Hair Is Coming...bring On The Hippies! Options

[peachesr]

As previously tipped (See The Goss, 7 Aug 2009), the Tony Award-winning revival of the Sixties’ self-styled “American Tribal Love Rock Musical” Hair will transfer to the West End in the new year. According to today’s Daily Mail, it will open on 14 April 2010 (previews from 1 April) at the Gielgud Theatre.

When Claude, a country boy from Oklahoma, arrives in late 1960s New York City, he falls in with a group of hippies called the Tribe, led by Berger, who falls in love with rich girl Sheila. Their free love and drug-enhanced happiness is disrupted by Claude’s Vietnam draft orders.

Hair has book and lyrics by Gerome Ragni and James Rado and music by Galt MacDermot. The score includes “Aquarius”, “Ain’t Got No/I Got Life”, “Good Morning Starshine” and the title song.

The original Broadway production, premiered at the Biltmore Theatre in 1968, ran for four years. More recently in London, it was revived at the Old Vic in 1993, with a cast including Sinitta, and radically reworked in a critically acclaimed studio production in 2005at the Gate Theatre, the first musical ever mounted at the 70-seater better known for its European work. Hair was also famously made into a 1979 film, directed by Milos Forman and starring John Savage, Treat Williams and Beverley D’Angelo.

The current New York revival was first seen in Central Park in September 2007, care of the Public Theater and the New York Shakespeare Festival. It transferred to Broadway’s Al Hirschfeld Theater this past March and went on to win this year’s Tony Award for Best Musical Revival. It’s directed by Diane Paulus and stars Gavin Creel as Claude, Caissie Levy as Sheila and Will Swenson as Berger.

According to the Daily Mail, negotiations are under way for the American stars to accompany the production. Gavin Creel appeared in the West End in 2006 as Bert in Mary Poppins (See News, 16 Jun 2006), which was produced by impresario Cameron Mackintosh, who is also behind the West End transfer of Hair.



So excited about this.

[CaityGlinda]

But what about Avenue Q...?

[guest]

But what about Avenue Q...?

Its only for now!

[Guest]

I am SO excited, so excited. Need the whole cast over please, not just the leads - well Jackie Burns and Kacie Sheik please.

[Guest_Rosie_*]

Was saying only the other day that I would love to see a new production of Hair over here because I don't think it's done enough!!!

Amazing news! Very excited!!!

[-sarah-]

I am SO excited, so excited. Need the whole cast over please, not just the leads - well Jackie Burns and Kacie Sheik please.

No we don't - we need more jobs for British actors! I'm glad Hair is coming as it's something a bit different (though I will be very sad if it signals the end of Avenue Q) but I will be angry if Equity allow the American cast to transfer when there's a shortage of work but a surplus of talent over here.

[peachesr]

I'd be more than happy if we just got Gavin and Will over here. I assume if Avenue Q is still doing good business (shame we dont get the weekly grosses like in the US) they'll find it a new home, it's all Delfont Mackintosh afterall

[ldntheatregoer]

I wonder if a second Avenue Q transfer would be all that likely? Would be great for the show though.

I agree that maybe if the leads, Gavin, Will and Caissie came over it'd be good but transferring more than 3 or 4 lacks merit I think. Despite how great some of them are (Kacie Sheik, Bryce Ryness, Andrew Kober and countless others are all superb in their roles) it doesn't seem fair to me to be bringing them over when we've got such a huge talent pool here.

[Laughingmonsta]

This is great news, the new show is stunning, the energy is simply mesmerising - a good musical romp through and through!

[Guest]

No we don't - we need more jobs for British actors! I'm glad Hair is coming as it's something a bit different (though I will be very sad if it signals the end of Avenue Q) but I will be angry if Equity allow the American cast to transfer when there's a shortage of work but a surplus of talent over here.

I completely understand there is a lack of jobs here and no it is not fair on people struggling for work but if it's going to happen it will happen. It isn't the cast's fault. I am ecstatic at the possibility but would not be disappointed with an English cast.

Besides, bringing leads over - where do you draw the line with leads, you could argue that Woof, Jeannie and Dionne are all leads, alongside Sheila, Claude and Berger, and if that the case then what about Crissy and the Black/White Boys trios?

I'm just happy the show is coming over, but some of my favourite cast members aren't leads - if they come that'd be awesome, if try don't it will still be awesome.