This Month in Theater: July 2008

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Hair (Joan Marcus)

KICKING A DEAD HORSE

This might be the summer’s hottest ticket. Kicking a Dead Horse is a new one-act play, written and directed by the American master, Sam Shepard, starring film favorite Stephen Rea as a city-dwelling art dealer who goes on a vacation to a remote and dangerous part of the American West. As the play begins, his horse dies, and he’s forced to deal with the unfortunate turn of events. Aside from Rea, the play features a woman in a small, non-speaking role. But for the most part, we see this great Irish actor as he's considering his situation and his life.

The Public Theater, 425 Lafayette St., (212) 967-7555. Previews June 25, opens July 14–Aug. 10.

SOME AMERICANS ABROAD

This new comedy by Richard Nelson, directed by Gordon Edelstein, is about a group of party-hearty American college students and their pretentious professors who take a literary tour of England, where learning comes in second to hi-jinks and laughs. The fine cast includes Anthony Rapp (Rent) and the glowing newcomer, Halley Feiffer.

Second Stage Theatre, 307 W. 43rd St., (212) 246-4422. Previews Jun. 26, opens July 15–Aug. 3.

THE MARRIAGE OF BETTE AND BOO

This is a revival of one of Christopher Durang’s sharpest dark comedies, reputedly about his own family, that details three decades of marital non-bliss. The highly competent Walter Bobbie directs a cast of 11, who accomplish the dissection in 33 quick scenes.

Laura Pels Theatre at the Harold and Miriam Steinberg Center for Theatre, 111 W. 46th St., (212) 719-1300. Previews June 12, opens July 13-Sept. 7.

HAIR: THE AMERICAN TRIBAL LOVE-ROCK MUSICAL

Hair, written by James Rado and Gerome Ragni, with music by Galt MacDermott, is still one of the greatest culture-defining plays of all time. Hair is set in the mid-‘60s, a time of be-ins, long hair, sexual freedom, marijuana and LSD, anti-war protests, tie-dye clothes, The Beatles and the belief that “all you need is love." This anthem to the power and grace of a youth movement that succeeded was originally done at the Public Theater, directed by La Mama’s Tom O’Horgan, and featured downtown actors of the time, before its move to Broadway. For its revival the Public is staging it at its outdoor, usually Shakespearean, venue, where Diane Paulus (The Donkey Show) will direct, and has promised not to delete the all-cast, full-frontal nudity that ended the first act.

The Delacorte Theater, Central Park (at 81st St. & and Central Park West.), (212) 967-7555. July 22–Aug. 31.

HOMELAND

This new show by multi-media artist Laurie Anderson, that has garnered good reviews on a nationwide tour, is sure to include her words, music, video and electronic trickery, as she timely addresses the clash between fear and freedom in contemporary America.

The Rose Theater, Frederick P. Rose Hall, Home of Jazz at Lincoln Center, 60th St. & Broadway, Columbus Circle, (212) 875-5456. July 22–26.