'Hamlet' and 'Hair' Coming to the Park

By Staff Reporter of the Sun | February 8, 2008

The Public Theater will present "Hamlet" and "Hair: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical" for its 2008 run of Shakespeare in the Park, the theater announced yesterday.

"Hamlet," which will begin previews on May 27, will feature Tony Award nominee Michael Stuhlbarg as the title character and Tony Award winner Richard Easton as Polonius, and will be directed by Public Theater artistic director Oskar Eustis.

"Hair," which the theater revived as a 40th anniversary concert production last September, will receive a full-scale production beginning August 17. The show will feature several of those who participated in the concert performance, including Tony Award nominee for "Spring Awakening" Jonathan Groff, actor Will Swenson, and director Diane Paulus.

"Both Park shows this year center on idealistic, brilliant men as they struggle to find their place in a world marred by war, violence, and venal politics," Mr. Eustis said in a statement. "They see both the luminous possibilities and the harshest realities of being human."