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Outdoor Musical Travel: Central Park "Hair" Is So '60s, So What?

July 23, 2008 at 9:35 AM | 1 Comment

Jaunted's Ellen Wernecke went to the Public Theater's new production of "Hair" so you don't have to!

I was lucky enough to win free tickets to the first preview of "Hair," the James Rado-Gerome Ragni-Galt McDermot musical produced by the Public Theater's Shakespeare in the Park arm. (Nope, it's not Shakespeare.) The buzz in the Delacorte Theatre was electric as the sun went down and a few clouds threatened to rain out the show, 41 years after the first performance of the musical in New York. It's not the Public's finest, but it's a grand summer night's entertainment.

Let's face it, "Hair" isn't the best musical ever. It's not even great; some of the songs use shock value where musical innovation would be better, and it's hard not to wince at the earnestness of it all. But this production is historic: "Hair" premiered at the Public as its very first show.

As a '60s time capsule it's exquisite, a day-in-the-life examination of a group of hippies as one of their tribe (Jonathan Groff) gets his draft notice. And the Public's open-air production is probably as close as you can get to that historic moment.

The largely young cast gives their tie-dyed all; if you came for Groff, the "Spring Awakening" star with the biggest name recognition among the flower children, you may stay for Caren Lyn Manuel as pleading protester Sheila or Bryce Ryness as the gender-bending Woof. Whether you agree with artistic director Eustis' wish that the musical "bring the boys home" this year (as it tried to in '67) or you just want to see real nudity in the park, if you don't get goosebumps from "Let The Sun Shine In" against a backdrop of the fireflies around Belvedere Castle, you probably don't have a soul.

Related Stories:
· Join the Virtual Ticket Line for "Hair" [Public Theater]
· Hotels Near Central Park [HC]

[Photo of "Hair" rehearsal: goodrob13]

Where: Central Park [map], New York, NY, United States

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Author Photo: egw by egw

1 Comment

Return to » Outdoor Musical Travel: Central Park "Hair" Is So '60s, So What?

  1. alan8653

    Jaunted Member
    September 13, 2008 at 8:53 PM




    THE HORRIBLE HAZARDS OF THE DELACORTE THEATRE!!!!

    I waited the on the Delacorte Theatre line three times to see HAIR this summer. Arriving on August 13 at 9AM I waited to 1:30PM but was told all tickets were SOLD OUT! I tried again August 27. Getting online at 7AM got me in!!!!! Optimistic I tried AGAIN on September 12Th Arriving at 7AM I did get good seats for that nights performance. BUT THEN IT WAS RAINED OUT! The cast did a whimpy rendition of Aquarius on the other side of the theatre and then split. Needless to say it was despressing as the whole day was shot!!!!!!!

Return to » Outdoor Musical Travel: Central Park "Hair" Is So '60s, So What?

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