Preview: HAIR

It was a smash hit a few years ago when it was revived in New York, and its triumph return to the Royal Alex took place this week! It has already opened to strong reviews and we are excited to see such a moving and provocative piece of theatre in town over the holiday season!

“HAIR is more than just a musical: it is a social and cultural phenomenon, a jubilant assertion of life and freedom.”

So wrote critic Michael Billington in The Guardian, of the London staging of this joyous new production of the mother of all rock musicals!

It’s the ’60s; war rages in Vietnam, and a group of friends in New York’s East Village turn on, tune in and sing out in celebration of love, life and freedom. The first great rock musical, Hair has some of the most rousing and soulful songs ever written for the stage, including Let the Sun Shine In, Easy to be Hard, Good Morning Starshine, Aquarius and the infectious title song, Hair. It will more than make you want to sing along; It will make you want to go on stage and dance (and maybe you will)! You must not miss this vibrant, joyous piece of living theatre!

On until December 31st!

For tickets or more info please click the header!

Mirvish announces new line-up for upcoming season

David Mirvish announced the line-up yesterday for the upcoming year at Mirvish Productions. In attempts to keep Toronto as a major theatre hub in the world, Mr. Mirvish has shows coming direct for London's West End and from Broadway. Direct from London is Noel Coward's hit show Private Lies starring award winning actress Kim Cattrall (it is premiering here prior to making its way to Broadway, a la Priscilla). Also from London is the award winning War Horse. From Broadway we have Mary Poppins and Hair making their way north for a month or two run. Rounding out the six shows announced is the North American premiere of a UK production of Chess and The Blue Dragon, set in modern-day Shanghai and directed by Robert Lepage.

For more information and for a list of already announced productions making their way to the Toronto stage please visit mirvish.com.

For an article written about the entire upcoming season at Mirvish please click here to be redirected to The Globe and Mail.

Hair gets the Broadway go ahead

Great news, the Public Theatre's production of Hair, which received raves for It's run in Central Park last summer, has gotten the financial go ahead to move to Broadway. The move had been in the works for a while but the sudden slow down in the theatre economy threatened to derail the project, when the lead producer Elizabeth McCann came up short with financial backers. But Ms. McCann and The Public have reached a legal agreement to move forward. Hair is scheduled to begin previews March 6 at the Al Hirschfeld Theater. Click here to read the Times article.

'Hair' moves from Central Park to Broadway

The New York Times is reporting that:

"Hair: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical will move to Broadway this season, the Public Theater announced on Wednesday. The show will make the transfer after the first of the year, with a theater and dates to be announced soon. The show, directed by Diane Paulus, with music by Galt MacDermot and book and lyrics by James Rado and Gerome Ragni, began previews in Central Park on July 22 and has been extended three times. The final performance of the production at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park will take place Sunday."

-Julie Bloom, nytimes.com