Let the Sun Shine In: The Genius of HAIR

by Scott Miller

"Shining, gleaming, steaming, flaxen, waxen" In 1967, Hair launched a revolution. It rejected every convention of Broadway, of traditional theatre in general, and of the American musical specifically. It paved the way for the nonlinear concept musicals that dominated American musical theatre innovation thereafter. It also launched the careers of such actors as Diane Keaton, Melba Moore, Tim Curry, Peter Gallagher, and Ben Vereen. "Knotted, polka-dotted, twisted, beaded, braided" With more regional productions of Hair than ever before, Scott Miller gives us an incisive and fascinating analysis of the show. He looks at its place in theatre and cultural history, and its impact on recent musicals, including Rent. What's more, he delves into the mystical power Hair has over performers and viewers alike and its ability to literally change lives today--including his. Just ten days shy of the terrorist attacks in September 2001, Miller's theatre company had wrapped up their second production of Hair. The show profoundly shaped their reaction to those events, committing them to the belief in the goodness of people in general and of Americans in specific and in the connectedness we all share. And, as he reports, the same profound feelings have been true of others performing this piece. "Bangled, tangled, spangled, and spaghettied!" Whether you're a fan wanting to relive the time that extolled peace, love, and understanding--and sex, drugs, and rock 'n roll!or a theatre professional needing insightful analysis for a production, read Scott Miller and know the true genius of Hair. "Let the sun shine, let the sun shine in, the sun shine in."

Genres: Music, Theatre

144 pages, Paperback

First published June 12, 2003

About the author

Scott Miller is the founder and artistic director of New Line Theatre, an alternative musical theatre company he established in 1991 in St. Louis, at the vanguard of a new wave of nonprofit musical theatre being born across the country during the early 1990s, offering an alternative to the commercial musical theatre of New York and Broadway tours. He has been working in musical theatre since 1978 and has been directing musicals since 1981. He has written the book, music, and lyrics for ten musicals and two plays. His play Head Games has enjoyed runs in St. Louis, Los Angeles, London, and at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland; and his musical, Johnny Appleweed, was nominated for four Kevin Kline Awards. He has written more than a dozen books about musical theatre, including The ABCs of Broadway Musicals series. He has also written chapters for several other collections of musical theatre essays, and pieces for several national theatre magazines and websites, and he has composed music for television and radio. For fifteen years, he co-hosted "Break a Leg - Theatre in St. Louis and Beyond," a weekly theatre talk show on KDHX-FM in St. Louis, and now he hosts the theatre podcast Stage Grok, available on iTunes. Miller holds a degree in music and musical theatre from Harvard University, and in 2014, the St. Louis Theater Circle awarded Miller a special award for his body of work in the musical theatre.

Reviews

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Musical theater can be enjoyed on many levels, but I believe that the more you as an audience member know, the more satisfying and exciting that enjoyment will be. Scott Miller just opened his third production of HAIR. I’d never seen the play and hadn’t as yet read his book when I went on opening night. It was fabulous, both as a production and in the material itself. Now, having read Let The Sun Shine In, I understand a little better WHY.

Scott Miller is an intelligent, imaginative director. His books on American musical theater (four of them plus the one on HAIR) are also intelligent, intellectual even, and not at all pretentious; intriguing, multilayered analyses filled with insight and unabashed joy in his chosen field.

Yeah, I admit to being a personal fan. But my comments are valid!

[Rachel Swords · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm currently a member of the tribe in a local production of HAIR, and I enjoy researching the shows I'm in, so reading this was a no-brainer. And I am glad I did! Lots of great insight into the background that forms HAIR, along with characterizations, explanations of song lyrics, and some new ideas I'm going to have to keep in mind during the rest of my production's run. A good read for other HAIR casts, theatre aficionados, or HAIR fans.

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

A brief but thorough examination of the roots, meaning and legacy of the influential Broadway classic.

[Kate Ly Johnston · Rating 5 out of 5]

This musical is so much deeper than it seems.

[MJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good dramaturgy.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book on Hair and its historical context. You really get a sense of the author's love for the musical. Loses focus toward end of book (for example, Miller's tangent on countless different drugs circa 1960's).



Kathryn, see links: Grist with Ginsberg's poem and 3500 discussion

"My flesh and my heart may fail, but.." (Psalm 73)

[Corey · Rating 3 out of 5]

More like 3 1/2 stars. Not that well organized, with too many digressions (was an explanation of all the drugs used in the 60s necessary?), but Miller's enthusiasm for his subject and the power of the play itself comes through. "Hair" was and is an important touchstone in my life, as a writer and as a person.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice, rounded overview of the life and times of Hair that does really give a deeper understanding of the piece. The author is perhaps a bit too into Star Wars, but he touches neatly on the many things that went into making Hair what it was and is. I would love to read a revised edition featuring the more recent major productions the show has gotten.

[Meredith Ann · Rating 2 out of 5]

oh man, this book had so much potential. it seemed to be written in a rush. the author would talk about things and completley forget them. needless to say, there was a lot more he could've and should've gone in depth about but didn't. still, some fun facts in there.