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Tony-Winning Hair Revival Recoups Investment
By Andrew Gans
and Adam Hetrick
07 Aug 2009
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Hair stars Gavin Creel and Will Swenson.
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| photo by Joan Marcus | The Tony Award-winning revival of the sixties rock musical Hair, which plays the Al Hirschfeld Theatre, has recouped its initial investment of $5.76 million, according to an Aug. 7 press announcement.
The musical, which opened in March, has been grossing $1 million or more weekly for over the past two months.
In a statement Oskar Eustis, artistic director of the Public Theater, said, "The eagerness with which audiences have embraced Hair and its message of peace and change has been inspiring and enormously gratifying to all of us. It pleases me to no end that we have recouped in an astonishingly short time, and we want to thank our partners and investors who believed in Hair and were willing to back it during the worst economic downturn of our lifetimes. The Tribe of Hair is one: actors, musicians, writers, artists, technicians, managers, producers, investors and the Public Theater."
This new production of Hair began life as a 40th anniversary concert presented as part of the Public Theater's Joe's Pub in the Park series, at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park, in September 2007. It became clear that the timely musical had touched a nerve with audiences, so the Public reassembled the cast of Hair for a full-production as part of New York Sheakespeare Festival's Shakespeare in the Park in summer 2008 (again at the Delacorte).
Under the direction of American Repertory Theatre artistic director Diane Paulus (The Donkey Show, Turandot: Rumble for the Ring), the al fresco Hair quickly became a must-see event, resulting in three extensions at the Delacorte. Much of the original 40th anniversary concert cast returned for the 2009 Broadway transfer that began performances at the Hirschfeld Theatre March 6 and opened March 31.
Featuring book and lyrics by the late Gerome Ragni and James Rado and music by Galt MacDermot, Hair boasts a young cast led by Tony nominee Will Swenson as Berger, Tony nominee Gavin Creel as Claude, Sasha Allen as Dionne, Caissie Levy as Sheila, Allison Case as Crissy, Kacie Sheik as Jeanie, Bryce Ryness as Woof, Darius Nichols as Hud, Tony nominee Megan Lawrence as Mother and Andrew Kober as Margaret Mead/Dad.
The Hair creative team includes set designer Scott Pask, costume designer Michael McDonald, lighting designer Kevin Adams, sound designer Acme Sound Partners and choreographer Karole Armitage.
"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," according to Broadway production notes. "As they explore sexual identity, challenge racism, experiment with drugs and burn draft cards, the 'tribe' in Hair creates an irresistible message of hope, peace and change that continues to resonate with audiences 40 years later."
For further information visit HairBroadway.
The Al Hirschfeld Theatre is located at 302 West 45th Street.
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