HAIR Broadway Opening Video: Join The Tribe

By Christopher Moore, Broadway Magazine

According to the Broadway astrological calendar The Age of Aquarius is officially back. The new revival of HAIR opened last night at the Hirschfeld Theatre and Broadway.tv and Broadway Magazine were there to capture the entire magical evening. Before the show, an eclectic galaxy of stars held court on the Broadway red carpet, including Tim Robbins, Kathie Lee Gifford, Hoda Kotb, Jennifer Goodwin, Rosie O'Donnell, Bebe Zahara Benet, and many more. Some stars even spoke candidly about their hippie roots.

"I grew up in Greenwich Village. My dad was a folk singer. I was a young, little, you know, twelve-year-old hippie," recalls star Tim Robbins, whose wife Susan Sarandon is starring in Exit The King. Not all the red carpet stars were as forthcoming about their hippie backgrounds.

"I had hair down to here," smiles Kathie Lee Gifford, touching her knee.

"But, you weren't a hippie," counters friend Hoda Kotb.

" No, I wasn't a hippie," rues Kathie Lee, "I didn't think Molotov cocktails were the way to go. I didn't like blowing things up."

"We're thrilled to be associated with the opening of the Broadway revival of HAIR," enthuses Robert Hanson from Levis, who sponsored the opening night, "Our definitive original 501 jean was sort of the uniform of the counter-culture at the time."

"I think it's a very liberating show about a very liberating era. I think we all need that right now," smiles star Jennifer Goodwin before the show.

After the show, the cast and stars gathered to celebrate the Opening. How did the cast feel about the big night?

"It was excellent, so much energy and so much life. It was just beautiful," says Sasha Allen, who plays Dionne in the musical.

"I was very nervous," confesses Tribe member Paris Remillard.

"Honestly it's the best opening night I've ever been a part of....I'm kind of overcome by the magnitude of the evening and the energy coming form the audience," says star Will Swenson, who is earning significant praise for his work in the show.

"HAIR is unlike any other Broadway musical you'll go to. There's no fourth wall. The audience is part of the show...and it's a beautiful message at the same time," offers Mr. Swenson, "The curtain call is brilliant...The audience is up on stage dancing. The cast is in the audience dancing...A message of hope and optimism. It's the anti-Broadway musical. It's just gorgeous."

Watch the Broadway.tv video and see the awe-inspiring opening night curtain call of HAIR on Broadway. See stars like Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb join fellow audience members and the cast on stage, as the anthem "Let the sun shine in," rings out across the theatre. It is a ritual repeated at each performance.

"Hoda and Kathie Lee were onstage?" asks star Gavin Creel, with a hint of being star-struck, " That's cause they're two hot ladies, of course their going to get up and dance with us. The energy of the show is supposed to be all about 'come with us'...and at the end we invite you to come join us. Be part of the tribe. And, tonight, I mean, Kathie Lee and Hoda were now part of the tribe. Incredible."

With such tremendous reviews, the cast of HAIR is going to have plenty of people to share their curtain call with for many ages to come. Watch the full HAIR opening night video right here on Broadway.tv.