This list includes resources from the packet as well as some others
Please feel free to send over any resources that you find might be helpful for others
“1968: The Year That Changed America” documentary by CNN
"Yippies were crazy people who did street theatre" - Mark Kurlansky (15:35)
This video is the third in a four-part documentary by CNN. All four parts are available on YouTube, but I have only linked the third one since it goes into detail on the 1968 DNC and includes clips of the Yippie Party starting at 14:55. There are segments with notable figures such as founding members of the Yippie Party (Abbie Hoffman, Jerry Rubin, Paul Krassner); Presidential Candidate Pigasus the Pig; and poet Allen Ginsberg.
“When Hair Came to Memphis” documentary by WMC News
"For two weeks in March of 1970, a small group of students made love to 8,000 people in a very beautiful way." -Director Dr. Keith Kennedy
WMC produced an hour-long documentary in 1970 covering Memphis State University's (now the University of Memphis) process of doing Hair, being the first college to do it. The University had integrated only eleven years earlier and, as a school in Tennessee, there were many challenges in getting the ability to produce it. Director Dr. Keith Kennedy and the cast discuss the process of creating the show and how it affected them.
"BBC News on opening of 'Hair' as theatre censorship ended" by BBC News
Opening night for the Original London production of Hair was delayed due to stage censorship in the UK, which was finally overturned and allowed the show to open later. This BBC video covers the news of the London cast's opening with an interviews from director Tom O'Horgan and artistic director William Gaskill discussing how censorship is changing.
"Tim Curry - Discussing 'Hair' - 1969"
Did you know that Tim Curry was in the Original London Hair production? In this interview he discusses what it is like being in the show, what the script means to him, and how he feels about the profanity onstage.
“Playing Hippies and Indians: Acts of Cultural Colonization in the Theatre of the American Counterculture” by Miriam Hahn
Hahn's dissertation examines, "the appropriation of Native American cultures and histories in the theatre of American counterculture of the 1960s and seventies," in which, among other shows, she looks into Hair. Skimming or reading through the dissertation helps explain how and why so many counterculture American shows feature aspects of Native American culture as well as proposing how artists who are not Native can engage with such subject matters. Given the content for our production of Hair, it will be important for us to handle the show's references to cultures that are not our own respectfully and thoughtfully.
“Hair: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical by Gerome Ragni and James Rado: An Annotated Edition with Introduction” by William Marc Culver
While this paper is a bit dated (1993) for our production, it still provides good historical and contextual information to the original text for Hair. Culver shares that the purpose of the annotated text is to, "identify and explain any and all unfamiliar or unusual words, remarks, cultural obscurities, or personalities that might confuse, or otherwise mislead a full and comprehensive understanding of the authors' original concept." It is a dramaturgical text very similar to a traditional dramaturgy packet, but some of the information has aged a bit. If there are any topics in Hair you feel confused about, I recommend seeing if the chapters in this paper could help provide some context
Let the Sunshine In, The Genius of Hair by Scott Miller
"Don’t let this be the last time you think about the issues in Hair, about what’s wrong with our world. Do something about it. Do what Hair asks of us—let the sun shine in, before it’s too late." - Scott Miller
Miller's book (recommended by Director David Fiorello!) looks into the history of producing Hair, its cultural impact, and the ideas explored in the show. It also explores how similar musicals and plays have altered theatrical culture and considers how we should handle Hair in the context of today.
Howl and Wichita Vortex Sutra Poems by Allen Ginsberg
Allen Ginsberg is a was an American poet and writer who made significant contributions to Beat literature, which plays a major role in Hair. "Howl" is one of his more famous works, and his other major poem "Wichita Vortex Sutra" is used in the Hair song "Three-Five-Zero-Zero." The song echoes lines from the poem in order to emphasize Ginsberg's imagery.
1968 LIFE Law and Order (August 23, 1968)
Thank you Syd Ellis for adding this!
These are scans of the Vol. 65, No. 8 print of LIFE from August 23, 1968 highlighting the Chicago protests during the DNC. It also discusses the plans of the Yippies who demonstrated during the convention.
‘"Violence Was Inevitable’: How 7 Key Players Remember the Chaos of 1968’s Democratic National Convention Protests" by Olivia B. Waxman
"There are still people who usually think about politics like they think about the weather. They know it affects their lives, and they don’t think people can do anything about it. In 1968, people fought against it and thought they could and should do something about it." - Lee Weiner
This TIMES article is a good source for direct quotes from different types of people involved in the DNC and its protests. It features a Yippie party member, a member of the SDS, co-founder of the Black Panther Party, a newspaper editor, and others involved in the events.