Hair Style

LITTLE ROCK — Hair” might be considered the “Rent” of the late 1960s, says Dan Sher.

Just as they are in “Rent,” the characters in “Hair” were finding their way through a world of sex, drugs, rock ’n’ roll and rebellion, but there’s one important difference, Sher says.

“The themes are absolutely growing up and coming of age,” says Sher, who is owner and executive producer of Big League Entertainment, which brings “Hair” to the Walton Arts Center this weekend.

“But it’s more powerful than that. It’s about red and blue, American politics, war and peace.”

In the story, Claude, his friend Berger, their roommate Sheila and their friends must decide what to do about being drafted to fight in Vietnam.

For Claude, the decision comes down to accepting the pressure of his peers and burning his draft card or accepting the pressure of conservative adult society and serving in the military.

“Hair,” says Sher, “was the first show to have rock ’n’ roll music show up on a Broadway stage, people smoking pot, talking about drugs and homosexuality, and they do get naked on stage.”

Sher says the infamous nude scene “is the last thing audiences need to be concerned about,” however.

“It’s completely artistic,done in this gorgeous moment when the lead character has just had a religious experience and makes this major decision. It becomes this very heavy emotional song about how confused he is, and he and some of his friends begin to disrobe.

“It’s a snippet in dim light, and then bam! Intermission!”

The revival is described as “considerably different” from the original Broadway production.

“I’ve been trying to make things clearer, better, funnier and more dramatic,” says James Rado, who with the late Gerome Ragni wrote the book and lyrics for “Hair” and never stopped tinkering with the script.

“The original script put a little more emphasis on the triangle of Claude, Berger and Sheila, and we’ve returned tothat in this latest version,” he says. “Sheila’s character has been deepened. Certain scenes have been added that explain the passage of time or explain what’s at stake. Jokes have evolved. Diane Paulus, who worked with me on the book, has brought a clarity to the show. She also has a real caring and compassion for the period and this group of people. She’s a gifted director.

“The piece is now in the hands of real actors, whoare well trained and very disciplined,” Rado continues.

“They are not people off the streets who may not sing well. They’re magnetic and appealing, and you believe them. They really get behind the message and the feel of the piece, and they embody their parts better than anybody before them.”

Sher says audiences can invest as much in the show as they want to invest.

“You can just watch and letit wash over you and enjoy the great rock ‘’n’ roll music” - like “Aquarius,” “Let the Sun Shine In,” “Good Morning, Starshine” and “Easy To Be Hard” - “and the irreverent behavior of these youngsters or you can be deeply saddened about the times in which it’s set.”

“I think the show has even more impact now,” Rado says, “because things that were supposed to change haven’t really changed.”