BACK IN 1967, "Hair" changed the face of the musical and became a pop-cul ture phenomenon. This show and The Beatles’ "Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band" album, released the same year, had a tidal wave effect on America’s youth, on music, fashion, sexuality, recreational drug use and philosophy. It ran at the Biltmore for 1,873 performances. Now I hear that James Rado, one of the original co-authors of this show (along with Gerome Ragni and Galt MacDermot) has fashioned a "Hair" sequel, with the help of his brother, Ted Rado. It is called, for now, "Billy Earth," and is said to take up where "Hair" ended – with the death of the main character Berger in Vietnam. This new 38-song proposal is already in the hands of a Broadway producer. Well, we’re still in the Age of Aquarius, if you believe in the zodiac, so maybe "Billy Earth" will do for Generation Y or Z (whatever comes next) what it did for all those kids who became "dangerous, revolutionary hippies." They are the ones who grew up to be – their parents.
Liz Smith
Hair is one my favorite musicals, so I hope this gets made! For those of you have never seen it, rent the movie starring the sexy Treat Williams!!!
