Sundance To Air HAIR Documentary Featuring Local Director 7/27

The new documentary, "Hair: Let the Sun Shine In," after screenings at the Webster University Film Series in April, will air on July 27 at 8:00 p.m. on the Sundance Channel. Award-winning filmmaker Pola Rappaport’s documentary excavates the origins of this culturally transformative theatre work, including interviews with co-creator James Rado and original cast members, as well as abundant and rare archival footage. The result is a delectable deconstruction of a musical that defined an era, a generation and its politics. New Line Theatre's artistic director Scott Miller, author of the book "Let the Sun Shine In: The Genius of Hair," is also featured in the film. New Line Theatre produced Hair last fall to enormous critical acclaim.
 
Since its overwhelming success on Broadway forty years ago, Hair has inspired generations with its messages of love, non-violence and liberation. The current Broadway revival of the show has been nominated for eight Tony Awards. This definitive and entertaining documentary highlights the continuing relevance of the show and its still radical, transformative power with a wealth of archival footage covering US and international productions. With the US again mired in a prolonged and unpopular war, Hair: Let the Sun Shine In documents how a new generation is inspired by its cry for peace, love and change. The efforts of author and co-creator Jim Rado to bring Hair’s vibrant energy and fantastic score to life once again merges with historical interviews and new segments featuring Milos Forman, Keith Carradine, Ben Vereen, Tim Curry, Melba Moore, Tom O’Horgan, Michael Butler and others from the original productions.
 
For more info about the film, visit http://www.blindinglightfilms.com/Hair/home.htm.

For background and analysis of the show, visit New Line's Hair webpage at http://www.newlinetheatre.com/Hairpage.html.

New Line Theatre is a professional company dedicated to involving the people of the St. Louis region in the exploration and creation of daring, provocative, socially and politically relevant works of musical theatre. New Line receives funding from the Regional Arts Commission, the Fox Performing Arts Charitable Foundation, and the Missouri Arts Council, a state agency. New Line's season closes July 16-August 8 with the first St. Louis production of "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee." For more about New Line, go to www.newlinetheatre.com.