Gavin Creel Details HAIR's Whirlwind Tonight Show Trip To The LA Times

Tony nominated HAIR star Gavin Creel shared his behind-the-scenes details with The Los Angeles Times Culture Monster about the HAIR tribe's whirlwind West Coast journey to The Tonight Show.

Here is a sneak peek at the article, "11:25 a.m. (EST): Today's the day. The "HAIRplane" will take to the skies to whisk 50 hippies to the West Coast. "Tonight Show," here we come! I'm at my apartment doing some last-minute packing and truly starting to contemplate what we are about to do. This is insane!!" To read his full Culture Monster diary, click here.

Gavin Creel received a TONY nomination for Best Actor in a Musical for his portrayal as "Claude" in the hit musical HAIR as well as for his role as "Jimmy" in THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE. In addition to his success on Broadway, Creel has previously performed to sold-out crowds at Joe's Pub, Irving Plaza, Ars Nova, and Arlene's Grocery.

The complete cast, all-star band and crew of HAIR (a total company of 50) traveled to Los Angeles to give a performance from the Tony Award-winning musical on NBC's "The Tonight Show with Conan O' Brien" on their day off, tonight, Monday, July 13th .

HAIR will be the first Broadwayshow to perform on "The Tonight Show" hosted by O' Brien. The appearance will also mark the first time in "The Tonight Show" history that a Broadway company this large has traveled to Los Angeles to perform on the legendary late night program.

The HAIR performance on "The Tonight Show" will follow a handful of other memorable national television appearances including, most recently, a concert in Central Park for the Summer Concert Series on ABC's "Good Morning America" (during which they performed an impromptu musical tribute to Michael Jackson)."

For "The Tonight Show" appearance, HAIR director Diane Paulus will stage the musical number specifically to use the entire space of Conan's new NBC set in Universal City. The cast flew to Los Angeles immediately after their Sunday performance (7/12) and will return to New York following the television appearance on Monday, July 13th. No performances of HAIR in New York will be cancelled.

The story of a group of young Americans searching for love and peace during the Vietnam era, HAIR is a timeless portrait of a movement that changed the world. Its groundbreaking rock score paved the way for some of the greatest musicals of our time. Now, the "Age of Aquarius" dawns again in this jubilant new production, which won the 2009 Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical. The Drama Desk, Drama League, and Outer Critics Circle also recently honored the production with their 2009 award for Outstanding Revival of a Musical.

Directed by Diane Paulus and choreographed by Karole Armitage, HAIR features a book and lyrics by Gerome Ragni and James Rado and music by Galt MacDermot.

The full cast of HAIR includes Sasha Allen, Ato Blankson-Woo, Steel Burkhardt, Jackie Burns, Briana Carlson-Goodman, Allison Case, Gavin Creel, Lauren Elder, Allison Guinn, Chasten Harmon, Anthony Hollock, Jay Armstrong Johnson, Kaitlin Kiyan, Andrew Kober, Josh Lamon, Megan Lawrence, Caissie Levy, Nicole Lewis, Ryan Link, John Moauro, Darius Nichols, Brandon Pearson, Paris Remillard, Megan Reinking, Bryce Ryness, Michael James Scott, Saycon Sengbloh, Maya Sharpe, Kacie Sheik, Theo Stockman, Will Swenson and Tommar Wilson.

The HAIR band, a veritable Who's Who of New York musicians, includes Nadia DiGiallonardo (Conductor/Keyboard), Lon Hoyt (Assistant Conductor/Keyboard), Steve Bargonetti (Guitar), Andrew Schwartz (Guitar), Wilbur Bascomb (Bass), Allen Won (Woodwinds), Elaine Burt (Trumpet), Ronald Buttacavoli (Trumpet), Christian Jaudes (Trumpet), Vincent MacDermot (Trombone), Joe Cardello (Percussion), and Bernard Purdie (Drums).

HAIR began preview performances on March 6 at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre (302 West 45th Street, NYC) and opened to rave reviews on March 31, 2009.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.

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