Staging Rebellion in the Musical Hair

<p>This volume provides a comprehensive survey of the musical <em>Hair</em> and will offer critical analysis which focuses on giving voice to those who are historically considered to be on the margins of musical theatre history.</p><p>Sarah Browne interrogates key scenes from the musical which will seek to identify the relationship between performance and the cultural moment. Whilst it is widely acknowledged that <em>Hair</em> is a product of the sixties counter-culture this study will place the analysis in its socio-historical context to specifically reveal American values towards race gender and adolescence. In arguing that <em>Hair</em> is a rebellion against the established normative values of both American society and the art form of the musical itself this book will suggest ways in which <em>Hair</em> can be considered utopian: not only as a utopian ‘text’ but in the practices and values it embodies and the emotions it generates in its audiences.</p><p>This book will be of great interest to scholars and students of music musical theatre popular music American studies film studies gender studies or African American studies.</p>