<p>I am not an MT parent, and I don’t usually post in this area of CC. But I just saw the Public Theater’s amazing production of “Hair” in Central Park last night, and I feel it is a must-see if you’re anywhere near NYC from now until August 31. Yes, you will have to wait on line for hours to get tickets, which are free, but it is so worth it! (Or pay $50 per ticket on Craigslist.)</p>
<p>It’s very simply staged, just a grassy area and a bandstand for the musicians. But the awesome energy of the young cast, and their pure talent and professionalism, will blow you away. I think that anyone involved in CMU’s musical theater program can hold their head high. Several of the cast members hold 2006 B.F.A.s from there, and not only their talent but also their training were top-notch. NYU’s Tisch school also supplied some thrilling talent and had the foresight to be admitting one cast member, a young lady who just graduated from high school, to its CAP21 program this fall. Other cast members hail from Yale, the University of Connecticut, South Coast Repertory’s Professional Conservatory, UC Irvine (B.A. in drama), Kent State, UMich, East Tennessee State (B.A. in theater), Point Park, and Columbia (M.F.A in directing), among others. Quite a range of schools. Also, the costuming, musical direction, and choreography are excellent. And sitting in Central Park as dusk closes in is a beautiful experience, thrilling even to a lifelong New Yorker like me. Kudos to the cast and crew! Incredible.</p>
<p>For more info:
[Public</a> Theater - Shakespeare in the Park](<a href=“http://www.publictheater.org/content/view/126/219/]Public”>http://www.publictheater.org/content/view/126/219/)</p>
<p>Lurkness- How does one go about getting tickets? Is it just getting there at like 7 am and standing around for hours?</p>
<p>DG, here is the ticket info-</p>
<p>212.539.8750
Pricing: FREE
Tickets are distributed beginning at 1PM each performance day at the Delacorte and via the Public Theater website. The website “line” replaces distribution at The Public’s downtown home.
Box Office: For ticket and performance information, please call (212) 539-8750 or, to become a Friend of Shakespeare in Central Park
please call (212) 539-8655, Monday through Friday 10am to 6pm.</p>
<p>or</p>
<p>[Public</a> Theater - Tickets](<a href=“http://www.publictheater.org/content/view/128/223/]Public”>http://www.publictheater.org/content/view/128/223/)</p>
<p>If you become a ‘Friend’, you are able to get tickets without waiting in line (this requires a donation). Yes, usually ‘waiting around for hours’ is necessary if you are getting your tickets at the Park. Many people show up by 6 a.m. and bring picnics, music, books to read. </p>
<p>LNM, I’m glad you enjoyed the show. We know four of the kids in the show this year and they are all extremely talented, all already have Broadway credits. Two of my Ds have seen the show (I saw last year’s concert version) and I hope to get there sometime in August, even if it’s just for one day!</p>
<p>Honestly for this production 7am will be too late to be guaranteed tickets, people are lining up at 3am or 4am.</p>
<p>Yes, that is true. ^^^ But I was chatting to a woman at the Saturday night show I attended, and she said she got on line at 8:30 a.m. She was so far back on the line that she was worried she wouldn’t get tickets, but she did. I think you should be fine with a 7 a.m. arrival, especially on a weekday. There is apparently a deli that will deliver food to people on line, and if you bring a folding chair or a blanket, you will be fairly comforable. It’s a New York “happening,” with a long tradition of people talking to one another and being friendly. Or if you want to spend $100 for two tickets, you can use craigslist! Another option is to keep checking the website for “borough distribution,” which is what we did. We picked up our ticket vouchers in Brooklyn.</p>
<p>Alwaysamom, you know four kids in the show? That’s great! Those young actors are amazing. And the casting was wonderful. There were no “actory” types, all real people.</p>
<p>According to one of the cast members you can also do the standby line. Basically once the tickets are distributed at 1pm the show is “officially” sold out but there is a standby line that you can get into so if there’s any VIP tickets, purchased tickets or comps that weren’t picked up they go to the people in the standby line.</p>
<p>I really want to see the show, but I will not be waiting 8 hours in a line for a show, unless its some big name actor/band. I’ve seen many of the actors in this production in other shows and I really like them but not that much unfortunately! haha</p>
<p>There’s also a “virtual line” that I’m told is more like a lottery. Still, it wouldn’t hurt to enter every day and see if you’re lucky enough to get picked. You have to sign up, and then every day after midnight you can submit a request for tickets to that day’s performance. </p>
<p><a href=“http://vline.publictheater.org:8080/account/[/url]”>http://vline.publictheater.org:8080/account/</a></p>