HAIR April 12, 2013

ATC REPERTORY COMPANY, AT THE WILLMETTE THEATRE
PRESENTS A LIMITED ENGAGEMENT OF THE MUSICAL: HAIR FROM FRIDAY, APRIL 12 THROUGH SUNDAY, APRIL 14

Wilmette, Ill.— The Actors Training Center Repertory Company,1122 Central Ave., will present the riveting 1960s rock musical HAIR in a limited engagement starting on Friday, April 12 at 7:30 p.m. with the press performance on Saturday, April 13 at 7:30 p.m. and a special benefit performance on Sunday, April 14 at 7:30 p.m. The production is directed by Jeff Award winner Janet Louer, Artistic Director of The ATC Repertory Company. The Sunday benefit performance will feature a wine and cheese reception starting at 6:30 p.m. and a post-show talkback moderated by Louer that addresses the significance of HAIR and the impact of the hippie movement on American culture. Photographs on loan from the Chicago-based National Veterans Art Museum will also be on display in the theater’s lobby that evening as part of a special Vietnam exhibit.
HAIR has been hailed as “The ultimate American rock musical!” by The New York Times; “Irresistible!” by The Washington Post; “Exhilarating!” by The Los Angeles Times; “More daring than ever!” by Time Magazine and “Utterly of the moment in its power to move us. There’s nothing like it!” by Bloomberg News. Set in New York City’s East Village in the late 1960s, HAIR is a joyous celebration of youth and the poignant journey of a group of free-spirited friends seeking truth, peace and love during the turmoil of the Vietnam era. Set to an electric smash hit score including Aquarius, Easy to Be Hard, Let the Sunshine In, Good Morning Starshine, and Hair, the musical’s irresistible message of hope still resonates with audiences over 45 years after its initial debut.
HAIR first premiered Off-Broadway in 1967 and opened on Broadway in 1968, where it ran for 1,750 performances. The production has been staged around the world, and a 2009 revival received a Tony Award and Drama Desk Award for Best Revival of a Musical. HAIR features a book and lyrics by James Rado and Gerome Ragni and music by Galt MacDermot.
To set the stage for HAIR, The Wilmette Theatre is offering free screenings of three acclaimed films. The schedule is as follows:
Saturday, April 6 at 4 p.m.: “Berkeley in the Sixties”
In the 1960s, Berkeley, California became synonymous with a generation's quest for political, social and cultural transformation. Mark Kitchell's extraordinary chronicle of those years was named Best Documentary of 1990 by the National Society of Film Critics and was nominated for an Oscar in 1991.
Saturday, April 6 at 7 p.m.: “Woodstock”
The legendary three-day Woodstock music festival, held in Upstate New York in 1969, is chronicled in this landmark concert film. “Woodstock” illustrates the importance of the event as part of rock and roll history and captures the spirit of a nation in transition, when the Vietnam War was at its peak and antiwar protest was fully expressed through the liberating music of the time. The film won an Academy Award for Best Documentary in 1971.
Sunday, April 7 at 4 p.m.: “The Fog of War”
This profound film takes its name from the military phrase “fog of war,” which describes the difficulty involved with decision making in the midst of conflict. The documentary centers on former U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara and analyzes the decisions he made that have impacted modern day warfare, specifically during the Vietnam War. “The Fog of War” is the winner of the 2003 Academy Award for Best Documentary and the Independent Spirit Award for Best Documentary.
HAIR stars Ulises Acosta as “Berger,” Angela Alise as “Dionne,” Jos Banks as “Ron,” Conor Carlin as “Walter,” Colleen Dougherty as “Linda,” Malcolm Durning as “Claude,” Allegra Epstein as “Suzannah,” Sabrina Fosse as “Sheila,” Erin Graham as “Diane,” Nelson Green as “Hud,” Colleen King as “Natalie,” Julia Mates as “Jeanie,” Allie Pappas as “Linda,” Carson Rammelt as “Woof,” Alayna Rickard as “Crissy,” Sarah Rutstein as “Leata,” Charli Williams as “Emmaretta,” and Cameron Wise as “Diane.” The cast also features Max Goldstein, Sophie Lieberman, Bruce Moore, Glo Rolighed, and Emily Wronski.
The not-for-profit Wilmette Theatre is the premiere multi-arts and performance center anchoring the downtown Wilmette business district by providing vibrant entertainment, education and enrichment for the community.
The Actors Training Center Repertory Company's mission is to provide an educational integration of cultural, historical and social issues through live theater. The Actors Training Center at the Wilmette Theatre offers professional, process-driven classes for actors from Kindergarten through 12th grade as well as adults. K-12 students at The Actors Training Center at the Wilmette Theatre are able to take classes to develop skills in dramatic acting, improv and sketch comedy, physical theater and musical theater. Adult classes include Actor’s Essentials, Adult Improv, On-Camera Technique and more. Scholarships are available.
The performance schedule for HAIR is Friday, April 12 at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, April 13 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, April 14 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets on Friday and Saturday are $18 and $15 for students with a valid student ID. Tickets on Sunday are $30 and will benefit the newly not-for-profit Wilmette Theatre. The theater is located steps away from the Wilmette Metra station. For tickets, call the Box Office at 847.251.7424 or visit www.wilmettetheatre.com.
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