James Rado News

Rehearsals are under way for the critically-acclaimed 50th anniversary production of Hair - The Musical. Leading the cast in this revolutionary, Grammy award-winning musical is: Dancing on Ice's 2018 champion Jake Quickenden as Berger, Hollyoaks' Daisy Wood-Davis as Sheila and X Factor 2011 finalist Marcus Collins as Hud.

Bob Greenblatt, who will soon bring a live staging of the musical Hair to NBC in May, will accept the Brandon Tartikoff Legacy Award at the 16th annual NATPE (National Association of Television Program Executives) Conference in Miami, where other honorees include Byron Allen, Mara Brock Akil, Rita Moreno, Betty White and Henry Winkler. Greenblatt recently signed off as the entertainment chairman of NBC, and seems to be focusing on producing for now.

Two theatre greats died in December 2018, both with history at the Royal Alexandra Theatre.  Dancer and teacher Blanche Lund died on December 1, 2018, and composer Galt MacDermot died on December 17, 2018. Because of the holidays the theatre did not have a chance to properly mark the passing of these remarkable people. We will do so now.

Theater for the New City's annual LOVE N' COURAGE Gala - which benefits the company's ever-important program that supports emerging playwrights - will be held early next year on Monday, February 25 at 6 pm at the Players (16 Gramercy Park South) in New York City, it has been announced by TNC's Executive Director Crystal Field. 

As previously reported, Galt MacDermot, composer of the musical Hair, has passed away on December 17 at 89 years old.

Full casting has been announced for the critically-acclaimed 50th anniversary production of Hair - The Musical. Leading the cast in this revolutionary, Grammy award-winning musical is: Dancing on Ice's 2018 champion Jake Quickenden as Berger, Hollyoaks' Daisy Wood-Davis as Sheila and X Factor 2011 finalist Marcus Collins as Hud.

They were just four guys from Jersey, until they sang their very first note.  They had a sound nobody had ever heard... and the radio just couldn't get enough of. But while their harmonies were perfect on stage, off stage it was a very different story-a story that has made them an international sensation all over again. Go behind the music and inside the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons in the Tony Award®-winning true-life musical phenomenon, Jersey Boys. From the streets of New Jersey to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, this is the musical that's just too good to be true.  The premiere engagement of Jersey Boys in Grand Rapids in 2013 was seen by over 15,000 theatregoers in our city at DeVos Performance Hall.  I recently talked to former Jersey Boy Actor and choreographer about His role with the production not only on the Canadian tour, and North American tour as well as currently on the Norwegian Cruise Line ship. This is what he had to say:

NBC's next live musical is 'Hair Live!,' the original rock musical that is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. Stage director Diane Paulus, the Tony Award-winning director of Broadway's 2009 Best Revival of the musical written by James Rado, Gerome Ragni and Galt MacDermot will join Emmy Award-winning Alex Rudzinski, who will serve as live television director as he did for 'Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert.' 'Hair Live!' is set for broadcast on Sunday, May 19, 2019 before a live audience. Check out just-released promo art below!

Following the critically- acclaimed 50th anniversary production of Hair, The Musical at Hope Mill Theatre and sell-out transfer to The Vaults, London, the celebrated production will now embark on a nationwide tour - including a visit to the Edinburgh Playhouse from 22-27 June 2019.

Hair is a great big hit on the symbolic and mostly imaginary bong that is theater in Music City - or anywhere else artists come together to share the largesse of their own indomitable spirits. The resulting production will leave you inspired, maybe even more readily equipped with the realities of life in the 21st century, which proves that no matter how much times have changed, they remain stultifyingly the same. While our prejudices and biases may have been altered by the social upheaval of the 1960s and the decades that followed, introspection reveals that we only have refocused our baser instincts on issues of equal significance.

Circle Players continues to celebrate of its 2018-19 season with tonight's opening of Hair, the 1969 tribal love-rock musical that made musical theater history with its premiere 50 years ago. Directed by Jason Lewis and choreographed by Tosha Pendergrast, the eagerly anticipated production features a cast of Nashville's favorite actors, with Nicholas Page as Claude.

Following the critically-acclaimed 50th anniversary production of Hair - The Musical at Hope Mill Theatre and sell-out transfer to The Vaults, London, the celebrated production will now embark on a nationwide tour.

Geva Theatre Center presents Hair, with book and lyrics by Gerome Ragni and James Rado, music by Galt MacDermot, directed by Melissa Rain Anderson, with musical direction by Don Kot, and choreography by Liz Ramos in the Elaine P. Wilson Stage from September 4 through October 7.

Michael Boyd's SOLDIERS AND OTHER LIVING THINGS Co-Presented by The Theater at the 14th Street Y and Andy Gordanier, running September 27 - October 7, 2018 in a limited engagement at The Theater at the 14th Street Y, 334 East 14th Street.

During the Emmy Awards, NBC shared the first teaser for 'Hair Live!' Watch the video below!

Geva Theatre Center presents Hair, with book and lyrics by Gerome Ragni and James Rado, music by Galt MacDermot, directed by Melissa Rain Anderson, with musical direction by Don Kot, and choreography by Liz Ramos in the Elaine P. Wilson Stage from September 4 through October 7.

Michael Boyd's SOLDIERS AND OTHER LIVING THINGS Co-Presented by The Theater at the 14th Street Y and Andy Gordanier, running September 27 - October 7, 2018 in a limited engagement at The Theater at the 14th Street Y, 334 East 14th Street.

Geva Theatre Center presents Hair, with book and lyrics by Gerome Ragni and James Rado, music by Galt MacDermot, directed by Melissa Rain Anderson, with musical direction by Don Kot, and choreography by Liz Ramos in the Elaine P. Wilson Stage from September 4 through October 7.

Geva Theatre Center presents Hair, with book and lyrics by Gerome Ragni and James Rado, music by Galt MacDermot, directed by Melissa Rain Anderson, with musical direction by Don Kot, and choreography by Liz Ramos in the Elaine P. Wilson Stage from September 4 through October 7.

Peregrine Theatre Ensemble's HAIR finds the poignant heart within a raucous, sweeping show. Through September 7th at Provincetown's Fishermen Hall. Tuesdays through Fridays at 7:30pm. Tickets at www.peregrinetheatre.com. Photo credit: Michael & Suz Karchmer