HAIR: A Love Letter to Chaos, Courage, and Community
When people find out I’m directing HAIR, the first thing they always ask is, “Isn’t that the show where everybody gets naked?” Which… fair. And to that I say: yes. And no… and also… kind of. But honestly, if that’s all you know about HAIR, you’re missing the point (and the good parts).
HAIR isn’t just about running around in the buff yelling about peace and love. It’s about standing in the middle of a broken world and refusing to be silent. It’s about questioning authority, demanding better from others, living proudly, loving loudly — and doing it all before someone tells you to tone it down.
In other words: it’s the kind of messy, fearless, heartfelt storytelling that makes me want to grab a megaphone and scream from the rooftop, “This is why we do theater!”
Directing this show has felt like willingly jumping onto a moving train that’s on fire — and realizing halfway through that I’m also the conductor, the fireman, and one of the passengers just trying to vibe. It’s loud. It’s chaotic. It’s emotional. And honestly? It’s perfect. That’s the whole point.
In my defense: movement brings out emotion words can’t. Sometimes you’re just learning a dance… and sometimes you’re sobbing on the floor wondering why you feel so seen by a box step.
I like to think I was slightly kinder this time around. (Keyword: slightly. Don’t ask the cast.) But hey, when you’re telling a story this raw, a few tears just mean you’re doing it right.
HAIR isn’t a museum piece. It’s not a history lesson. It’s a live wire. And honestly, the issues HAIR tackles — war, injustice, the fight for basic human dignity — have never stopped being relevant. If anything, they feel even sharper today.
This show isn’t about pretending everything is fine. It’s about acknowledging the mess and still daring to dream for something better.
Plus, the music still goes so hard. “Aquarius”? Still a banger. “Let the Sunshine In”? Still a spiritual experience. Half the time during rehearsals, I had to remind myself to actually direct and not just vibe out like I was at a party.
The Cast:
I have to take a second to talk about this cast, because honestly? They are unreal. Every single day they walk into that rehearsal room and challenge me to be a better director. They are bold, fearless, messy in all the right ways — and they get it. They understand that HAIR isn’t about playing it safe. It’s about showing up, telling the truth, and leaving it all out there for the world to see.
And the vocals? Let’s just say… if there were awards being handed out, this cast would be carrying home a few (and making it look easy). The harmonies, the power, the soul — they aren’t just singing this music. They are living it. Some nights during rehearsal, I genuinely had to remind myself I had a job to do because I got so caught up just listening. It’s that good.
Getting to work with a group of artists this talented — and this brave — has been one of the best parts of this whole crazy ride. They push me, they inspire me, and they remind me every day why we tell stories like HAIR in the first place.
A Word of Warning:
If you’re coming to see the show — and you spot the bartender offering THC shots in the lobby — do yourself a favor. Take one. Take two. Take a few for me.
Because HAIR is a whole experience. It’s not a sit-politely-in-your-seat kind of night. It’s a let your heart crack open, let yourself get a little uncomfortable, and maybe cry-laugh all in one scene kind of night.
Why It Matters:
I’m so grateful to be directing HAIR because it reminds me — and hopefully reminds the audience — that change doesn’t come from being polite. Change comes from shouting. From dancing in the streets. From refusing to shrink yourself down to fit inside somebody else’s idea of “acceptable.”
It’s messy. It’s human. And that’s exactly what makes it beautiful.
Directing HAIR has been like riding a rocket straight into a revolution — with a few emotional breakdowns along the way, naturally. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.
So come see the show. Cry a little. Dance a lot. And let the sunshine in, baby.
(Mic drop. Hits joint. Cartwheels away.)
Jacob out!
Jacob Estes
Director, HAIR
