Diane Paulus directs Hair, which features Jonathan Groff (Claude), Ato Blankson-Wood (Tribe), Steel Burkhardt (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), Patina Miller (Dionne), John Moauro (Tribe), Darius Nichols (Hud), Karen Olivo (Sheila), Brandon Pearson (Tribe), Alisan Porter (Black Boys Trio/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), Will Swenson (Berger) and Tommar Wilson (Tribe).
In a recent statement Public Theater artistic director Oskar Eustis said, "Hair is a remarkable artistic work and a stunning societal document, capturing the counter-culture in all its beauty, utopianism, narcissism, idealism and failure. It was a landmark in the American Theater and a pivotal moment in the Public's history. We're thrilled to bring it to Central Park."
Hair features book and lyrics by James Rado and Gerome Ragni and music by Galt MacDermot. The musical premiered at the Public Theater Oct. 17, 1967, and ran for six weeks; it moved to Broadway April 29, 1968 and ran for 1,873 performances. According to The Public, "The year is 1967, and the Vietnam War is at its height. In New York City, a tribe of hippies rails against the establishment, protesting intolerance, brutality, and the dehumanization of society. When Claude, one of their own, gets drafted, he must make a decision about what values are worth fighting for."
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At left (from top): Jonathan Groff; Allison Case and Will Swenson; Karen Olivo; James Rado; The Public's executive director Mara Manus and artistic director Oskar Eustis; Bryce Ryness; Darius Nichols and Patina Renea Miller; musical director Rob Fisher; director Diane Paulus. Below: Members of the current and past casts of Hair at the curtain call.
photos by Aubrey Reuben
