Public Revives 'Hair' with Groff & Swenson; Begins July 22

The Public Theater announced today that, after the successful 40th Anniversary staged-concert of Hair last summer, it will stage a full production of the legendary musical July 22-August 17.

Diane Paulus will once again direct a cast of 27 led by Tony Award nominee Jonathan Groff (Spring Awakening) and Will Swenson (110 in the Shade) who will revive their roles as Claude and Berger, respectively.  While the full company is being invited back, complete casting won't be confirmed for a few weeks.

Hair was the show that, in 1967, officially opened The Public Theater's long-time home on Lafayette Street.  With book and lyrics by James Rado and Gerome Ragni and music by Galt MacDermot, Hair has the distinction of being the first off-Broadway musical to transfer to Broadway, where it opened April 29, 1968 and ran for 1,873 performances.

Jonathan Groff (Claude) can currently be seen on Broadway as Melchior in Spring Awakening for which he received a Tony Award nomination.  Other theater credits include In My Life (Broadway), The Sound of Music (Rolf), Fame (Nick), Honk! (Ugly) and Bat Boy (Bat Boy).

Will Swenson (Berger) has performed at The Public in Two Gentlemen Of Verona. His Broadway credits include 110 In The Shade (Roundabout), Lestat, and Brooklyn.  His off-Broadway credits include The Slug Bearers of Kayrol Island, Or The Friends of Dr. Rushower (Vineyard) and Adrift In Macao (Primary Stages).

For additional information visit The Public Theater website at www.publictheater.org

Jonathan Groff (photo by Walter McBride / Retna Ltd)