Sarah Hyland Joins 'Hair' Musical; 'Modern Family' Star to Make Debut at Hollywood Bowl

By Emma Koonse, Christian Post Reporter Monday, June 30, 2014

Sarah Hyland is trading in television for theater after joining the ensemble cast of the musical "Hair" at the Hollywood Bowl this week.

The actress stars on ABC's "Modern Family," but organizers at the Hollywood Bowl announced Thursday that the 23-year-old starlet will play Chrissy in "Hair." The production will run for just three performances from August 1 to 3, according to the Los Angeles Times.

"News! I'll be Hair the musical this summer at the Hollywood Bowl!!! I couldn't be more excited to get back to my musical theatre roots," Hyland wrote on Twitter on June 26.

Hyland is joined on "Hair" by Benjamin Walker, Hunter Parrish, and "Veronica Mars" star Kristen Bell. The ensemble cast will also feature pop singer Mario, Jonah Platt and Kevin Chamberlin. The show will be directed and choreographed by Adam Shankman.

"I'm over the moon about the cast we are assembling," Shankman said in a statement, according to Playbill.com. "The talent that I witnessed throughout the auditioning and overall casting process has been both mind blowing and deeply humbling. I'm in love with all of them. I can't wait to get in there with everyone and rock the Bowl this summer, in ways that have never been done there before."

The 1920s amphitheater also voiced excitement for the production of "Hair" coming this summer.

"From its stunning Broadway premiere in 1968, 'Hair' defined that 'rock musical,' exuberantly celebrating the hippie counterculture, anti-war movement and sexual revolution of the 1960's with a rainbow score of hits that have become ingrained in pop culture," said the Hollywood Bowl via Playbill. "Audiences will celebrate this groundbreaking American journey as we 'Let the Sunshine In.'"

Hyland was catapulted into stardom as Hayley Dunphy on "Modern Family" opposite actors such as Sofia Vergara, Ed O'Neill, and Julie Bowen. The Golden Globe-winning television series is among the top-watched comedy series on TV today.