UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- The Public Theater’s new production of "Hair," winner of the Tony Award for best revival of a musical, energetically depicts the birth of a cultural movement in the 1960s that changed America forever. The touring Broadway rock musical aims to resonate with audiences with its powerful messages of peace and love when it comes to Penn State’s Eisenhower Auditorium at 7:30 p.m. April 12.
Tickets for the Center for the Performing Arts presentation are $62 and $53 for an adult, $44 and $38 for a University Park student, and $54 and $48 for a person 18 and younger. Tickets are available online at www.cpa.psu.edu or by phone at 814-863-0255 or 800-ARTS-TIX. Tickets are also available at four State College locations: Eisenhower Auditorium (8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays), Penn State Downtown Theatre Center (9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays), HUB-Robeson Center Information Desk (11 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekdays) and Bryce Jordan Center (10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays). A grant from the University Park Allocation Committee makes Penn State student prices possible.
With an iconic score including hits such as “Let the Sun Shine In,” Aquarius,” “Hair” and “Good Morning Starshine,” "Hair" follows a group of charismatic, free-spirited young people who passionately preach a lifestyle of pacifism and free love in a society riddled with intolerance and brutality.
The critically acclaimed revival became a theatrical tour de force in its limited engagement in New York City’s Central Park. It later moved to Broadway, where it earned the 2009 Tony plus the Drama Desk, Drama League and Outer Critics Circle awards for outstanding revival of a musical.
"Hair" features a book and lyrics by Gerome Ragni and James Rado with music by Galt MacDermot.
“Irresistible. The best version yet,” insisted a Washington Post critic. “Hair feels utterly of the moment in its power to move us,” wrote a Bloomberg News reviewer. “There’s nothing like it.”
Parental discretion is advised. "Hair" includes a dimly lighted 20-second scene with nonsexual nudity.
Audio description, which is especially helpful to patrons with sight loss, is available for this performance at no extra charge to ticket holders. Lynn Sidehamer Brown sponsors the presentation. Radio station 93.7 The BUS is the media sponsor. Artistic Viewpoints, an informal moderated discussion featuring Hair Company Manager Mark Johnson, will be offered in Eisenhower one hour before the performance and is free for ticket holders. Artistic Viewpoints regularly fills to capacity, so seating is available on a first-arrival basis.