Elizabeth I. McCann and the Public Theater will co-produce the Broadway revival of Hair – the timely tribal love-rock musical written by James Rado, Gerome Ragni and Galt MacDermot – which is slated to begin performances after the first of the year. Theatre, dates and casting will be announced at a later date.
The announcement of the Broadway transfer follows three extensions for the current Central Park run, which concludes Sept. 14 at the Delacorte Theater. Performances began July 22, and Hair officially opened Aug. 7.
"The success of Hair has been thrilling, proving that this show speaks as powerfully today as it did 40 years ago," said Public Theater artistic director Oskar Eustis in a statement. "Now our job is to give it a life beyond Central Park, where we can reach as large an audience as Hair deserves. We're moving the show indoors, but the celebratory joy of this production will remain intact."
Tony nominee Jonathan Groff (Spring Awakening) — who was unable to remain with Hair past its extensions because of his role in the Ang Lee film "Taking Woodstock" — could return to star in the Broadway production once his schedule opens up after the first of the year, although no official announcement has been made. Groff was succeeded by Cry-Baby's Christopher J. Hanke for the remainder of the Central Park run.
The Delacorte production, which features choreography by Karole Armitage (Passing Strange), reunites much of the 40th anniversary cast of Hair, which played the outdoor theatre in September 2007. Hair features Christopher J. Hanke (Claude), Will Swenson (Berger), Patina Renea Miller (Dionne), Caryn Lyn-Manuel (Sheila), Ato Blankson-Wood (Tribe), Steel Burkhardt (Tribe), Jackie Burns (White Boys Trio/Tribe), Allison Case (Crissy), Lauren Elder (Tribe), Allison Guinn (Tribe), Anthony Hollock (Tribe), Kaitlin Kiyan (Tribe), Andrew Kober (Father/Margaret Mead), Megan Lawrence (Mother), Nicole Lewis (White Boys Trio/Tribe), John M. Moauro (Tribe), Darius Nichols (Hud), Brandon Pearson (Tribe), Megan Reinking (Black Boys Trio/Tribe), Paris Remillard (Tribe), Bryce Ryness (Woof), Saycon Sengbloh (White Boys Trio/Tribe), Maya Sharpe (Tribe), Kacie Sheik (Jeanie), Theo Stockman (Tribe) and Tommar Wilson (Tribe).
The creative team comprises Scott Pask (set design), Michael McDonald (costume design), Michael Chybowski (lighting design) and Acme Sound Partners (sound design).
For additional information about Shakespeare in the Park, call (212) 539-8750 or visit The Public Theater website at www.publictheater.org.
