“Hair” Coming to Phoenix Theater June 15
By Frank E. Bradley | Special to the City Journal at June 8, 2024 | 9:00 am | Print
“Hair, The American Tribal Love Rock Musical,” the ground breaking 1960s phenomenon, will be presented by Phoenix Theater Company at Trinity-on-Main, from June 15 to 30 on Friday and Saturdays nights, and on two Sundays, June 17 and 24. This is the show’s 45th anniversary.
Hair’s world debut was in New York City in October 1967, off-Broadway, on the heels of the Summer of Love. James Rado, Gerome Ragni and Galt MacDermot had written Hair for the uptown big theatre audiences. It was designed to invade Broadway territory, but Broadway producers weren’t interested. The authors retreated from their initial intention in response to an offer of a six-week run of Hair as the opening attraction at a new theater. The old Astor Library, gutted and under fresh construction, became The New York Shakespeare Festival Public Theater, and producer Joseph Papp chose Hair to be the premiere presentation in his experimental space. The show moved to Broadway the following year and has been playing worldwide ever since.
Directing the show is Chris Ryan of Bristol. Jason Ferrandino (New Britain) is the Musical Director and Virginia Skinner (Orange) is the Choreographer. Stage Managers are Quint Johnson (Branford), Laura Wasilewski (North Branford) and Diane Catenzaro Chrusciel (New Britain. The show is produced by Frank Bradley (New Britain, who is also managing publicity. Sound production is by Phil Kendell (Bristol) and lighting is by Joe Marturano (Newington). Graphics and posters are created by Victor Gonzalez (Colchester).
Featured in leading roles are Adam Boe (Broad Brook) as Claude, Mary Jane San Nicola (New Britain) as Sheila, Eren Lee (Middletown) as Woof, Kelley Mountzoures (New Britain) as Jeanie, Tony Palmieri (Middletown) as Berger, Meghan Rickard (Southington) as Crissy and Joshua Thompson (Berlin) as Hud.
Other members of the cast include Khadija Ansari (Hartford), Ginette Christie (Bloomfield), Dan Dietz (Marion), Amanda Francis (Vernon), Mike Gonsalves (Ellington), Gabi Hanson (Newington), Dani Kalman (Naugatuck), Aaron Larkin (East Haven), and Peyton West (Beacon Falls).
Hair will be presented at Trinity-On-Main, 69 Main Street in New Britain, CT. Show times are Friday and Saturday nights from June 15—30 at 8:00 p.m., with two Sunday matinees (June 17 and 24) at 2:00 p.m. The doors will open an hour before the performance. Tickets are $21 in advance and $24 at the door. The first five center rows of seats are available as special reserved seats for $28. A full bar and other refreshments will be available. Free parking is provided in the Chestnut Street municipal parking garage across the street from Trinity, and on-street parking is also available. For reservation and information, call 860-229-2072, or visit trinityonmain.org.
