Will Hair Sprout Life Beyond Central Park?
By Adam Hetrick
30 Jul 2008
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Hair star Jonathan Groff
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| photo by Michal Daniel | The Shakespeare in the Park presentation of the tribal rock musical Hair may find life beyond its limited summer engagement.
One indication of a possible future for the current Central Park summer staging of Hair is the title's appearance on the website for The Broadway Booking Office, a company responsible for presenting, booking and marketing of theatrical productions. A representative for BBO stated that they are currently soliciting interest from touring markets.
While an official announcement has not been made by the Public Theater, which presents Shakespeare in the Park at the outdoor Delacorte Theater, Playbill.com has learned that there is talk within the Public of hope for and interest in a commercial transfer of the groundbreaking Hair.
Originally born in 1967 under the auspices of Joseph Papp at the Public Theater (then known as the New York Shakespeare Festival), Hair was substantially reconceived by its creators for its 1968 Broadway debut at the Biltmore Theatre.
Should the new transfer come to pass, the new Diane Paulus staging would mark the first time a Public Theater production of Hair would arrive on Broadway.
The open-air production, under the direction of Diane Paulus, began performances July 22 at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park and will officially open Aug. 7.
Featuring book and lyrics by James Rado and Gerome Ragni and music by Galt MacDermot, Hair reunites the cast from last summer's 40th anniversary concert production which played the outdoor theatre in September 2007.
The musical features Tony nominee Jonathan Groff (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).
Performances of Shakespeare in the Park are Tuesday-Sunday at 8 PM. Tickets are free and are available on the day of the performance (two per person) at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park beginning at 1 PM, or by entering the Public's online ticketing lottery at www.publictheater.org.
The closest entrances to the Delacorte are located at 81st Street and Central Park West or 70th Street and Fifth Avenue.
For additional information about Shakespeare in the Park, call (212) 539-8750 or visit The Public Theater website at www.publictheater.org.
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Tommar Wilson, Will Swenson and Bryce Ryness in Hair.
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| photo by Michal Daniel |
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