Hair plays final performance on Broadway

The Broadway revival of Hair: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical, winner of the 2009 Tony Award for Best Revival, plays its final performance on 27 Jun 2010 - the musical had been selling tickets through to 5 Sep 2010. The revival recouped its initial investment of $5.76 million in Aug 2009.

Hair opened on Broadway at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre on 31 Mar 2009, following previews from 6 Mar 2010. The show played 29 previews and 519 regular performances.

The musical received excellent reviews: Emotionally rich revival. (NY Times); A smile-inducing celebration of life and freedom. (NY Daily News); The most exciting new show in town. (Bloomberg); Gives Broadway a welcome jolt of energy. (The Record); If this explosive production doesn't stir something in you, it may be time to check your pulse."(Variety).

With book and lyrics by James Rado and Gerome Ragni, and music by Galt MacDermot, Hair is directed by Diane Paulus.

The Broadway revival cast of Hair currently features "American Idol" contestants Diana DeGarmo as 'Sheila' and Ace Young as 'Berger,' as well as Annaleigh Ashford (Wicked, Legally Blonde) as 'Jeanie,' Jeannette Bayardelle (The Color Purple) as 'Dionne,' Vanessa Ray as 'Crissy,' Kyle Riabko (Spring Awakening) as 'Claude,' Wallace Smith as 'Hud' and Jason Wooten as 'Woof.'

Completing the company are Justin Badger, Nicholas Belton, Larkin Bogan, Natalie Bradshaw, Catherine Brookman, Briana Carlson-Goodman, Antwayn Hopper, Jay Armstrong Johnson, Rachel Bay Jones, Mykal Kilgore, Josh Lamon, Nicole Lewis, Anastacia McClesky, Paris Remillard, Arbender Robinson, Kate Rockwell, Cailan Rose, Rashidra Scott, Jen Sese, Lawrence Stallings, Terrance Thomas, Emma Zaks and Lee Zarrett.

The musical 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.

As they explore sexual identity, challenge racism, experiment with drugs and burn draft cards, the "tribe" in Hair creates a message of hope, peace and change that continues to resonate with audiences 40 years later.

The musical is produced on Broadway by The Public Theater, Jeffrey Richards, Jerry Frankel, Gary Goddard Entertainment, Kathleen K. Johnson, Nederlander Productions, Inc., Fran Kirmser Productions/Jed Bernstein, Marc Frankel, Broadway Across America, Barbara Manocherian/WenCarLar Productions, JK Productions/Terry Schnuck, Andy Sandberg, JAM Theatricals, The Weinstein Company / Norton Herrick, Jujamcyn Theaters, Joey Parnes and by special arrangement with Elizabeth Ireland McCann.

The Broadway revival of Hair began life Off-Broadway as part of the Public Theater's annual free summer theatre event in Central Park's Delacorte Theatre, known as Shakespeare in the Park, where it played an extended engagement from 22 Jul - 14 Sep 2008.

Hair made history when it became the first Broadway show to transfer to London's West End with its entire original Broadway cast. The London run opened at the Gielgud Theatre on 14 Apr 2010, but despite excellent reviews from London critics it announced on 28 May that it would close on 4 Sep 2010, when the original Broadway cast complete their engagement.

Hair was the show that, in 1967, officially opened The Public Theater's long-time home on Lafayette Street.

Hair also has the distinction of being the first off-Broadway musical to transfer to Broadway, (It moved to Broadway on 29 Apr 1968 and ran for 1,873 performances).