The director's recent Broadway triumph, The Boy From Oz, closes Sept. 12 at the Imperial Theatre. Previously for TUTS, McKinley directed the world premiere production of Sayonara, as well as the 1997 production of Phantom. Off-Broadway, he has directed Thwak (Drama Desk nomination) and Zombie Prom.
The revival of the 1968 rock musical by Gerome Ragni and James Rado (book and lyrics) and Galt MacDermot (music) will feature Sarah Stiles (Chrissy), who was recently seen in the national tour of Titanic; Tom Stuart (Claude), who appeared in the Off-Broadway production of The Fantasticks; Andrew Wright (Hud), whose Broadway credits include Jesus Christ Superstar and Footloose; Sara Schmidt (Sheila), who appeared on Broadway in Dance of the Vampires; Rachel Stern (Jeanie), whose most recently played Janis Joplin in Beehive at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park; Q. Smith (Dionne), who was recently seen Off-Broadway in Fame on 42nd Street; and Erwin G. Irby (Woof), whose national tour credits include Pacific Overtures and Dreamgirls.
The Tribe will include Barry Brown, Charl Brown, Julie Cardia, Lisa Vidas Consolacion, Hillary Elliott, D.J. Gregory, Marcie Henderson, Stephen Alexander Horst, Trisha Jeffrey, Daniel Frank Kelley, Stuart Landon, Ryan Link, Anthony Manough, Christina Nuki, Jia Taylor, Doug Thompson and Kirsten Wyatt.
The musical rant focuses on a frizzy-mopped group of hippies in the late 1960s. In a New York City park, they express themselves about war, sex, love, alienation, drugs, the establishment and, of course, hair.
"Although the show that Ragni, MacDermot and Rado wrote had an anti-war theme, it also had a pro theme for a new way of life: it was not just against, it was for something," McKinley said in notes. "It was not pro drugs, sex and rock ‘n’ roll. It went deeper than that – it was about love, peace and harmony with nature." Film and stage choreographer Tony Stevens will choreograph.
Hair will feature set design by Randel Wright; lighting design by David Neville; and costume design by Raydelle Robbins. Michael Moricz will conduct.
"In keeping with the concept of the original production, Hair contains brief nudity and other adult material," according to TUTS.
Single tickets for Hair ($27-$72) are available by phone at (713) 558-8887 or outside the Houston area at (888) 558 3882; or in person at the Theatre Under The Stars box office, 800 Bagby at Walker. Visit www.tuts.com.
