Some call ‘Hair’ the first rock musical. A story of struggle in the changing times of the late 1960’s that sent a message to audiences everywhere.

“That it’s okay to be angry and it’s okay to be defiant and it’s necessary for us to do it,” says Hair director Charles Roy.

Roy says the issues facing today’s youth differ from the ones 45 years ago but there are still issues.

“It’s not the military industrial complex at the forefront; it’s more commercialized enterprising and industrial greed. These kinds of things, the face of the monster has changed but the fact that were facing a monster hasn’t”

The story is about a tribe of politically active long-haired young people living in New York fighting agains what they see as society’s right wing beliefs. During the production the cast will take the show back to Broadway where it all started.

Actor Graham Fleming says New York is a long way from his home in Elmvale but for him the last five years has been completely unpredictable.

“I was planning on becoming a teacher, I was in university for two years and I ended up joining the show ‘Rent’ and from there I have been living in Toronto and doing shows there.

The North American tour of ‘Hair’ begins at the Orillia Opera House with performances on Friday and Saturday. To get more information click here.