Description: This is a rare advertising handbill (flyer) promoting ticket sales for the controversial Boston engagement of the groundbreaking GEROME RAGNI, JAMES RADO and GALT MacDERMOT American Tribal Love-Rock Musical "HAIR" at the Wilbur Theatre in Boston. (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.) ..... "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 Broadway and Los Angeles Casts). 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 recent Broadway revival which opened March 31st, 2009 at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre received the Tony Award for "Best Revival of a Musical" ..... BOSTON: "Hair" saw its share of controversy, especially as a result of the nudity in the act one finale. Several touring companies were picketed and in Boston, the members of the company faced criminal obscenity charges after District Attorney Garrett Byrne saw a preview performance at the Wilbur Theatre. The Boston case reached the U.S. Supreme Court, where the production prevailed. (From "The Theatre Will Rock: A History of the Rock Musical: From 'Hair' to 'Hedwig'" by Elizabeth L. Wollman, Galt MacDermot and Stephen Trask) ..... 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 ..... Advertising handbills (heralds) were distributed or inserted into the playbills of other productions to help generate ticket sales for upcoming shows and events. This single page, two-sided handbill measures 6" X 9" inches and includes wonderful graphics on the front and ticket prices and a ticket order form on the backside ..... CONDITION: With the exception of light edge wear, this rare handbill is in excellent condition and will make a wonderful addition to the collection of any musical theatre aficionado or historian ..... Check my "Other Auctions" for additional rare Broadway flyers, programs and playbills, Original Cast CD's and other theatre related memorabilia. Multiple purchases are always combined to save on shipping costs ..... NO RESERVE! ..... This item will be carefully packaged in a protective, carded sleeve and backed by stiff cardboard ..... U.S. SHIPPING: Buyer pays choice of $2.95 USPS first class/ media rate shipping with delivery confirmation (50 cents for each additional program or playbill purchased when combined into a single payment - U.S. addresses only) or $5.95 USPS Priority with delivery confirmation. PayPal preferred ..... INTERNATIONAL CUSTOMERS: (Please Note!) I can now ship by USPS International First Class Airmail ($3.50 to Canada / $5.50 to all other international destinations) or by USPS Priority International recorded delivery ($13.00 to Canada / $16.00 to all other international destinations, however up to 10 playbills can easily be shipped together in a Priority flat rate envelope for one shipping charge when all purchases are combined into a single payment). Please email me with any other inquiries ..... THANKS !!! Pay me securely with any major credit card through PayPal!
Price: 19.99 USD
Location: Cannon Beach, Oregon
End Time: 2023-12-28T22:57:30.000Z
Shipping Cost: 3.95 USD
Product Images
Item Specifics
Restocking Fee: No
Return shipping will be paid by: Buyer
All returns accepted: Returns Accepted
Item must be returned within: 30 Days
Refund will be given as: Money Back
