The 2009 Tony Award-winning revival HAIR: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical, will play the The Royal Alexandra Theatre for a limited engagement December 13 to 31, 2011. Tickets for HAIR will go on public sale, Monday, October 3 .
With a score including such enduring musical numbers as "Let the Sun Shine In," Aquarius," "Hair" and "Good Morning Starshine," HAIR depicts the birth of a cultural movement in the 60s and 70s that changed North America forever and resonated around the world.
THE SHOW'S PLACE IN TORONTO'S CULTURAL HISTORY
The Toronto engagement of the North American Tour of HAIR is a homecoming of sorts. HAIR had its Canadian Premiere at The Royal Alexandra Theatre in December 1969. It was a homegrown production, featuring a cast of young Canadians who formed the Mississauga Tribe to perform the show. The show was groundbreaking not just in subject matter but also because that it was the first theatrical production to play a record 53-week engagement in Toronto.
Explains David Mirvish: "When HAIR played the Royal Alex, nobody thought that a theatre show could attract a very large audience in Canada. But HAIR filled the theatre for a year and launched the Canadian commercial theatre movement, offering a new avenue for young people who dreamed about working in the theatre. The production told them it was indeed possible. All of us in Canadian commercial theatre owe our careers to that production.
"So it with great joy that we welcome this magnificent revival to Toronto. What a great way to honour this landmark work, certainly one of the great musicals of all times, and to recognize its significance in our own theatre history. Forty-two years after its initial Canadian premiere, HAIR will dawn for a new generation on the Royal Alex stage."
This production of HAIR was to have been the final show of the Mirvish Theatre 2011-12 Subscription Season. But due to scheduling conflicts, it will no longer be part of the subscription. Its slot in the season will be filled by a new show, BRING IT ON: THE MUSICAL (playing May 2 to June 3, 2012 at the Canon Theatre). We are very pleased that Toronto will still be able to see HAIR, albeit at a different schedule than originally announced.
ABOUT THE SHOW
HAIR follows a group of hopeful, free-spirited young people who advocate a lifestyle of pacifism and free-love in a society riddled with intolerance and brutality during the Vietnam War. As they explore sexual identity, challenge racism, experiment with drugs and burn draft cards, the show resonates with an irresistible message of hope more than 40 years after it first opened on Broadway.
HAIR won the 2009 Tony Award for Best Musical Revival as well as the Drama Desk, Drama League, and Outer Critics' Circle award for Outstanding Revival of a Musical. HAIR was also nominated for an additional seven Tony Awards including Best Direction, Best Choreography, Best Costume Design, Best Lighting Design and Best Sound Design. The cast recording was also nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album.
The New York Times says "Diane Paulus's THRILLING, EMOTIONALLY RICH production delivers INTENSE, UNADULTERATED JOY", Time Out New York says "HAIR SPEAKS TO A WHOLE NEW GENERATION!" and The Washington Post calls it "IRRESISTIBLE...THE BEST VERSION YET!".
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 HAIR National Tour is produced by The Public Theater (Oskar Eustis, Artistic Director; Joey Parnes, Interim Executive Director), Nederlander Productions, Inc., Carl Moellenberg/Wenlarbar Productions, Rebecca Gold/Myla Lerner, Rick Costello, Joy Newman & David Schumeister, Paul G. Rice/Paul Bartz, Debbie Bisno, Christopher Hart Productions, John Pinckard, Terry Schnuck, Joey Parnes and by special arrangement with Elizabeth Ireland McCann.
HAIR: The American Tribal Love-Rock MusicalThe Royal Alexandra Theatre, 260 King Street West, TorontoPerformance Schedule:Videos