HAIR Lets 'Sun Shine In' Three Days Earlier, Previews Now Begin 2/10

Producers for the Broadway bound revival of Hair: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical have announced that the show will now begin previews at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre beginning February 10 (three days earlier than previously scheduled), with an opening set for March 5. 

Tickets for the upcoming Broadway production of HAIR: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical -- a critical and popular smash this summer during The Public Theater's sold-out engagement at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park -- will go on-sale to the public on December 6th, 2008.

Starting November 19th through December 5th, American Express cardholders were exclusively able to purchase tickets to HAIR. The musical begins previews February 13th prior to officially opening on March 5th at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre (302 West 45th Street) on Broadway.

American Express cardmembers can purchase tickets by calling Tele-charge at 212-239-6200, or on-line at www.telecharge.com.

At this time there is no word on who from the previous cast will transfer to the new production, othet that the already announced new that Jonathan Groff will not be part of the production, which will be co-produced byElizabeth I. McCann and the Public Theater. Groff, who originated the role of Claude for the show's summer run for the Public Theater is currently appearing in the Off-Broadway production of PRAYER FOR MY Enemy.

Representatives for the show have confirmed that he will be unable to join the Broadway production due to other committments.

Directed by Diane Paulus with book and lyrics by James Rado and Gerome Ragni and music by Galt MacDermot, this critically acclaimed revival of the classic 1967 musical extended three times during its Shakespeare in the Park run and closed on Sunday, September 14.

HAIR was the show that, in 1967, officially opened The Public Theater's long-time home on Lafayette Street.  HAIR has the distinction of being the first off-Broadway musical to transfer to Broadway.  It moved to Broadway on April 29, 1968 and ran for 1,873 performances.

The cast for HAIR in the park featured Ato Blankson-Wood (Tribe), Steel Burkhardt(Tribe), Jackie Burns (Black Boys Trio/Tribe), Allison Case (Crissy), Lauren Elder (Tribe),Allison Guinn (Tribe), Christopher J. Hanke (Claude), Anthony Hollock (Tribe), Kaitlin Kiyan (Tribe), Andrew Kober (Father/Margaret Mead),  Megan Lawrence (Mother),Nicole Lewis (White Boys Trio / Tribe), Caren Lyn Manuel (Sheila), Patina Renea Miller(Dionne), John 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), Will Swenson (Berger), and Tommar Wilson (Tribe).

HAIR features scenic design by Scott Pask, costume design by Michael McDonald, lighting design by Michael Chybowski, sound design by Acme Sound Partners, and choreography by Karole Armitage.

Diane Paulus (Director) is the creator and director of The Donkey Show, which ran for six years off-Broadway and toured internationally. Her theater credits include Turandot: Rumble for the Ring (Bay Street Theatre); The Golden Mickeys (Disney Creative Entertainment); Best of Both Worlds (Music-Theatre Group and The Women's Project); The Karaoke Show (Jordan Roth Productions); the Obie Award-winning Pulitzer Prize finalist Running Man; Swimming With Watermelons (Project 400); Brutal Imagination; the Obie-winning Eli's Comin. Opera credits include Le Nozze Di Figaro, Turn of the Screw, Cosi Fan Tutte, Il Ritorno D'ulisse In Patria, L'Incoronazione di Poppea, and Orfeo (all Chicago Opera Theater; Orfeo was also presented at BAM). Recipient: Peter Ivers Visiting Artist Fellowship (Harvard); Directing Fellowship (the Drama League).

THE PUBLIC THEATER (Oskar Eustis, Artistic Director) was founded by Joseph Papp in 1954 as the Shakespeare Workshop and is now one of the nation's preeminent cultural institutions, producing new plays, musicals, productions of Shakespeare, and other classics at its headquarters on Lafayette Street and at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park.  The Public's mandate to create a theater for all New Yorkers continues to this day on stage and through its extensive outreach and education programs. Each year, over 250,000 people attend Public Theater-related productions and events at six downtown stages, including Joe's Pub, and Shakespeare in the Park. The Public has won 40 Tony Awards, 145 Obies, 39 Drama Desk Awards, 24 Lucille Lortel Awards and 4 Pulitzer Prizes.

HAIR has also announced its performance schedule and will play, as follows: Tuesdays at 7pm, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at 8pm; Saturdays at 2pm and 8pm; and Sundays at 2pm and 7:30pm. (Exceptions include no matinee on Saturday, February 14; no Sunday evening performances on April 12 or April 19; added Wednesday matinees at 2pm on April 8 and April 15. Opening night is Thursday, March 5 at 6:45pm.) 

With book and lyrics by James Rado and Gerome Ragni, and music by Galt MacDermot, this Broadway-bound production of HAIR is directed by Diane Paulus. HAIR was a phenomenal success when it first played opened on Broadway in the 60's, and again this past summer when it was a smash hit at the Delacorte, extending there by popular demand an unprecedented three times.

HAIR's move to Al Hirschfeld Theatre marks the first time in over 35 years that the ground-breaking rock musical has been performed on Broadway since its debut in 1968, when it ignited audiences and became an overnight sensation, running until 1972 and playing over 1800 performances.

With a score including such enduring musical numbers as "Let the Sun Shine In," "Aquarius," "Hair" and "Good Morning Starshine," HAIR depicts the birth of a cultural movement in the 60's and 70's that changed America forever: the musical follows a group of hopeful, free-spirited young people who advocate a lifestyle of pacifism and free-love in a society riddled with intolerance and brutality during the Vietnam War. As they explore sexual identity, challenge racism, experiment with drugs and burn draft cards, the "tribe" in HAIR creates an irresistable message of hope, peace and change that continues to resonate with audiences 40 years later.

HAIR casting is to be announced.

Tickets to HAIR will range in price from $37-$67-$77-$122 (premium priced seating also available). Reservations at Tele-charge 212 239 6200 or online at www.telecharge.com.

Photo by Michal Daniel