Raleigh
Hair
Meymandi Theatre at the Murphey SchoolThis 1960s rock musical was mired in controversy upon its first staging. Its jaunty depiction of drug use, rude language and actors naked before the end of Act I caused quite a stir. But it was the desecration of the American flag coupled with the show’s anti-Vietnam War theme that elicited occasional threats and acts of violenceironic, considering its emphasis on peaceeventually prompting two Supreme Court cases. Since then, Hair has spawned numerous productions, including a 1979 film adaptation and a 2009 revival, which won a Tony Award for best revival of a musical. Now, Burning Coal Theatre Company re-examines this classic by combining “high-energy performances with minimalist production values.” This hippie-loving musical will no doubt have you belting, or at least humming, “Aquarius” over and over. The show runs through Sept. 27, with showings Thursday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets are $20, $15 for students, seniors and military, and $10 on Thursdays. Visit www.burningcoal.org for more information. Belem Destefani
Raleigh
Arts NOW Series
Talley Student Center Ballroom, NCSU CampusThe school year has started, and that means the university arts events are back. At N.C. State, the Arts NOW concert series begins this evening. Rodney Waschka II, professor of arts studies, directs the series. Performing tonight is cellist Jonathan C. Kramer, a teaching professor of music and arts studies at NCSU, who has previously performed with the North Carolina Symphony. Dr. Kramer will perform Seung Il Kim’s “Lamentation and Desire,” J. Mark Scearce’s “Gaea’s Lament” and Waschka’s “Singing in Traffic.” Waschka tends to experiment with electronics and other media. Tickets for the 7 p.m. event can be purchased through Ticket Central at State (515-1100, ticketcentral.ncsu.edu). For more information about the series, visit www4.ncsu.edu/~waschka/artsnow. Sarah Ewald
