Broadway's Fourth Birthday "HAIR" (Martha Swope) 1972 Double-Weight Press Photo

Description

This is a rare original 7 1/2" X 10" press photograph released in conjunction with the Fourth Birthday (April 29th, 1972) of the Original Broadway production of the groundbreaking GEROME RAGNI, JAMES RADO and GALT MacDERMOT American Tribal Love-Rock Musical "HAIR" at the Biltmore Theatre in New York City. (The production originally opened October 29th, 1967 at New York's Joseph Papp Public Theatre and ran for 49 performances. An overwhelming demand for tickets resulted in a move December 22nd, 1967 to the Cheetah Theatre, a former discotheque on Broadway at 53rd Street, where it ran for an additional 45 performances. The production later opened April 29th, 1968 at the Biltmore Theatre in New York City and ran for 1750 performances, closing on July 1st, 1972.) The photo features GREGORY V. KARLISS ("Berger"), WILLIE WINDSOR ("Claude") and PEPPY CASTRO ("Woof") ..... "HAIR" is a rock musical which was the product of the hippie counter-culture and sexual revolution of the 1960's. Several of its songs became anthems of the anti–Vietnam War peace movement. The musical's profanity, its depiction of the use of illegal drugs, its treatment of sexuality, its irreverence for the American flag, and its nude scene caused much controversy and as a result initially made it difficult to find a home in a Broadway theatre. The show broke new ground in musical theatre by defining the genre of the "rock musical" and utilizing a racially-integrated cast.
Hair
was conceived by actors JAMES RADO and GEROME RAGNI (both members of the Original Cast). The two actors met in 1964, when they acted together in the Off-Broadway play
Hang Down Your Head and Die
, and they began writing
Hair
together in early 1965. The main characters of "Claude" and "Berger" were autobiographical, Rado's "Claude" being the pensive romantic and Ragni's "Berger", the extrovert. Their close relationship, sometimes volatile, is symbolized in the show by the well known ballad "Easy to be Hard". In addition to the two authors, the Original Broadway Cast included a young DIANE KEATON and MELBA MOORE. Other prominent actors and singers who have appeared in productions throughout the U.S. and abroad include JILL O'HARA, TIM CURRY, MEAT LOAF, ELAINE PAIGE, JOE MANTEGNA, PAUL JABARA, BEN VEREEN, KEITH CARRADINE, TED NEELEY, JOBRIATH, JENNIFER WARREN, DAVID PATRICK KELLY, PHILIP MICHAEL THOMAS, DONNA SUMMER, ANDRE DeSHIELDS, PAUL NICHOLAS, SHARON REDD, REG LIVERMORE and RICHARD O'BRIEN. (Reprinted in part from Wikipedia.) The 2009 Broadway revival which opened March 31st, 2009 at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre received the Tony Award for "Best Revival of a Musical" ..... BROADWAY CREDITS: Music by GALT MacDERMOT ("Hair", "Two Gentlemen of Verona", "Dude", "Via Galactica", "The Human Comedy"); Book and Lyrics by GEROME RAGNI and JAMES RADO; Sets designed by ROBIN WAGNER; Costumes designed by NANCY POTTS; Choreographed by JULIE ARENAL; Directed by TOM O'HORGAN; Produced by MICHAEL BUTLER ..... DETAILS: This rare double-weight photograph of GREGORY V. KARLISS ("Berger"), WILLIE WINDSOR ("Claude") and PEPPY CASTRO ("Woof") measures 7 1/2" X 8" inches, is from the "Theatre World" archives and is stamped "MARTHA SWOPE, New York City" under the caption overlay on the backside (second scanned image). The photo has no outside margins ..... CONDITION: This rare photograph is in excellent condition and will make a wonderful addition to the collection of any musical theatre aficionado or historian. This item will be carefully packaged in a protective sleeve and backed by stiff cardboard ..... SHIPPING DISCOUNTS: Check my "Other Items" for additional rare Broadway playbills and other theatre related memorabilia. Shipping discounts are available for multiple purchases when all items are combined into a single payment. Please wait for a revised invoice before sending payment ..... THANKS !!!