Rest easy, parents.

Students at Duke Ellington School of the Arts won’t be taking off their clothes on stage during the upcoming five performances of the rock musical Hair.

The girls won’t be burning their bras, either — although director Lynda Gravatt admits that one cast member asked if she could.

What will be evident on stage, according to Gravatt, is the emotional turmoil and anti-war sentiment of the Vietnam war era that created the 1960s musical about hippies, flower children and others who fought the military draft and conventional standards of behavior and dress.

Gravatt said the 30 cast members, enrolled in grades 9 through 12 at the public school in Georgetown, are "absolutely" getting a history lesson and becoming more politically aware through studying their roles.

"They come to this place as kids of 2003 and they’re transported back in time," said Gravatt, who recently left an off-Broadway production to direct the all-school musical at Ellington, where she formerly chaired the theater department.

Gravatt said the play "has awakened something in them," with many of the cast members recently participating in the April 1 Affirmative Action demonstration at the U.S. Supreme Court "to see what a real protest is like."

"Hopefully, they’ll see that it’s important to take a stand about something," Gravatt said.

Hair will be presented at 10:30 a.m. April 9, at 7:30 p.m. April 10-12 and at 3 p.m. on April 12 at the Duke Ellington Theatre inside Duke Ellington School of the Arts, 3500 R St. NW. Tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for students. More information is available by calling (202) 965-3141.

Copyright 2003, The Common Denominator