Hair: The Musical explodes on stage again better than ever this summer in Central Park from the original Public Theater that launched it forty years ago. Alive Mind is thrilled to be the exclusive distributor of the essential companion DVD, Hair: Let the Sun Shine In. Directed by Pola Rapaport, this definitive documentary features many of the most memorable performance moments of the original production. The film is a seamless blend of delectable archival footage and new interviews with the creative team author James Rado, Milos Forman, Keith Carradine, Ben Vereen, Melba Moore, composer Galt MacDermot, and director Tom O’Horgan.

Ben Brantley of The New York Times writes, “The pure hormonal vitality that courses through the Public Theater’s exuberant production of “Hair,” which officially opened Thursday night, is enough to make it the pick-me-up event of New York’s dog days this year.” We would agree after spending an evening with the cast and original creators at a private screening of the documentary hosted at the National Arts Club earlier this month.

As Mr. Brantley writes, Hair is not an irrelevant relic but a still-vital social commentary that reverberates with today’s younger generation:

Seen 40 years after it first stormed the middle-class citadel of musical
comedy, “Hair” registers as an eloquent requiem not only for the idealism of
one generation but also for the evanescence of youth itself. It’s still the
“tribal love-rock” celebration it was always advertised as being. But in
suggesting the dawning age of Aquarius is already destined for nightfall,
this production establishes the show as more than a vivacious period piece.
“Hair,” it seems, has deeper roots than anyone remembered.

Since its overwhelming success on Broadway forty years ago, Hair has inspired generations with its messages of love, non-violence and liberation. Pola Rapaport’s documentary highlights the continuing relevance of the show and its still radical transformative power. The DVD provides behind-the-scenes glimpses of the show’s author and co-creator Jim Rado as he rehearses a troupe of young performers for the new production. Their vibrant energy brings Hair’s fantastic score to life once again. A wealth of archival footage covers US and international productions as well as conveying a portrait of an era, a generation and its politics. With the US today again mired in a prolonged and unpopular war, Hair inspires a new generation with its cry for peace, love and change.

So if you can’t make it to Central Park, or even if you can, don’t forget to order the DVD! Through the month of August Alive Mind is offering a 10% discount when you use the coupon code AMAUGUST10. So order now… and let the sun shine in!