Hanke to Succeed Groff in Central Park Hair
By Adam Hetrick
Christopher J. Hanke photo by Ben Strothmann
Cry-Baby 's Christopher J. Hanke will succeed Spring Awakening Tony nominee Jonathan Groff in the current Shakespeare in the Park production of Hair .
Due to scheduling conflicts for a forthcoming film, Groff is unable to remain with the production through its Aug. 31 extension. Hair , which officially opens Aug. 7, was originally slated to run through Aug. 17 but will now play an additional two weeks.
Groff, who portrays Claude in the current staging at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park, will play his final performance with the tribe Aug. 16. Hanke assumes the role of Claude beginning Aug. 17.
A Tony nominee for Spring Awakening , Groff made his Broadway debut understudying Hanke in the short-lived Broadway production of In My Life .
Christopher J. Hanke most recently portrayed conniving do-gooder Baldwin in the John Waters musical Cry-Baby . His Broadway appearances also include Rent and In My Life . Hanke appeared Off-Broadway in Fame .
Diane Paulus directs the Delacorte staging that reunites much of the 40th anniversary cast of Hair , which played the outdoor theatre in September 2007.
Hair stars Will Swenson as Berger and Patina Renea Miller as Dionne with Caryn Lyn-Manuel (Sheila), Ato Blankson-Wood (Tribe), Steel Burkhardt (Tribe), Jackie Burns (White Boys Trio/Tribe), Allison Case (Crissy), Lauren Elder (Tribe), Allison Guinn (Tribe), Anthony Hollock (Tribe), Kaitlin Kiyan (Tribe), Andrew Kober (Father/Margaret Mead), Megan Lawrence (Mother), Nicole Lewis (White Boys Trio/Tribe), John M. Moauro (Tribe), Darius Nichols (Hud), Brandon Pearson (Tribe), Megan Reinking (Black Boys Trio/Tribe), Paris Remillard (Tribe), Bryce Ryness (Woof), Saycon Sengbloh (White Boys Trio/Tribe), Maya Sharpe (Tribe), Kacie Sheik (Jeanie), Theo Stockman (Tribe) and Tommar Wilson (Tribe).
The creative team comprises Karole Armitage (choreography), Scott Pask (set design), Michael McDonald (costume design), Michael Chybowski (lighting design) and Acme Sound Partners (sound design).
Featuring book and lyrics by James Rado and Gerome Ragni and music by Galt MacDermot, Hair made theatre history for its rock 'n roll anti-establishment concept.
Performances of Shakespeare in the Park are Tuesday-Sunday at 8 PM. Tickets are free and are available on the day of the performance (two per person) at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park beginning at 1 PM, or by entering the Public's online ticketing lottery at www.publictheater.org.
The closest entrances to the Delacorte are located at 81st Street and Central Park West or 70th Street and Fifth Avenue.
For additional information about Shakespeare in the Park, call (212) 539-8750 or visit The Public Theater website at www.publictheater.org.
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