By Adam Hetrick
09 Mar 2010

Ace Young and Diana DeGarmo
photo by Matthew Blank

"American Idol" finalists Diana DeGarmo and Ace Young lead the new Broadway tribe of Hair, who let the sun shine in beginning March 9 at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre.

DeGarmo, who most recently appeared in The Toxic Avenger Off-Broadway and the Broadway run of Hairspray, is cast as Sheila (originally played by Caissie Levy), with Young (national tour of Grease) as Berger.

The new cast of Hair also features Annaleigh Ashford (Wicked, Legally Blonde) as Jeanie, Jeannette Bayardelle (The Color Purple) as Dionne, Vanessa Ray as Crissy, Kyle Riabko (Spring Awakening) as Claude, Wallace Smith as Hud and Jason Wooten as Woof.

Completing the company are Justin Badger, Nicholas Belton, Larkin Bogan, Natalie Bradshaw, Catherine Brookman, Briana Carlson-Goodman, Antwayn Hopper, Jay Armstrong Johnson, Rachel Bay Jones, Mykal Kilgore, Josh Lamon, Nicole Lewis, Anastacia McClesky, Paris Remillard, Arbender Robinson, Kate Rockwell, Cailan Rose, Rashidra Scott, Jen Sese, Lawrence Stallings, Terrance Thomas, Emma Zaks and Lee Zarrett.

(The debut of the new tribe, 32 performers strong, marks the largest Broadway cast change in more than 40 years.)

	Kyle Riabko
	photo by Matthew Blank

Members of the original Broadway cast played their final performance March 7. They will recreate their work in the London production at the Gielgud Theatre beginning April 1. An official London opening has been set for April 14.

Featuring book and lyrics by the late Gerome Ragni and James Rado and music by Galt MacDermot, the Broadway revival of Hair opened on Broadway March 31, 2009, at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre. Diane Paulus earned a Tony nomination for her direction of the revival.

The Hair creative team includes set designer Scott Pask, costume designer Michael McDonald, lighting designer Kevin Adams, sound designer Acme Sound Partners and choreographer Karole Armitage.

Hair is presented on Broadway by The Public Theater, Jeffrey Richards, Jerry Frankel, Gary Goddard Entertainment, Kathleen K. Johnson, Nederlander Presentations, Inc., Fran Kirmser Productions/Jed Bernstein, Marc Frankel, Broadway Across America, Barbara Manocherian/WenCarLar Productions, JK Productions/Terry Schnuck, Andy Sandberg, JAM Theatricals, The Weinstein Company/Norton Herrick, Jujamcyn Theaters, Joey Parnes and by special arrangement with Elizabeth Ireland McCann.

The Al Hirschfeld Theatre is located at 302 West 45th Street. For further information visit HairBroadway.