Photo Flash: HAIR at the National Equality March in Washington, D.C.
By: Eddie Varley Oct. 13, 2009
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The producers of the Tony Award-winning revival of HAIR previously announced that, in an unprecedented move, they were canceling the show's Sunday, October 11th performance so that the entire cast could join the National Equality March in Washington, D.C.
Over 150,000 people descended on the nation's capital to support equal rights for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered communities. Numerous Broadway celebrities were part of this effort, adding their voices to the cause that had approximately 1,400 people under the Broadway Impact banner alone. Broadway stars like Cynthia Nixon, Gavin Creel, Celia Keenan Bolger & John Ellison Conlee, Audra McDonald, Marisa Jaret Winokur, B.D. Wong, Jonathan Groff and more (as well as theater companies like Ars Nova) sponsored Broadway Impact buses to bring marchers from New York to DC.
Broadway Impact is a grassroots organization of the Theatre community and its fans, mobilizing in support of marriage equality. Co-founded by Gavin Creel, Rory O'Malley and Jenny Kanelos, it aims to educate and inspire the community into action towardsequality. For more information please visit www.broadwayimpact.com.
Last May, civil rights activist David Mixner called for a national march on Washington in support of Equal rights for LGBT people, calling on prominent LGBT community leaders Cleve Jones and Torie Osborne to execute and organize it. Days later in Fresno CA, at a rally of approximately 5000 people from all walks of life protesting the California Supreme Courts decision to uphold Prop. 8, Cleve Jones stepped to the podium and committed to Mixner's plea.
At that moment Jones' organization Equality Across America was born, along with its first mission: the National Equality March. Equality Across America has developed grassroots leadership in all 435 congressional districts to ensure that their message is heard loud and clear by elected officials all across America.
The story of a group of young Americans searching for love and peace during the Vietnam era, HAIR is a timeless portrait of a movement that changed the world. Its groundbreaking rock score paved the way for some of the greatest musicals of our time. Now, the "Age of Aquarius" dawns again in this jubilant new production, which is the winner of the 2009 Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical. The Drama Desk, Drama League, and Outer Critics Circle also recently honored the production with their 2009 award for Outstanding Revival of a Musical. Directed by Diane Paulus and choreographed by Karole Armitage, HAIR features a book and lyrics by Gerome Ragni and James Rado and music by Galt MacDermot.
The producers of HAIR have recently announced the addition of six new cast members to the Tony Award-winning musical. Krystal Joy Brown, Heath Calvert, Matt DeAngelis, Rachel Bay Jones, Hannah Shankman and Ryan Watkinson have now joined the "Tribe." HAIR began preview performances on March 6 at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre (302 West 45th Street, NYC) and opened to rave reviews on March 31, 2009. The HAIR "Tribe" also includes Sasha Allen, Ato Blankson-Wood, Steel Burkhardt, Jackie Burns, Briana Carlson-Goodman, Allison Case, Gavin Creel, Lauren Elder, Allison Guinn, Chasten Harmon, Jay Armstrong Johnson, Kaitlin Kiyan, Andrew Kober, Josh Lamon, Caissie Levy,Nicole Lewis, John Moauro, Darius Nichols, Brandon Pearson, Paris Remillard, Megan Reinking, Bryce Ryness, Michael James Scott, Maya Sharpe, Kacie Sheik, Will Swenson and Tommar Wilson.
The creative team also includes Scott Pask (scenic design), Michael McDonald (costume design), Kevin Adams (lighting design) and Acme Sound Partners (sound design).
HAIR is presented on Broadway by The Public Theater (Oskar Eustis, Artistic Director; Andrew D. Hamingson, Executive Director) Jeffrey Richards, Jerry Frankel, Gary GoddardEntertainment, Kathleen K. Johnson, Nederlander Presentations, Inc., Fran KirmserProductions/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.
Tickets for HAIR (starting at $37.00) are available via Telecharge.com or by calling (212) 239-6200. The schedule is as follows: Tuesday at 7:00 p.m., Wednesday at 2:00 & 8:00 p.m., Thursday - Friday at 8:00 p.m., Saturday at 2:00 & 8:00 p.m. and Sunday at 3:00.
Ghostlight Records' New Broadway Cast Recording of HAIR is currently available in stores and on iTunes.
For more information, visit www.HairBroadway.com
Caissie Levy, Gavin Creel and Kacie Sheik
The message will be heard
The crowd cheers the performers on!
Let The Sun Shine In!
A hairy little HAIR fan
The cast of HAIR!
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