Artist Description
HAIR was created by James Rado and Gerome Ragni, two out-of-work actors who, according to Rado, "were aware of the traditional Broadway format, but we wanted to create something new, something different, something that translated to the stage the wonderful excitement we felt in the streets." This "excitement" was that of the long-haired, peace-loving, freewheeling hippies of New York's East Village.According to Rado, "We intended HAIR for Broadway. We knew that's where it belonged and offered it to many of the established uptown producers. It was rejected again and again." Naturally they were delighted when producer Joseph Papp approached them and proposed that HAIR become the very first production at the under-construction New York Shakespeare Festival Public Theater for a limited run of six weeks. Papp had liked HAIR's premise, and suggested that Rado and Ragni develop a score. This led to the entrance of Galt MacDermot, who familiarized himself with the hippie culture and music in order to compose the score for the show. HAIR opened at the Public Theater on October 17, 1967. However, that run soon came to an end, with no new venue in sight.
That's when Michael Butler entered the picture. He had seen HAIR at the Shakespeare Public Theater and loved it. He decided to become involved in the production; jointly he and Papp moved HAIR to a disco, Cheetah. Geographically, HAIR had reached Broadway -- Cheetah was located in the spot where the Roundabout Theater is today, on Broadway between 45th and 46th Streets. Because Cheetah was still a working disco, HAIR had to start performances early in the night (7 pm curtain, with no intermission) to clear the floor in time for the dance crowd.
The show opened on Broadway at the Biltmore Theater on April 29, 1968. It closed on July 1, 1972 after 1,742 performances.
There was an unsuccessful revival of HAIR in October 1977 which closed after 43 shows. Today, HAIR is performed all over the world -- which demonstrates that peace, love, freedom, and happiness are never out-of-date!
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