This is amazing. And the cast is so talented. But if you see the production on Ed Sullivan from 1968 (on RUclips), you notice how much more dramatic rage that cast had; the stakes were higher. The members probably lost classmates in Vietnam. Both productions give me goosebumps, but the the original just tears me up.
This is so true.Thanks for mentioning.I was 17 at the time in a few yrs I was in college with protests taking place on my and campuses all over the country b/c of the Kent State Shootings.B/C of the protests at Columbia and other unis. throughout the country I have revisited these times.This time to my suprise with still anger at '73 and little hope.
Yes ! Definitely more emotional than this one !! Those kids were living it bavk then, and were able to sing exactly what they were feeling. Not just covering a famous song. And Melba Moore in the original....WOW !!!!! Never can be anyone better than her !!!
I am so glad you said this. I have an acquaintance that was in the OBC 1960's, and yes this looks visually and in the acting to be like a dramatization of what 2009 thought 1969 looked like. Not as authentic. Also vocally, and this happened also with Rent from its opening to closing productions, the vocals and the mix are not as gritty or raw. It sounds overproduced, more in line with pop music today vs. pop music in the eras when these two shows originally were produced. The casts of both productions of Hair are/were talented no doubt, and Rado and McDermot were still at hand for the 2009 production. But I still prefer the original with Moore, Keaton, Rado, Ragni, and all the amazing actors that moved through that OBC cast.
Inspired by your insight enough to comment 💯. The 68 cast didn’t need all the excessive movement. The emotion and reality was completely part of their beings.
It's like a DeLorean back to 1969. When you get older, you miss your "hair". Maybe I'll rewrite the script into a geezer version called "Dome" to (somehow) glorify lack of hair the same way.
I saw Hair on stage in 2010, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The final number, "Let The Sunshine In" ended up with the whole audience on stage, with the whole cast and the musicians, everybody singing the song a capella. A great moment that gives me goosebumps until today. ❤
I had the immense privelege of appearing in a production of HAIR many years ago on a European tour. Most amazing 3 months of my life. It was every bit as much fun as it looks
@@64andyjh then I probably saw you when I was 6 years old. One of the best musicals I ever saw, I was absolutely stunned then! My parents celebrated it so much!
Thank you for posting this! I watched this show when it first aired in 2009, and it's easily one of my favorite musical performances and moments from the Late Show. Thank you, Dave, for spotlighting Broadway shows on the Late Show! The great Bernard Purdie is on drums here. I played the drums for my high school's production of "Hair" in the spring of my senior year. Treasured memories!
I still want the hippies to win. I feel these songs deeply. When they were written, the USA was involved in a futile and deadly war in Vietnam, cutting down young people for a lost cause. The young protested continually, but the administrations did not change their policies on the war. The young people wanting peace - protesters, were actually shot. And the war escalated. I guess "Hair" is a protest film and a cry for sanity from a younger generation. It certainly produced some great music.
I went recently to Washington DC and it’s a pretty interesting city yet sad. These war memorials are a shame because of all the people involved, not to mention the innocents killed abroad. When I got to the White House I saw some people protesting against war in Palestine. It’s a little glimpse of hope. Keep protesting about the military system!
I saw HAIR in New York in 1971 , it is one of my fondest memories. I was awestruck ...it was amazing !! Wish I could go back in time and see it all over again.
I can smell the incense burning! My pre-teen years were in the 70's and I had an aunt who was the epitome of the 60's and 70's flower-child and her home always smelled like incense, weed, cigarettes man-balls and stale alcohol.
I saw a revival at the Queens Theater in the round in the late 70s. I was a young teen. I was so excited when they called me up I was trembling with joy! ✨️🌸
James Rado (January 23, 1932-June 21, 2022). He, along with the late Gerome Ragni, was the brains behind HAIR!. He passed away at the age of 90. Rado originated the role of Claude on Broadway, performing opposite Gerome Ragni as Berger. Mr. Rado was the last surviving member of the HAIR! creators. Mr. Rado and Mr. Ragni were working on a sequel to "Hair!" in 1992. Unfortunately, Mr. Ragni passed away from cancer. Mr. Rado finally wrote a sequel to HAIR! called Billy Earth, written in 2006 with his brother Ted. Billy Earth couldn't find solid backing, so, if I recall correctly, he assembled the 2009 HAIR! revival.
Not only recreating performance from the Ed Sullivan show including going into the audience during let the sunshine in. The very moments that Hal Gurney envisioned when talking Dave into doing the show from the Ed Sullivan Theater.
whenever stage performers are singing with accentuated mouth movements, it always reminds me of when I was a kid, being forced to sing in some class musical performance, and my parents telling me "you need to move your mouth more" even though I thought I was. So, I'm talking about the woman on the left at 2:25, because I suppose that's what my parents wanted to see in me LOL
I just saw this show at a local community theater tonight and that finale is like being at a be-in and church service all at the same time. It was awesome! The cast came out into the audience and everyone was standing and jamming to "let the sun shine". It was a truly memorable experience.
We've come a distance since Hairs first appearance on the Ed Sullivan show, all those years ago. A different world, the performers (back then) looked like a weird Manson hippy cult. The men were uglier and more prominent, the black performers were treated like extras and the act of breaking out into the audience had a real edge, as if it were an act of rebellion, leaving the host dazed and confused with poppies in his hands. The performance on Letterman was glorious and beautiful in comparison.
Ed was pretty confused about how the network allowed them the run of the theatre, but decided to enjoy himself since they weren’t damaging anything and were including him by giving him that lei.
@@JonathanMcKeyI’ve watched the Ed Sullivan performance in question, and I think I find myself agreeing with you-though I hope I’m not completely misunderstanding you, as I think there’s a typographic error with the word “lei” at the end by which I’m a little perplexed. I found Ed Sullivan to have been somewhat surprised by the cast’s engagement with the audience, but pleasantly so. While there’s certainly some question of a generational divide at play, I do strongly suspect he had some respect for the quality of the musical composition. I’m always impressed by Ed Sullivan’s ease and comfort in presenting contemporary popular culture. It reflects very well on him, and it was certainly not a given for someone in his position, nor for someone his age.
@@jocelynhamilton7624 I watched it back and made a mistake, I saw flowers and them putting a necklace on him, and didn't pay well enough attention. It's a peace necklace that they put on, and handed him flowers.
A few years ago we forgot and recently we were reminded how fragile peace is. In one of the first pieces of human literature, Homer summerised the dynamics of conflict in a single phrase: Aὐτὸς γὰρ ἐφέλκεται ἄνδρα σίδηρος (Odyssey XIX.13) For iron (the weapon) by itself tempts a man to use it.
This is awesome but I came because I misread a comment on the Ed Sullivan clip. I thought this was going to be the Original Cast Reunion Performance. Oh well...lol....Let The Sunshine In anyhow! 😂
Unpopular opinion: Broadway needs more revivals. The new generation of musicals doesn’t appeal as much as the old ones. They want to appeal to younger generations, but they prefer pop singers’ concerts. Make Broadway for the old generations. Imagine being able to see Hair, Hairspray, A Chorus Line, 42nd street, Mamma Mia, Les Mis, Mary Poppins and others on a single trip to New York.
If you don't own a home. plant potatoes along hiking trails. Most people don't know what potato plants look like so you will have the advantage of picking a nuritional dense food that will peivide saety and make you feel full.
We starve, look at one another short of breath Walking proudly in our winter coats Wearing smells from laboratories Facing a dying nation of moving paper fantasy Listening for the new told lies With supreme visions of lonely tunes Somewhere, inside something , there is a rush of greatness Who knows what stands in front of our lives I fashion my future on films in space Silence tells me secretly ev'rything, ev'rything Singing my space songs on a spiderweb star "Life is around you and in you" Answer for Timothy Leary, deary
RIP Gavin Creel. Your presence and your talent made the world just a little bit brighter.
This is amazing. And the cast is so talented. But if you see the production on Ed Sullivan from 1968 (on RUclips), you notice how much more dramatic rage that cast had; the stakes were higher. The members probably lost classmates in Vietnam. Both productions give me goosebumps, but the the original just tears me up.
This is so true.Thanks for mentioning.I was 17 at the time in a few yrs I was in college with protests taking place on my and campuses all over the country b/c of the Kent State Shootings.B/C of the protests at Columbia and other unis. throughout the country I have revisited these times.This time to my suprise with still anger at '73 and little hope.
@@dianecristina3319 Please don't give up hope.
Yes ! Definitely more emotional than this one !! Those kids were living it bavk then, and were able to sing exactly what they were feeling. Not just covering a famous song.
And Melba Moore in the original....WOW !!!!! Never can be anyone better than her !!!
I am so glad you said this. I have an acquaintance that was in the OBC 1960's, and yes this looks visually and in the acting to be like a dramatization of what 2009 thought 1969 looked like. Not as authentic. Also vocally, and this happened also with Rent from its opening to closing productions, the vocals and the mix are not as gritty or raw. It sounds overproduced, more in line with pop music today vs. pop music in the eras when these two shows originally were produced. The casts of both productions of Hair are/were talented no doubt, and Rado and McDermot were still at hand for the 2009 production. But I still prefer the original with Moore, Keaton, Rado, Ragni, and all the amazing actors that moved through that OBC cast.
Inspired by your insight enough to comment 💯. The 68 cast didn’t need all the excessive movement. The emotion and reality was completely part of their beings.
Goosebumps in 2023. This is a masterpiece.
It's like a DeLorean back to 1969. When you get older, you miss your "hair". Maybe I'll rewrite the script into a geezer version called "Dome" to (somehow) glorify lack of hair the same way.
@@econecoff1725 How about this?
Dome (dome, dome, dome, dome, dome)
Crow it, show it
Long as I can mow it
My dome
Seeing claude in let the sunshine in singing with everyone just broke my heart in million pieces
We need so much of this energy now, that wonderful spirit of peace and hope.
Just came here after learning about Gavin Creel! Devastating to the theatre community! RIP Gavin you will be missed so much ❤❤❤
Rest in peace Gavin Creel.
I did not know he died 😔 that’s heartbreaking
I think this has been posted because James Rado, one of the writers of Hair, died yesterday at the age of 90.
😓
yeah rip
"Facing a dying nation.." How things never change, only intensify.
I saw the original in NYC in 1969. What wonderful memories it stirred in me.
I was 21 y.o. that year, and traveled from NC by train with a couple of friends to see it.
Wow, thats epic! And also, you are now one of the coolest guys I've never met 🙌
I saw it in london... and danced on the stage... hard to Imagine...
My favorite musical performance on Letterman. It brings tears of joy to my eyes.
I missed it the 1st time around. It had the same effect on me.
Rest In Peace Gavin. you were the most amazing Claude 🤍
I saw Hair on stage in 2010, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The final number, "Let The Sunshine In" ended up with the whole audience on stage, with the whole cast and the musicians, everybody singing the song a capella. A great moment that gives me goosebumps until today. ❤
I was there in Rio. And went back to watch it two times more in São Paulo when they were performing here. Definitely my favorite of all.
I have yet to see a production of Hair where the actors didn't seem to be having as much fun as the audience. The joy on that stage was palpable.
I had the immense privelege of appearing in a production of HAIR many years ago on a European tour. Most amazing 3 months of my life. It was every bit as much fun as it looks
Have you been in western Germany in the early / mid 90ies? I saw Hair in Xanten Amphitheater and somewhere else :)
@@hamatoJade Yes!, and a number of other places around Europe. It was produced by Scala Theater and directed by Johnny Worthy.
@@64andyjh then I probably saw you when I was 6 years old. One of the best musicals I ever saw, I was absolutely stunned then! My parents celebrated it so much!
Thank you for posting this! I watched this show when it first aired in 2009, and it's easily one of my favorite musical performances and moments from the Late Show. Thank you, Dave, for spotlighting Broadway shows on the Late Show! The great Bernard Purdie is on drums here. I played the drums for my high school's production of "Hair" in the spring of my senior year. Treasured memories!
Wow, great catch!
I still want the hippies to win. I feel these songs deeply. When they were written, the USA was involved in a futile and deadly war in Vietnam, cutting down young people for a lost cause. The young protested continually, but the administrations did not change their policies on the war. The young people wanting peace - protesters, were actually shot. And the war escalated. I guess "Hair" is a protest film and a cry for sanity from a younger generation. It certainly produced some great music.
I went recently to Washington DC and it’s a pretty interesting city yet sad. These war memorials are a shame because of all the people involved, not to mention the innocents killed abroad. When I got to the White House I saw some people protesting against war in Palestine. It’s a little glimpse of hope. Keep protesting about the military system!
I saw HAIR in New York in 1971 , it is one of my fondest memories. I was awestruck ...it was amazing !! Wish I could go back in time and see it all over again.
That is definitely in the top 25 musical performances ever on the Late Show.
Thanks for sharing this with us.
I can smell the incense burning! My pre-teen years were in the 70's and I had an aunt who was the epitome of the 60's and 70's flower-child and her home always smelled like incense, weed, cigarettes man-balls and stale alcohol.
I had a young aunt who was a hippie. It drove my grandfather crazy.
That's the power of love
Best memory of this show was being able to go and dance on stage during the curtain call reprise of Let The Sunshine In
I saw a revival at the Queens Theater in the round in the late 70s. I was a young teen. I was so excited when they called me up I was trembling with joy! ✨️🌸
@@paisleybabee Amazing
@@hippityhoppityw It was! ❤️
My all time fav performance on the show. My sixteen year old self is screaming inside
Hello, fellow ‘93-er
James Rado (January 23, 1932-June 21, 2022). He, along with the late Gerome Ragni, was the brains behind HAIR!. He passed away at the age of 90. Rado originated the role of Claude on Broadway, performing opposite Gerome Ragni as Berger. Mr. Rado was the last surviving member of the HAIR! creators.
Mr. Rado and Mr. Ragni were working on a sequel to "Hair!" in 1992. Unfortunately, Mr. Ragni passed away from cancer. Mr. Rado finally wrote a sequel to HAIR! called Billy Earth, written in 2006 with his brother Ted. Billy Earth couldn't find solid backing, so, if I recall correctly, he assembled the 2009 HAIR! revival.
Not only recreating performance from the Ed Sullivan show including going into the audience during let the sunshine in. The very moments that Hal Gurney envisioned when talking Dave into doing the show from the Ed Sullivan Theater.
whenever stage performers are singing with accentuated mouth movements, it always reminds me of when I was a kid, being forced to sing in some class musical performance, and my parents telling me "you need to move your mouth more" even though I thought I was. So, I'm talking about the woman on the left at 2:25, because I suppose that's what my parents wanted to see in me LOL
Hair embodied all the best of the Sixties. And this cast embodies all of it. Love the flowers spreading!
2:13
crazy that she ended up becoming Elsa less than a decade later. good for her!
I thought so. Thanks for confirming.
I just saw this show at a local community theater tonight and that finale is like being at a be-in and church service all at the same time. It was awesome! The cast came out into the audience and everyone was standing and jamming to "let the sun shine". It was a truly memorable experience.
Timeless message.
Really powerful singers. Beautiful.
OH MY goosebumps - the harmonies
I had the honour to see Hair in London in 2010!!
Hair is so powerful, I love Hair so much ❤
I saw it in London too,
In 1969!
@@dhinds5927 I love that!! 😀
R.I.P. Hoboken's own Jim Rado, who co-wrote HAIR right here in town!
I've only seen one Broadway show, well sort of it was in London's West end in 1970, and it was Hair.
Ahhh, those memories!
I saw it in spring 2010 with Diana as Sheila, and she was AMAZING
Terrific performance!! great to see.
I was a hippie once a long time ago and the Toronto production of Hair was tops!
Now that's what you call good music! ❤✌
What an amazing performance!
Sasha Allen is astoundingly good.
Wonderful show ! I traveled from NC to NYC on the Crescent to see it. In the late ‘60’s I looked like I had escaped from the cast. 😂
I love that performance and the songs. The musical is outstanding.🙂
I saw her three times as Christine and I got to see her concert at Pepperdine. I absolutely love her.
Wow. That is powerful.
We've come a distance since Hairs first appearance on the Ed Sullivan show, all those years ago. A different world, the performers (back then) looked like a weird Manson hippy cult. The men were uglier and more prominent, the black performers were treated like extras and the act of breaking out into the audience had a real edge, as if it were an act of rebellion, leaving the host dazed and confused with poppies in his hands. The performance on Letterman was glorious and beautiful in comparison.
Ed was pretty confused about how the network allowed them the run of the theatre, but decided to enjoy himself since they weren’t damaging anything and were including him by giving him that lei.
@@JonathanMcKeyI’ve watched the Ed Sullivan performance in question, and I think I find myself agreeing with you-though I hope I’m not completely misunderstanding you, as I think there’s a typographic error with the word “lei” at the end by which I’m a little perplexed. I found Ed Sullivan to have been somewhat surprised by the cast’s engagement with the audience, but pleasantly so. While there’s certainly some question of a generational divide at play, I do strongly suspect he had some respect for the quality of the musical composition. I’m always impressed by Ed Sullivan’s ease and comfort in presenting contemporary popular culture. It reflects very well on him, and it was certainly not a given for someone in his position, nor for someone his age.
@@jocelynhamilton7624 I watched it back and made a mistake, I saw flowers and them putting a necklace on him, and didn't pay well enough attention. It's a peace necklace that they put on, and handed him flowers.
Rest in peace, Gavin Creel 💔🕊️☮️
Aquarius has always been one of my absolute favourite songs of all time. This is about as good as musical theatre gets.
That’s Bernard Purdie on drums.
I was really enjoying the beat *before* I read this comment. Now the power of the groove makes more sense.
Gavin Creel died 9/30/24. RIP Gavin
Gavin Creel as a hippie rock star is all I need in my life ❤ also, why isn't that audience on it's feet?
peace and love man, that's all we need ✌☮
It's here! 2024-25
The Age Of Aquarius ♒ ✨
Let The Sunshine In!!! 🌞
Rest in peace Gavin Creel ❤
Just discovered this, made me teary-eyed🥲🥲
Maravilhoso,.para alguém como eu que vi Hair.em 1970, e fui ao Central Park percorrer os mesmo cenários do filme.❤
A few years ago we forgot and recently we were reminded how fragile peace is.
In one of the first pieces of human literature, Homer summerised the dynamics of conflict in a single phrase:
Aὐτὸς γὰρ ἐφέλκεται ἄνδρα σίδηρος (Odyssey XIX.13)
For iron (the weapon) by itself tempts a man to use it.
The lead singer is beautiful
This is awesome but I came because I misread a comment on the Ed Sullivan clip. I thought this was going to be the Original Cast Reunion Performance. Oh well...lol....Let The Sunshine In anyhow! 😂
What does anyone expect? It's New York. The Best of the Best.
TY so much.
as Letterman so accurately describes the performance: beautiful!
Okay now I'm not crying. You're crying.😭
So much talent one one stage.
Maybe the hippies had it right, after all. We must choose love over hatred and prejudice which are simply forms of ignorance.
that was amazing!!
Diane Keaton was in the original Broadway production of Hair. However, I can't find a video with her in it.
Wow - so emotionally....
The second song is called “Flesh Failures” not let the sunshine in. It’s a tribute to their fallen friend Claude.
Unpopular opinion: Broadway needs more revivals. The new generation of musicals doesn’t appeal as much as the old ones. They want to appeal to younger generations, but they prefer pop singers’ concerts. Make Broadway for the old generations. Imagine being able to see Hair, Hairspray, A Chorus Line, 42nd street, Mamma Mia, Les Mis, Mary Poppins and others on a single trip to New York.
Exactly.
I remember wearing paisley and long skirts, longer hair with flowers 💐 in it
incredible talent, awesome performance, I just really cant stand theatre kids to this day apparently lmao
RIP Gavin Creel.
One of the cast members went to LaGuardia HS!!! YES FAME!!!
Which one?
It must have cost a million dollars to buy those flowers. I know this because I am a part-time florist. I’m a dancer at Big Al’s as my night time job.
Why is it so expensive?
Astounding!!
Love ❤️ Peace ☮️ Freedom 🙏
I may be wrong, but I think the actress starting Let the Sunshine is Elsa from Frozen (I can't remember her name now).
Caissie Levy
I preferred Diana as Sheila
@@auspicious93 Diana who?
@@burtihal DeGarmo?... She replaced the original Sheila, I think.
What a shining star Sasha Allen is! 0:32
Perfekt Flower Power Musical Hair ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Fabulous ❤
I suppose they needed to buy a new roof for the theater after this performance.
Haha! 👏🏾👏🏾
Aquí un peruano emocionándose con esta joya de canción
I heard this album many times as a little kid so you can just imagine how twisted my world view must be!
I watched for Gavin Creel! May he rest in Peace! almost two days when I found out he passed away on Wednesday before Thanksgiving 2024. Im broken!
The seventies must be awesome.
I was born in 1976 can't remember much he he
But can feel it love ❤
Hair was on Broadway in 1968 and they performed on the Ed Sullivan Show
@@RonGerstein ok 👍 thanks me from South Poland not a big fan of Capitalistic System
Al Hershfield Theater, NYC, NY
If you don't own a home. plant potatoes along hiking trails. Most people don't know what potato plants look like so you will have the advantage of picking a nuritional dense food that will peivide saety and make you feel full.
COVID 19 and AIDS awareness Mr. Rado always championed as his charity and said " I can't wait to die, so much fun". Responders.
We were going to change the world through love.
Gavin Creel!!!!! I LOVE YOU SOOOO MUCH !!!! 🥺😢❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
melts the ice build up, warms the engine block. Time to fire it up.
beautiful ,time stands still for love and peace, love and peace to our world, j Vincent Edwards Aquarius ,London tribe, Shaftesbury theatre 1968
Does anyone know who the blond girl is starting "Let the sunshine in"? She looks so familiar ...
why don't we all let the sunshine in? It's an old question.
Cool. I can crush on that cute redhead again. 🙂
an embarrassment of riches up there
The English Stage Version Was So Different 😀👍
We starve, look at one another short of breath
Walking proudly in our winter coats
Wearing smells from laboratories
Facing a dying nation of moving paper fantasy
Listening for the new told lies
With supreme visions of lonely tunes
Somewhere, inside something , there is a rush of greatness
Who knows what stands in front of our lives
I fashion my future on films in space
Silence tells me secretly ev'rything, ev'rything
Singing my space songs on a spiderweb star
"Life is around you and in you"
Answer for Timothy Leary, deary
Great!
Caissie Levy 😍