The Public Theater announced earlier this week that the critically praised production, under the direction of Diane Paulus, will transfer to Broadway in 2009. A theatre, official dates and casting have not been confirmed.
Hair began performances July 22 and officially opened Aug. 7 at the Delacorte Theater. The tribal love-rock musical, written by James Rado, Gerome Ragni and Galt MacDermot, was originally scheduled to run through Aug. 17. However, word of mouth turned Hair into one of the hottest tickets in town, resulting in three extensions of the free production.
"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 regarding the Broadway transfer. "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."
The Central Park 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).
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.
