The Barn Theatre Presents HAIR, Now thru 8/17

The Barn Theatre presents HAIR, the first and most famous of rock musicals, with music by Galt MacDermot and book and lyrics by Gerome Ragni and James Rado. Barn Producer Brendan Ragotzy directs HAIR for the fourth time, having made his directorial debut with the 1989 production, then reviving his hit for the 1995 and 2005 seasons. It will be the Barn's sixth time to offer this history-changing musical!

This year's production of HAIR features the entire Barn company and stars favorites ­­­­Jamey Grisham as Claude, Kevin Robert White as Berger, Melissa Cotton as Sheila and Eric Tsuchiyama as Woof. Barn Guest Artists include Donica Thornton (last seen in the Barn's 2005 HAIR) as Dionne, and newcomers Khnemu Menu-Ra as Hud, ­­­­­Dwayne Everett Johnson as Ronny as well as tribe members Toni Martin, Raven Dockery and Rendell De Bose.

HAIR grew out of the emotional turmoil of the Vietnam War years and addressed itself blatantly and irreverently to a world that needed to be jolted. It is a loosely structured musical exploring the loves and antics of a tribe of hippies on the night before one of them is to be inducted into the Army and shipped to Vietnam. These hippies and flower children welcome the dawning of the Age of Aquarius by opposing the draft, the work ethic, and accepted standards of behavior and dress. HAIR focuses on the brotherhood of man, the human body, love and peace. Though HAIR is known as a musical of the late '60s, it questions the standards of morality, sexuality, individualism, racism, violence, drug use, loyalty, and social acceptance which remain problems in the America of today.

The "American Tribal Love-Rock Musical" (as it was billed) was first presented on October 27, 1967 at the New York Shakespeare Festival Public Theatre, and later moved to a Broadway nightclub called Cheetah. It later moved to Broadway for an engagement at the Biltmore Theatre, where it ran for 1,750 performances. Galt MacDermot's incredible score is the key to HAIR's vitality and excitement. Five of the show's songs - "Aquarius," "Let the Sunshine In," "Hair," "Good Morning, Starshine," and "Easy to be Hard" are forever established in the international pop music repertory.

HAIR is Directed by Brendan Ragotzy and Choreographed by Jamey Grisham. Musical Direction by Matt Shabala. Kerith Parashak is Scenic Designer and Michael Wilson Morgan has designed Costumes. Properties are designed by Bethany Edlund and Lights are designed by Paul Collins. Sam Silva is Sound Designer. Technical Direction by Nick Hoovler. Garrylee McCormick is Hair/Wig Designer.

HAIR runs today, August 5 - 17. Performances are Tuesday through Friday at 8:00 PM, Saturday at 5:00 PM and 8:30 PM, and Sunday at 5:00 PM. Check out the renovated Rehearsal Shed Lounge! Stop in before the main stage show, at intermission, and after the show for refreshments, snacks, wings, nachos, and Plainwell ice cream; as well as free, after-the-show entertainment!

The Barn Theatre is located on M-96, west of Augusta. Tickets are $35.00 for all performances. Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express are accepted. Group rates available. New this season - Kids Prices $25.00 Kids 12 and under. The Box Office is open daily 10:00 am-10:00 pm. Tickets may now be purchased on the internet or on your smart phone via PayPal at www.barntheatre.com. To reserve tickets at the Box Office, call today: (269) 731-4121.

CAST LIST:

CLAUDE................................................................. JAMEY GRISHAM
BERGER................................................................. KEVIN ROBERT WHITE
SHEILA................................................................... MELISSA COTTON
WOOF...................................................................... ERIC TSUCHIYAMA
HUD......................................................................... KHNEMU MENU-RA
JEANIE.................................................................... DALLYN BRUNCK
DIONNE.................................................................. DONICA LYNN
CRISSY .................................................................. ANNA SEGATTI
MARGARET MEADE........................................... PATRICK HUNTER
HUBERT................................................................. HANS FRIEDRICHS
RONNY................................................................... DWAYNE EVERETT JOHNSON
MOM........................................................................ PENELOPE ALEX
DAD......................................................................... ERIC PARKER
POLICEMEN.......................................................... CHARLIE KING, BRUCE HAMMOND
PRINCIPALS......................................................... HANS FRIEDRICHS, BRUCE HAMMOND
THE TRIBE............................................................. NICHOLAS BARAKOS, PATRICK BEASLEY, BRIANA BIFFATH, ELI BRICKEY, DALLYN BRUNCK, JACOB DALEY, RENDELL DE BOSE, RAVEN DOCKERY, HANNAH EAKIN, BETHANY EDLUND, NICHOLAS FUQUA, GREG GRIMES, JONATHAN GRUICH, JACKIE GUBOW, ALEXANDRA JAEB, TROY ALEXANDER KOWATCH, LINDSAY MARON, TONI MARTIN, JOSH MEREDITH, BRANDON MICHAUD, AUDREY MORTON, ANNA SEGATTI, KHIRY STARGHILL, JILLIAN WEIMER.

Pictured, top to bottom: Dwayne Everett Johnson at top; Nick Barakos on right; Khiry Starghill on left; Josh Meredith; Anna Segatti; Alexandra Jaeb; Audrey Morton on right; Raven Dockery on left; Eric Tsuchiyama on right; and Toni Martin on right.

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