The actors in the Egyptian Theatre Company production of "Hair" have mixed emotions about disrobing in the show's brief nude scene, but all agree it is important to the musical.
* Timothy Letheic Goins (Hud): "The nudity doesn't bother me. At first, I thought it would, but I did some research, and was back in New York, and got to see the show a couple of times, and it was so beautifully done, it didn't bother me.
"I did 'The Full Monty' in Park City about five years ago, but the nudity in that show was more of a trick at the end of the show. I wasn't ashamed by any means."
("The Full Monty" used bright lighting behind the nude actors to "blind" the audience.)
"In this show, there are no tricks," Goins said. "The characters are protesting. It's only about 20 seconds, but it will probably feel like about five minutes to the actors on stage. But it's an important show, and the nudity is less than a minute.
"My parents will not be coming to the show. They're busy, and they're pretty conservative, this is an in-your-face show. I'm sure they would make time if I encouraged them to come. I wouldn't want them to be uncomfortable."
* Kandyce Marie Gabrielsen (Dionne), sister of ensemble member Latoya Rhodes: "We told our parents what the story was about, and that the nudity is in context, and they said, 'Oh, OK.' They've been pretty understanding, and know theater is an art form. We got pretty lucky with parents. "
* Latoya Rhodes: "I'm not really bothered by the nudity, but I'm not showing everything. I saw the show on Broadway, and I was really quite moved."
* Luke Monday (ensemble member): "I'm pretty OK with the nudity, which is not sexual. I swam on swim team for about 9 years, and basically walked around in a little suit, during swim meets, for years. This is just one more thing. When I started swimming, that took a lot of getting used to, but I finally became numb to it. So I'm pretty comfortable."
* Fred Lee (Claude): "It's not about exhibitionism. People back then made a bigger deal of hippies being naked than they did about people on the other side of the world being brutally murdered. For hippies, being naked was the ultimate way to show their freedom.
"We (actors) are not doing this for shock value, it's for expression of the arts, 100 percent. I am coming from a conservative family and lifestyle. I am lucky to have very supportive friends, family and co-workers."
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