Hair: Gavin Creel, the show's male lead, is resting due to ankle injury

Gavin Creel, who plays the male lead role of 'Claude,' has temporarily exited the Broadway show, Hair: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical due to an ankle injury. The star injured his right ankle during the Wed Matinee performance on 19 Aug 2009.

Creel has posted a picture of his foot bound in an orthopedic boot on the social networking site twitter.com, with the caption "Sh*t!" It is not known when the star will return to the show, but Creel hopes it will be within days, not weeks.

Until his recovery, understudies Jay Armstong Johnson and Paris Remillard will perform the role.

Hair opened at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre on 31 Mar 2009, following previews from 6 Mar and is currently selling tickets through to 3 Jan 2010.

The musical opened to mostly excellent reviews: "emotionally rich revival" (NY Times); "a smile-inducing celebration of life and freedom" (NY Daily News); "the most exciting new show in town" (Bloomberg); "gives Broadway a welcome jolt of energy" (The REcord); "If this explosive production doesn't stir something in you, it may be time to check your pulse." (Variety).

With book and lyrics by James Rado and Gerome Ragni, and music by Galt MacDermot, Hair is directed by Diane Paulus.

The cast features Gavin Creel (Claude), Sasha Allen (Dionne, White Boys Trio), Caissie Levy (Sheila), Megan Lawrence (Mother), Bryce Ryness (Woof), Will Swenson (Berger), Jackie Burns (Black Boys Trio, Tribe), Kaitlin Kiyan (Black Boys Trio, Tribe), Nicole Lewis (White Boys Trio, Tribe), Megan Reinking (Black Boys Trio, Tribe) and Saycon Sengbloh (Abraham Lincoln, White Boys Trio, Tribe).

The musical depicts the birth of a cultural movement in the 60's and 70's that changed America forever: the musical follows a group of hopeful, free-spirited young people who advocate a lifestyle of pacifism and free-love in a society riddled with intolerance and brutality during the Vietnam War.

As they explore sexual identity, challenge racism, experiment with drugs and burn draft cards, the "tribe" in Hair creates an irresistable message of hope, peace and change that continues to resonate with audiences 40 years later.

Hair was a phenomenal success when it first played on Broadway in the 60's, and again in 2008, when it was a hit at the Delacorte Theater.

The musical is being produced on Broadway by The Public Theater, Jeffrey Richards, Jerry Frankel, Gary Goddard Entertainment, Kathleen K. Johnson, Nederlander Productions, 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.

Hair was the show that, in 1967, officially opened The Public Theater�s long-time home on Lafayette Street.

Hair: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical has the distinction of being the first off-Broadway musical to transfer to Broadway, (It moved to Broadway on 29 Apr 1968 and ran for 1,873 performances).