. It had an off-Broadway opening on October 17^th, 1967 at the Public Theatre and also ran in the Cheetah nightclub from December 1967 through January 1968. It premiered on Broadway in April 1968, performing 1,750 shows. There was a Broadway revival in 2009, winning the Tony Award and Drama Desk Award for Best Revival of a Musical. The original Broadway production won the Grammy for the best score.

According to Director Janet Bobcean, “The young people of the United States have frequently led movements that have shaped this country’s moral and ethical progress. From the civil rights movement, the anti-war movement, the gender equality movement and environmental responsibility, our discourse has been influenced by those people who rose up and demanded justice.”

She adds, “We are now engaged in conversations which will hopefully lead this nation toward commonsense weapon control, racial justice and greater compassion for our human tribe. Just this month, a nationwide school walkout was organized by high school students to protest continued political inaction on gun control.”

Janet Bobcean has designed and directed over 250 stage productions during her career. Her Boston area credits include productions at The New Repertory Theatre, The Lyric Stage, Boston Lyric Opera, Underground Railroad and Delvena Theatre Company. Her work has also been produced at Lincoln Center, Kennedy Center, North Carolina Shakespeare Festival and Dickson Space NYC. Internationally Janet has directed in Dublin, Ireland and Edinburgh, Scotland. In addition to designing and directing in the Department of Theatre (Vinegar Tom and Hair most recently), she is an active theatre artist in NYC with Playhouse Creatures Theatre Company where she recently directed two new plays (Kafka in Palestine, Veritas) for the 2017 Women’s Playwright’s Series. She is currently redeveloping a production, Facing Future which deals with climate change and its effects on humanity. Janet teaches Introduction to Theatrical Design and Directing. She holds an MFA in production design from Ohio University.

Hair has a design team featuring several guest designers: Scenic by Eric Levenson and Lighting by Frank Meissner. Music Direction is by Bethany Aiken and Choreography is by Carla Martinez. Costume Design is by Anna Jekel, CAMD ’18 and Hair Design by My Nguyen, CAMD ’18.

Bobcean says, “This production of Hair takes us back to a meaningful movement for the youth of 1968; may it serve as a reminder that in 2018, many of our struggles remain and deserve our action and influence.”