Hair logo and art work © Michael Butler. Used with permission.

I had a chance to talk with Jessica Marciel one of the original Los Angeles cast members of HAIR. Jessica now lives
in Las Vegas where she works as a singer and vocal coach.

We chatted about what it was like doing the musical.  Check out Jessica's  Website for more information on what
she is doing now  www.JessicaMarciel.com

Jessica began her professional career, at age 12, when signed with Capitol Records, to be their first artist on a
subsidiary label, World Pacific Jazz. Her first single, “Johnny Let Me Go,” hit the Billboard Charts at 75, with a bullet.

After opening for groups, including: Santana, Grateful Dead, Three Dog Night, to name just a few, she went on to
star as the ingénue lead, Chrissy, in the Los Angeles production of the rock musical, HAIR.

Direct from high school, a young "Jessica Kluger," went into the Los Angeles Cast of HAIR.

After just one year in the chorus, Jessica was asked to play the ingénue role of teenybopper, Crissy.  She also
understudied the role of Jeannie, one of the lead characters.

Some of the HAIR alumni, from the Los Angeles cast, include: Ben Vereen, Teddy Neely, John Herzog, Tadg
Galleran, Dobie Gray, David " Pappy" Hunt, Meat Loaf, Kay Cole, Heather MacRae.

Jessica and I also chatted about various things from the 1960s as we both were around then.  As we talked
thought about 1960s and how it was a time when controversial productions were not well accepted.  The nude
scene was one issue that people were upset about with the musical.  I remember all the talk and newspaper
articles about HAIR back then in Los Angeles.  I passed by the Aquarius theatre everyday on my way to work.  I
asked Jessica about how she felt when she her thoughts on auditioning and being in HAIR.

When you went for your HAIR audition did you think about how revolutionary the musical was for late 1960s?  Did
the nude scene bother you or did you even think about it?  

When I was 16-17, I was in a very progressive originals band called “Free Circus.”  We were so close to being
signed, when our piano player got drafted, so we broke up.   I flew to LA after meeting Bill Loeb an agent.  The first
audition I did was for HAIR.  

I barely had heard of it, really.  I was in high school, and the opening act on weekends and summers for “Three
Dog Night,” and other groups.   I audition for Teddy Neeley and the late, and great director,  Armond Coulet.   
They liked me!  They asked if I was against nudity.  I had no idea there was a nude scene in HAIR! I answered, "I
am not ashamed of my body.”

After studying the very intense script and having to watch the show every night to learn it, I didn't find it offensive.   
I found it was genius.

The nude scene was very uncomfortable the first few times.  When watching it, I knew you couldn’t tell who was
who because of the lighting and fog on stage.    The fear I had was more the band and stagehands seeing me.
(laughter)  I didn’t care about the audience.  I would grab my clothes at the blackout, run for the dressing room
clutching my clothes against me.  The nude scene was not mandatory.  Cast members got $10 extra for doing the
scene, so I said yes after I got comfortable with the cast.  It was not hard after a while as everyone was like family in
the show.

Did you think that 40 years later the musical would still be considered ground-breaking or that you were making
History?

Did I know we were making history? No way!  I had no clue.  It was a show, and I was a singer, and actress. It was
anti-war, but I was anti-war anyway.  The biggest misconception about the tribe (cast) was that we were hippies!   
Which we were not!  We were serious actors and singers (Ben Vereen, Teddy Neeley, Delores Hall, John Herzog,
and so many more talented performers).  All of us were in the business, because it was in our blood.   It was ahead
of its time; subjects like the climate, abortion, war, and some people couldn’t handle the subject matter.

Being anti-war is not about being anti-patriotic; we loved our country.  It is the same with Iraq, and we still have all
the same problems today, fighting legal abortion and wanting us at war.  

I think that is why HAIR is still popular.  HAIR is opening in Central Park in July at “The  
Shakespeare in the Park.”

It is sells out wherever it plays today.   It is great to have stayed friends with my Hair peeps. We all had a part of
History that few were lucky to have.

When you look back now do you think about all that happened when it opened in Los Angeles?

Now 40 years later, I am sad that nothing has changed in the country.  Take the song “The Air,” it is all about
global warming, no one listened.   My favorite reunion was three years ago in New York at the La Ma Ma theatre
where it had it’s pre-Broadway opening.  To be in that place again, if walls could talk, they would tell a story.   
Michael Butler is one of the sweetest people I have ever known, and he is still hot at his age.  He has to be in his
late seventies, and believe me he is hot!

What are your most memorable moments doing the musical?

Hearing the audience roar and give Ben Vereen standing ovations.  Ben came and went. We were not always lucky
enough to have him in the cast.  He floated from NY to LA, but when he was on stage, you felt the magic.   Teddy
Neeley did the same for me. He gave me chills up my spine.

Did your family/friends object to you doing the musical?

Since I had always been in the biz, my parents and friends loved that I was working!   In fact Cubby O’Brien, the
drummer in HAIR, had been a drum student of my dads.   My dad the late Irv Kluger was where I got my inspiration
for music.
When I think about the 60’s, the war, was awful, but life was great,

I remember so many things from back then: Whiskey a Go Go, and seeing Edgar Winter, the Doors, North Beach
Leather, Hugh Hefner’s mansion.  Went to Sly and Family Stone house for a recording session and had a blast!   
The 70’s were great too!  I met Janis Joplin.   I am one lucky old rocker chick!

Jessica is on her way to New York for the 40th HAIR Alumni Reunion to be held this week.  

They will come together in New York, from various parts of the world to
celebrate the show that changed so many of their lives, and also celebrate
director Tom O’Horgan’s 84th birthday.

HAIR opened on Broadway at the Biltmore theatre on April 29, 1968.  HAIR’s
book and lyrics were written by Gerome Ragni and James Rado, with music
by Galt MacDermot, and it was directed by Tom O’Horgan.

HAIR was a ground-breaking musical as it was the first "rock musical," with
an integrated cast.  HAIR has been described as an American tribal love-
rock musical.  It was a musical about youth in American during the Vietnam
War era and their culture.  Many young people protested the Vietnam War
and wanted peace and love.  This played a major part of the musical.

HAIR is more than just about hippies and the anti-war movement, which
many at that time thought it was all about.  The musical talked about many
issues of the times, which related to a generation of young people.  Many
adults at the time thought the musical was disrespectful to the government
and other people.  The show had protests at many of its openings.

From the HAIR archives: “The musical was seen by 30 million over people in
its first 4 years, it became a cultural phenomenon and a worldwide success.
It rocked and shocked the world and was the training ground for many of
today’s biggest stars.”

Quote from Clive Barnes of “The New York Times” on April 30, 1968, “Hair -
It's Fresh and Frank Likable Rock musical on Broadway.”

The cry of  “make love not war” was out shined by the nude scene which
was a protest in itself to the war.  The nude scene was a very small portion
of the musical, but still remains something people talk about today.

Jessica with Ben Vereen

Jessica, Teddy and David "Papi" Hunt

Jessica, Michael Butler and Corrine Broskette

Photos from one of the alumni reunions.