Chi, IL Live Shows on our Radar
Kokandy Productions Opens 2026 Season with
HAIR
The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical
Book and Lyrics by Gerome Ragni & James Rado
Music by Galt MacDermot
Directed and Choreographed by Brennan Urbi
Music Direction by Kara Olander
Now Playing Through September 13, 2026 on The Chopin Theatre Mainstage
REVIEW
By Bonnie Kenaz-Mara
Hair... the hippy love musical of 60s counterculture. It's infamous for big, beautiful afros, pushing PC boundaries, over the top costumes, and an iconic score. If you've come looking for the summer of love, Kokandy's extravaganza at Chopin Theatre does not disappoint, pushing back against the mores of banal suburban sprawl with a bacchanal of sex, drugs, and rock and roll.
(left to right) Diana Marilyn Alvarez, Joshua Emmanuel, Chosen Mitchell, Kijani X and Caitlin Dobbins
But Hair has deep, dark roots and multilayered storytelling as well. Kokandy Productions has mounted an intimate, excellent, and sexy as hell production that encapsulates the fierce communal energy of a generation of teens facing mortality far too young. We sat in a pillow pile, left with baby's breath flowers in our hair, and graffitied the space at intermission. It was more of a happening we were active participants in than a spectacle. We loved this love-in! ChiIL Live Shows on our radar. Highly recommended. Four out of Four Stars. ★★★★
(center) Gavin Rhys with the cast of Kokandy Productions’ revival of HAIR.
This production embraces the DIY hippy aesthetic, providing markers and inviting the audience to graffiti the space at intermission. I added a quote I made up years ago, and still believe are word to live by: Prevent Perfection -- Prefer a Perceptive Perspective. My Greek born friend, Flo added the Greek word for HAIR. Whether intentionally or inadvertently, the interactive elements bridge generations, and decades to bring a good dose of 2026 into this period piece. Amid general calls for peace and vintage poster quotes, graffiti with anti ICE and anti Trump sentiments fit right in.
Our world is on fire, and 60 years later we're still fighting back against political and religious institutions bent on eliminating personal freedom and bodily autonomy. Women still fight misogyny, racism is rampant, single moms still face the impending time bomb of an unwanted pregnancy without society's support, and found family fills the gaps.
(center, l to r) Nicki Rossi and Gavin Rhys with the cast of Kokandy Productions’ revival of HAIR.
Hair gives us archetypes, and iconic characters born to war widows and soldiers with PTSD, in the post WW11 baby boom. Kokandy gives us the unique, authentic casting they're legendary for, with a brilliant range of types, for a powerhouse cast brimming with talent. Come ready to party and mourn, rage and remember. Shout out to the set design that gives us the powerful visuals of lockers to coffins and scaffolding to climb, as well as the costume design that seamlessly melds flower child with Gen Z thrift chic. In fact, chef's kiss to all the show's cast and creatives, who have combined talents to bring to life a magnificently moving piece in true Kokandy style.
(center, l to r) Diana Marilyn Alvarez, Catherine Rodriguez O’Connor and Stone TeSelle
Our country is again forcing a mandatory draft, gassing and arresting protestors, and causing environmental destruction. The US is once again spending billions in an unpopular, unjustified war, and the young pay the highest price. Hair is more than a fashion statement, it's a rallying cry, as true now as it was in 1967.
(left to right) Stone TeSelle, Zac Richey and Joshua Emmanuel
(left to right) Nicki Rossi, Diana Marilyn Alvarez, Gavin Rhys, Stone TeSelle and Chosen Mitchell
As the characters gather around a bonfire to burn the American flag and their draft cards, as well as to celebrate life, I'm reminded of the bonfire that is Kokandy Productions. They began with a spark in 2010, and we've caught every production since. We've watched their work smolder, smoke, and grow to a blaze. We've seen their humble beginnings, their ambitious undertakings in Chopin's basement space, and we've watched their rise to the Chopin's Main Stage upstairs with admiration. Now they're on the cusp of running Hair as well as their impending remount of Sunday in the Park With George in Chopin's basement space beginning in mid August.
This fall, Kokandy's bonfire burns brighter still, as the critically acclaimed revival of their 10-time 2025 Jeff Award-nominated musical JEKYLL & HYDE will make its Broadway In Chicago debut at the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place! I caught it last Halloween night and was blown away by their talent and aesthetic. I can't wait to see it again in the Broadway footlights. Despite their increasing fame and acclaim, Kokandy's dedication to casting up and coming local artists and telling complex stories through musical theatre has never wavered.
It's a new millennium and we're still near the dawning of The Age of Aquarius, as each age lasts over 2,000 years. Many debate whether we have even begun it yet. If we have any hope of moving from "me to we" as we collectively claw our way up from The Age of Pisces, with its focus on hierarchy, religion, and structured belief systems, my money's on the Gen Z theatre kids to show us the way.
As we left the theatre on opening night of Hair, my friend said, "I need to see this 2 or 3 more times!" and someone behind us said "I know, right?! This is our second time already." What more can I say. Don't miss this!
Bonnie is a Chicago based writer, theatre critic, photographer, artist, and empty nester. She owns two websites where she publishes frequently: ChiILLiveShows.com (adult) & ChiILMama.com (family friendly).
Swings include Justin Aponte, Morgan Barber, Kevin Chlapecka, Allyriane Huq, Víctór López, Kenny Miller, Jack Saunders and Maliha Sayed.
The American tribal love rock musical HAIR 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 relevant as ever as it examines what it means to be a young person in a changing world.
Director and choreographer Brennan Urbi comments, “This is a show about chosen family and active community, exploring how we can build support and fight for each other – no matter the generation, place or time. We have a knockout cast who are ready to rock! By building today's versions of these well-known characters, we're going to find out how this iconic ‘60s score reverberates all the way to Summer 2026.”
PRODUCTION DETAILS:
Dates: Previews: Thursday, July 2 – Friday, July 17, 2026
Regular run: Sunday, July 19 – Sunday, September 13, 3026
Curtain Times: Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7 pm; Sundays at 5 pm. Please note: there will not be a performance on Saturday, July 4; there will be an added performance on Monday, July 6 at 7 pm.
Tickets: Previews $28.52* general admission, $39.19* reserved seating. Regular run $55.20* general admission, $65.87* reserved seating. Students/seniors $44.52*. There will be a limited number of lower-priced tickets (with code ARTIST) available to artists for each performance. Tickets are on sale now at kokandyproductions.com or bit.ly/HairChicago. *Ticket prices include processing fees
HAIR is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Tams-Witmark LLC.
www.concordtheatricals.com
About the Artists
Brennan Urbi (Director and Choreographer) is a stage artist who works with community members, artists and actors alike to build a process specific to the questions and skill sets of the group. B’s NYC credits include Into the Woods, Macbeth, Strays, (un)belonging*, Blood Grudge, Electric World, My Best Friend's Cabaret, Singing Lessons, iii sisters, Connection is Unstable, The Munchies, Leo’s Requiem and Alley Between the House. Assistant on Blackout Songs (MCC) I think Big Cat… (Roundabout). In Chicago, B directed Half-Baked, The Beauty of Your Eyes and Civics and Humanities and assisted productions including Spring Awakening, Children of Eden, Hair and Another Room in Your Head. MFA Directing Columbia University, Recipient of the Neo-Futurist Artist of Color scholarship, BFA Acting Chicago College of Performing Art. Founding member of Pick Six. www.brennanurbi.com @brennan_urbi.
Kara Olander (Music Director) is a multi-instrumentalist, music director and actor in the Chicago area. As a pit musician of many years, her mission is to foster a band and cast that feels empowered to groove in their own individuality. Past shows include Always, Patsy Cline (Drury Lane), Amélie (Kokandy), Porchlight Sings the Season (Porchlight Music Theatre), LOKI: The End of the World Tour (Lifeline Theatre), Rock of Ages (Metropolis), Tell Me On a Sunday (Theo Ubique) and Houston, You Have a Problem (Streamline Theatre).
About Kokandy Productions
Founded in 2010, Kokandy Productions seeks to leverage the heightened reality of musical theatre to tell complex and challenging stories, with a focus on contributing to the development of Chicago-based musical theatre artists, and raising the profile of Chicago's non-Equity musical theatre community.
The company's artistic staff is comprised of Derek Van Barham (Producing Artistic Director), Scot Kokandy (Executive Producer) and Adrian Abel Azevedo & Leda Hoffman (Artistic Associates). The Board of Directors includes Preston Cropp, Scot T. Kokandy, Danielle Sparklin and Katie Svaicer.
For additional information, visit kokandyproductions.com.
Pictured (center) Gavin Rhys with (clockwise from top) Amy Yesom Kim, Joshua Emmanuel,
Catherine Rodriguez O’Connor, Zac Richey, Stone TeSelle, Nicki Rossi and Chosen Mitchell
in a publicity image for Kokandy Productions’ revival of HAIR. Photo by Kyle Bode.
