New Jersey Stage logo
New Jersey Stage Menu


Let the Sunshine In! "Hair" is coming to CDC Theatre in Cranford

originally published: 04/16/2024

(CRANFORD, NJ) -- The American classic rock-musical Hair, the final production of the 105th season at CDC Theatre, celebrates the sixties counterculture in all its barefoot, long-haired, bell-bottomed, beaded and fringed glory. To an infectiously energetic rock beat, the show wows audiences with songs like "Aquarius," "Good Morning, Starshine," "Hair," "I Got Life" and "Let The Sunshine In." Exploring ideas of identity, community, global responsibility and peace, Hair remains as relevant as ever as it examines what it means to be a young person in a changing world.

The show will run weekends from May 3-19, 2024 at CDC Theatre (78 Winans Avenue) in Cranford, New Jersey. For the best selections and prices, visit cdctheatre.org for tickets.

Controversial in 1968, with its rock music, hippies, nude scene, multiracial cast and anti-war irreverence, it billed itself as "the American Tribal Love-Rock Musical." Audiences didn't quite know what to make of that. But they figured it out eventually.

To appreciate how unexpected Hair was in 1968, consider what else was playing on Broadway the week it opened: Hello, Dolly!, Man of La Mancha, Funny Girl and Fiddler on the Roof. One of Fiddler's signature numbers, of course, is an anthem about the importance of "Tradition."  This new musical questioned everything about tradition.

Up until Hair, Broadway's idea of rock music had been the Elvis-like character in Bye Bye Birdie. Galt MacDermot's music for Hair was much closer to the real thing. And the flower-power lyrics of James Rado and Jerome Ragni, like those from the second act's "Three-Five-Zero-Zero", didn't sound like traditional show-tunes either.




Advertise with NJ Stage for $50-$100 per month, click here for info



This thoroughly American "Tribal Love-Rock Musical" soon became a hit all over the world making rock music something that theater was forced to reckon with. In shows like Jesus Christ Superstar, Grease, Dreamgirls, and Rock of Ages, the rock musical became a Broadway genre. Hair got there first.

Hair, the Grammy and Tony Award-winning hit musical, was produced for the Broadway stage by Michael Butler; and originally produced by the New York Shakespeare Festival Theatre.

The Cranford Dramatic Club (CDC Theatre) is a non profit all volunteer organization whose purpose is to: Produce and present plays of merit; Develop, by discussion and active participation, the talents of members in all phases of dramatic work, e.g., directing, acting, staging, etc.; and Stimulate community interest in amateur theater.




Advertise with NJ Stage for $50-$100 per month, click here for info


FEATURED EVENTS

To narrow results by date range, categories,
or region of New Jersey
click here for our advanced search.


Sherlock

Sherlock Holmes: The Baker Street Irregulars

Thursday, January 30, 2025 @ 7:30pm
The Historic Palace Theatre
7 Ledgewood Avenue, Netcong, NJ 07857
category: theatre

Click here for full event listing

 

George

George Street Playhouse presents "Small"

Thursday, January 30, 2025 @ 7:30pm
New Brunswick Performing Arts Center (NBPAC)
11 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
category: theatre

Click here for full event listing

 

Here

Here There Are Blueberries

Thursday, January 30, 2025 @ 7:30pm
McCarter Theatre Center (Matthews Theater)
91 University Place, Princeton, NJ 08540
category: theatre

Click here for full event listing

 

Sherlock

Sherlock Holmes: The Baker Street Irregulars

Friday, January 31, 2025 @ 7:30pm
The Historic Palace Theatre
7 Ledgewood Avenue, Netcong, NJ 07857
category: theatre

Click here for full event listing

 

George

George Street Playhouse presents "Small"

Friday, January 31, 2025 @ 2:00pm
New Brunswick Performing Arts Center (NBPAC)
11 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
category: theatre

Click here for full event listing

 

More events

Event Listings are available for $10 and included with our banner ad packages






Advertise with New Jersey Stage for $50-$100 per month, click here for info




 

EVENT PREVIEWS

Magnolia

Magnolia Productions presents "Almost, Maine"

(ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS, NJ) -- Magnolia Productions presents Almost, Maine at the Navesink Library across two weekends (February 14-15 and February 21-22, 2025). This is John Cariani's heartwarming tale of regular people falling in and out of love in strange and sometimes hilarious ways.



Fund

Fund for Irish Studies at Princeton University presents a Conversation with Ireland's Abbey Theatre

(PRINCETON, NJ) -- Princeton University's Fund for Irish Studies continues its 2024-2025 series with a conversation with members of Ireland’s Abbey Theatre: Literary and New Work Director Ruth McGowan and well-known Irish actor and Associate Artist Derbhle Crotty will discuss writing and performing in Ireland and perhaps offer readings from some Irish plays. Fund for Irish Studies co-chair and director of the Program in Theater and Music Theater Jane Cox will moderate the conversation on Friday, February 7, 2025 at the James Stewart Film Theater at 185 Nassau Street. The event begins at 4:30pm.



Algonquin

Algonquin Arts Theatre presents "The Diary of Anne Frank"

(MANASQUAN, NJ) -- Algonquin Arts Theatre presents four performances of The Diary of Anne Frank from February 15-22, 2025. Embark on a poignant journey through history with one of the most powerful and enduring stories of resilience, family, hope, and the human spirit. Anne Frank's eloquent and deeply moving words leap from the pages of her diary to the stage.



Centenary

Centenary Stage Company's NEXTStage Repertory presents Shakespeare's "The Tempest"

(HACKETTSTOWN, NJ) -- Centenary Stage Company's NEXTStage Repertory presents William Shakespeare's The Tempest adapted and directed by Stephen Michael Davis from February 6-10, 2025. The Tempest is Shakespeare's comedy about betrayal, ill-treatment, and the development of magical arts, all set against the backdrop of a plot for revenge.



Small

'Small' Brings Big Energy to George Street Playhouse

When thinking about occupations kids say they want when they get older, a list comes to mind – doctor, superhero, firefighter, etc. But not many would find their passion at the horse racing track and say they want to become a jockey. In "Small," an autobiographical play written and performed by Robert "Bobby" Montano, the story follows Montano as he races and fulfills his dream on the horse racing tracks of Long Island, New York. It does not stop there, however. The 90-minute play is a story of love, loss and more as Montano grapples with some difficult life decisions.