Celebrating 50 years of “Hair”

The Island Now

2017 marks the 50th anniversary of the rock musical “Hair,” which premiered off-Broadway at the Public Theater on Oct. 17, 1967, and will now be presented by Hofstra University’s Department of Drama and Dance from Friday, Oct. 27 through Sunday, Nov. 5.

“Hair” was born out of a countercultural explosion brought on by anti-Vietnam War and civil rights activism. Crying out for “Love” and “Flowers, Freedom, Happiness,” “Hair” aspires to break down walls and show how the world could be better.

“Just as ‘Hair’ broke ground in the tumult of the 1960s, preaching revolution, changing our understanding of narrative flow, of the style and range of a musical theater score, of what a Broadway cast would look and sound like, and of what the audience could expect — Hofstra’s tribe of passionate and committed undergrads will break new ground with ‘Hair’,” says Professor of Drama and Dance Cindy Rosenthal. “In the rage and crash of current storms, they will rock you — and the cry to ‘Let the Sunshine In’ is more powerful than ever.”

Performances will take place at the Toni and Martin Sosnoff Theater at the John Cranford Adams Playhouse.

Directed by Rosenthal, the show features book and lyrics by James Rado and Gerome Ragni and music by Galt MacDermot.

Show times are Friday, Oct. 27 and Nov. 3 at 8 p.m.; Saturday, Oct. 28 and Nov. 4 at 8 p.m.; and Sunday, Oct. 29 and Nov. 5, at 2 p.m. There will be talkbacks with the cast following the performances on October 28 and November 3.

Tickets are $10, $8 for senior citizens. Members of the Hofstra community receive two free tickets upon presentation of a current HofstraCard.

For tickets and information call the Hofstra Box Office at 516-463-6644, or purchase tickets online. If seats are still available on the day of performance, tickets will be sold at the door starting 90 minutes prior to show time at the theater box office window.

Share this Article