Hair: Gavin Creel to play 'Claude' Eden Espinosa withdraws from the production

Tony Award-nominee Gavin Creel will join the Broadway cast of Hair: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical. Creeel will play the lead role of 'Claude' which Tony nominee Jonathan Groff played in the productions off-Broadway run last year.

Eden Espinosa, who it was announced on the 6 Jan 2009 would play the female lead role of 'Sheila' has withdrawn from the production. No information has been provided why Espinosa has withdrawn frim the production other then she has done so 'due to personal reasons.'

Oskar Eustis, Artistic Director of The Public Theate Eustis said �We are thrilled that Gavin Creel will be joining the tribe of Hair as Claude. We welcome him to one of the most enthusiastic, talented and beautiful casts on Broadway this spring.�

Gavin Creel (Claude) recently starred as 'Bert' in The West End Production of 'Mary Poppins.' Last seen on the New York stage in the Tony Award winning revival of 'La Cage aux Folles,' (Jean-Michel: 2004). Creel received a Tony nomination for his Broadway debut as 'Jimmy Smith' in 'Thoroughly Modern Millie' (2002).

Hair opens at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre on 31 Mar 2009, following previews from 6 Mar and is currently selling tickets through to 27 Sep 2009.

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

Remaining cast for the Broadway production has still to be announced, Hair was a phenomenal success when it first played on Broadway in the 60's, and again this past summer when it was a hit at the Delacorte Theater.

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.

The musical is being produced on Broadway by The Public Theater and 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).