Good morning, starshine! Initial casting has been announced for the Hollywood Bowl's upcoming production of Hair, which will be directed and choreographed by out Emmy nominee Adam Shankman.
The summer staging of Galt MacDermot, Gerome Ragni, and James Rado's Tony Award-winning 1967 "American tribal love-rock musical" will star Weeds alum Hunter Parrish as Vietnam War draftee Claude, the apex of a bisexual love triangle within a bohemian tribe.
The cast traditionally disrobes while Claude sings the introspective song "Where Do I Go?," but out actor Gavin Creel, who played Claude in the 2009 Broadway revival of Hair, told The Advocate, "It wouldn't really make sense for me to take it all off."
The Hollywood Bowl production will also feature Frozen's Kristen Bell as Sheila, Glee's Amber Riley as Dionne, Glee's Jenna Ushkowitz as Jeanie, and National Lampoon's Vacation's Beverly D'Angelo as Mom. According to Shankman's Instagram, the cast will also include Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter's Benjamin Walker, recording artist Mario, and 2 Broke Girls star Beth Behrs. Additional casting will be announced at a later date.
As previously reported, Hair will be presented August 1-3 at the historic Los Angeles venue.
"I'm over the moon about the cast we are assembling," says Shankman in a statement. "The talent that I witnessed throughout the auditioning and overall casting process has been both mind blowing and deeply humbling. I'm in love with all of them. I can't wait to get in there with everyone and rock the Bowl this summer, in ways that have never been done there before."
Shankman directed and choreographed Prop 8: The Musical and the film adaptations of Hairspray and Rock of Ages. He has also directed episodes of Glee and Modern Family. The So You Think You Can Dance judge received Outfest's 2011 Visionary Award "in recognition of his contribution to LGBT arts and media visibility."
Parrish, who played pot dealer Silas Botwin on the Showtime series Weeds for eight seasons, appeared on Broadway in the musicals Spring Awakening and Godspell. He released his debut EP, Guessing Games, in 2012.
For tickets and more information on Hair visit HollywoodBowl.com.