RIALTO CHATTER: Diana DeGarmo & Ace Young to Join New HAIR Cast on Broadway?

As HAIR readies for its Broadway makeover and London premiere, rumors are beginning to swirl as to which current cast members will be settling in across the pond and which new faces will be gracing the Broadway production. The newest reports out suggest that American Idol alumni Ace Young (season 5's seventh runner up) and Diana DeGarmo (season 3 runner up, Hairspray, The Toxic Avenger) are among the new picks for the Broadway replacement cast. No official announcement has been made by the production, although it is expected that casting announcements for London and New York are imminent, as the new Broadway performers go into rehearsal in the coming weeks.

New York?s Public Theater, Jeffrey Richards, Jerry Frankel, John Gore and Thomas B. McGrath, in association with Cameron Mackintosh, announced that the Tony Award-winning revival of HAIR: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical will open at the Gielgud Theatre in London?s West End with the original Broadway cast. Previews will begin on Thursday, April 1, 2010, with Opening Night set for Wednesday, April 14th. Led by Director Diane Paulus, the complete creative team will reunite for the London production. It is believed that not all of the current cast will be making the trip, however.

It was also announced that a completely new "Tribe? will debut in the Broadway production on Tuesday evening, March 9th.

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There are folks who'll go to see Ace. And I mean that literally.

We're talking about the same people who saw Grease 40+ times from September 2009 to closing and would stand during Greased Lightning.

And from what I understand they seem to think he will wear a loincloth.

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Wonder when the Show will Officially announce the new cast, Diana has an awesome voice and I thought she was great in Toxic Avenger. I only saw clips of Ace so I cannot really say much about him. I do hope he can fill Swenson's shoes and captivate the audience in like he does.

By the way Hair is on TDF for this Wednesday's Mat

"I would hope not but If that's the case, it will serve them right if he doesn't do the scene. Paying upwards of $100 in hopes of catching a split second glimpse of him in the nude is probably a sign of mental illness"

What about paying 25 or 40!?
That's what I paid to see that show.
Anyways, I have no clue who Ace is, but is there any price limit to determine mental illness?
Maybe we should ask Alice Ripley to help us out.

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I said this in another thread but I'm looking forward to seeing Diana in this, she should be great. Not so sure about Ace.

ABoyLikeThat,

I agree!!
I think Diana would make an awesome Jeanie! I'm hoping for Jackie!Sheila!

He's just so sexy...

I guess my avatar showed too much skin. Time to find a new one.

His fans sound really disturbed.

Well there's the pot calling the kettle black, Val.

Diana being in Hair would get me back to see Hair again. I personally think she'll do an incredible job as Shelia, her voice is simply gorgeous and will be perfect for "I Believe in Love" and "Easy to Be Hard".

Ace, that's going to be interesting, but he's good looking and can sing. So.. I'm sure he'll be fine.

Adam: Must you be such an ass? Honestly, everytime you and DefyingGravity777 are in a thread together, you make a comment that is completely uncalled for. Opinions are opinions.

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Updated On: 2/8/10 at 06:44 PM

I think Ace actually has a mellow, stoner quality to him that will work. I actually think this is pretty sound casting. He has a gentle openness that works for the role.

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He better grow out that chest hair if he's going be a real hippy. (And please me...)

I'm surprised the show is waiting on the official announcement. The new cast has to be in rehearsals within a couple weeks. I can only assume the contracts are working their way through the legal department, because at this point their press release could consist of "Nothing to say, everybody already knows." The only suspense now is who will play Claude.

I know some people still want Diana to play Jeanie instead but the show would be wasting her on a role that doesn't require lots of front and center singing. She needs to be Sheila.