Hair
'Hair' - "The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical" is a rock musical with a book and lyrics by Gerome Ragni and James Rado and music by Galt MacDermot.
Original text
The musical reflects the creators' observations of the hippie counterculture and sexual revolution of the late 1960s, and several of its songs became anthems of the anti-Vietnam War movement. The musical's profanity, its depiction of the use of illegal drugs, its treatment of sexuality, its irreverence for the American flag, and its nude scene caused controversy.
Hair debuted off-Broadway at Joseph Papp's Public Theater on 17 October 1967. The show was an instant sensation, moving to a second venue and playing 144 performances. On 29 April 1968, HAIR opened on Broadway at the Biltmore Theatre, starring James Rado, Gerome Ragni, Lynn Kellogg and Melba Moore. Breaking all theatre conventions, the show made national headlines and played for 1,750 performances. The show returned to Broadway in 1977 and in 2009, starring Gavin Creel, Will Swenson, Caissie Levy and Sasha Allen.
Performance history in South Africa
The musical was initially banned in South Africa.
1993: CAPAB did a production in December 1993 directed by David Matheson with Graham Weir, Peter Butler, Beverley van Zyl, David Germond, Heather Mac, Mauro Faraoni.
2007: This production played at Theatre On The Bay and Pieter Toerien’s Montecasino Theatre. Directed by Paul Warwick Griffin, musical supervision by Charl-Johan Lingenfelder, choreography by Timothy Le Roux, set design by Keith Anderson, costume design by Ilka Louw, lighting design by Jannie Swanepoel, sound design by Mark Malherbe. The cast included Jan Ellis, Rowan Cloete, Earl Gregory, Catherine Daymond, Bruce Little, Zak Hendrikz, Stephen Van Niekerk, Ivan Giani, Dean Roberts, Ruth Norris, Matt Counihan, M K Mabija, Megan Carelse, Brenda Mukwevho, Tshepiso Mashego, Elizca Coetzer Whiteside, Nonhle Beryl, Dominique Paccaut, Niall Griffin, Riaan Norval and Sue Swanepoel.
Sources
Nico Malan Theatre Centre pamphlet
https://www.concordtheatricals.co.uk/p/44626/hair
Gosher, 1988
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