WESTON, VT – Weston Theater Company presents the American tribal love-rock musical: HAIR, playing July 20 – August 13 at the Weston Playhouse.
Summer of Love
Let the sunshine in! Celebrate the summer of love with a group of young Americans ready to create a world of harmony and understanding. For the first time, this legendary rock musical with book and lyrics by Gerome Ragni and James Rado bursts onto the Playhouse stage. Its Grammy-Award-winning score, with music done by Galt MacDermot, includes celebratory hits such as “Good Morning, Starshine,” “Manchester, England,” and “Aquarius”. Open your heart and let it shine!
Says Director Susanna Gellert: “HAIR is about a group of people imagining the world as it could be, coming together and saying: ‘What if we all loved each other a little more? What if we all connected a little bit better? What if we all treasured each other and took care of each other’s lives as much as possible?”
As Weston’s very own Executive Artistic Director, Susanna Gellert has taken on the exciting task of bringing this legendary musical to life. Her directing work on Weston stages includes The Fantasticks (2019) and Ring of Fire (2021) Prior to leading Weston, Gellert was Associate Producer and Director of the Studio at New York’s acclaimed Theatre for a New Audience, producing award-winning productions of Thornton Wilder’s THE SKIN OF OUR TEETH and Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’s AN OCTOROON.
Design
Gellert has assembled an inspiring and accomplished design team. Scenic Design is by 2022 Opera America Director/Designer Prize recipient, Frank Olivia (Recent: Weston Playhouse, Geva Theatre, Two River Theatre, Urban Stages, Kitchen Theatre; Broadway, Associate Designer: Hangmen, Oklahoma!, West Side Story). Lighting Design is by Weston alum Scott Zielinski (Weston Theater Company: Ring of Fire, The Fantasticks, Virginia Woolf; Broadway: Oklahoma!, Circle in the Square Theater; Topdog/Underdog, Ambassador Theater). Costume Design is by Jessica Crawford (November, The Shed; LORDES, New Ohio Theater; Crave, Egg & Spoon Theatre Collective). Music Direction is by Emma Weiss (New York: Radio City Music Hall, Feinstein’s 54 Below, Joe’s Pub, The Django, The Duplex, Rockwood Music Hall, The Tank; Regional: Fun Home at Weston Theater Company, Shout Sister Shout at Seattle Rep, Parallel 45 Theatre Company). Sound Design is by Lee Kinney (Daddy, New Group/Vineyard; Thom Pain, Signature Theater; The Light Years, Playwrights Horizons). Choreography is by Weston alum Felicity Stiverson (Weston: Ring of Fire, West Side Story, The Fantasticks, Seussical, Tenderly).
Equity Actors
HAIR introduces equity actors Matt Rodin as Berger, Nathan Salstone as Claude, Jamari Johnson Williams as Hud, Easton Michaels as Woof, Cameron Anika Hill as Dionne, Alanna Saunders as Sheila, Megumi Nakamura as Jeanie, Michael Seltzer as Margaret Meade, and Jacob Brandt as Hubert.
Rodin is a queer singer-songwriter and multi-passionate creator. He recently starred in Hedwig and the Angry Inch (Milwaukee Repertory Theater) and released his first solo album, Matt Rodin: Live at Home.
Nathan Salstone originated the role of “Andrew Lynch” in the world premiere of Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty’s Knoxville (Asolo Rep, Original Cast Album). Credits include Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (Broadway OBC), Hadestown (1st Nat. Tour), Enter Laughing (Off-Broadway), Rags (Goodspeed), Rock Of Ages (Pittsburgh CLO), Spring Awakening (Houston TUTS).
Jamari Johnson Williams’ Broadway credits include: Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of The Temptations. National tours include the first national tour of Hadestown, Motown the Musical, and Memphis. Favorite regional: Smokey Joe’s Cafe (Fred, Riverside Theatre, Palace Theatre), Mamma Mia (Northern Stage), The Wiz (The Wiz, SDT).
Easton Michaels is making their Weston Theatre Company debut this summer season. A recent graduate of Ball State University’s BFA Musical Theatre Program, Michaels’ recent Theatre, and Film credits include Skin and Bones: A New Musical, Bring It On!, and I Dream Of A Psychopomp.
Cameron Anika Hill is on a short break from the national tour of Oklahoma! Previously, she has appeared on Broadway (Dear Evan Hansen), on tour (Summer: The Donna Summer Musical -1st National), & regionally at theaters such as the MUNY, PCLO, MTWichita, WBT, and more.
Alanna Saunders was most recently in The Marvelous Wonderettes at Alabama Shakespeare Festival. Credits include Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (Broadway); Scotland, PA (Roundabout); White Christmas (BTG); Clue (Papermill); Once on This Island (Pioneer Theatre); Into the Woods (Natl. tour); TV/film: CBS’s Bull, 18 1/2 (Bugeater Films), NBC’s Peter Pan Live! (Tiger Lily).
Alumni
Weston Alumni Megumi Nakamura appeared in last summer’s season as June Carter (Ring Of Fire). Other Weston credits include The Mute (The Fantasticks), Rosalia (West Side Story), Diana (Anne of Green Gables), and Zaneeta Shinn (The Music Man). Television credits include Evil (CBS) and High Maintenance (HBO).
Michael Seltzer made his Broadway Debut in West Side Story as a principal cover for The Jet Boys. Previous Weston credits include Lost In Yonkers, Mamma Mia, and Guys and Dolls. Other credits include Jersey Boys (The Muny), Paint Your Wagon (The Muny), and Cabaret
(Asolo Rep).
Weston favorite Jacob Brandt’s most recent credits in Weston include Ring of Fire, and Once. Brandt has also done regional work at Huntington Theatre, Bucks County Playhouse, Williamstown Theatre Festival, Company One, Speakeasy Stage, New Repertory Theater, and Wheelock Family Theatre. His work in film includes a new show called Dear Edward (upcoming on Apple TV+).
Joining the equity talent is Weston’s beloved Young Company as the ensemble, with their recent credits: Eli Hamilton as Shrek (Shrek); Tomias Robinson as Donkey (Shrek); Tommy Bergeron as Farquaad (Shrek); Nadia Wilemski as Dragon (Shrek); Anthony Bologna as Pinocchio (Shrek); Bryanna Cuthill as Gingy (Shrek); Ana Laura Santana as Peter Pan (Shrek); Nile Andah as Wolf (Shrek); and sees the return of Emma Diner as Chrissy in HAIR, recently Fiona (Shrek) and Gertrude in last season’s Young Company production of SEUSSICAL.
Details
HAIR plays at the Weston Playhouse (703 Main Street, Weston, VT). Adult tickets range from $50-74. “Pick Your Price” Subscription tickets start at $39. Discounts are available for students, veterans, and Vermont residents. Prices do not include sales tax.
Following HAIR, visit the small town of Chinquapin in STEEL MAGNOLIAS, and reminisce with the music of Woody Guthrie in WOODY SEZ. Subscriptions and tickets are available online and by calling the Weston Box Office at 802-824-5288.
About Weston Theater Company
Weston Theater Company builds on and enhances the unique assets of its Vermont village campus to produce a diverse, entertaining, and challenging season of live professional theater and high-impact events; enrich the theater-going experience with education and outreach programs for all ages; and make significant contributions to the American theater through training programs, play development, and retreats. It is a non-profit organization supported in part by funds from the National Endowment for the Arts and an ever-growing family of individuals and organizations who believe in the impact the performing arts make on its community. Learn more at westontheater.org
