Hair

Nearly 50 years later, Hair is still relevant today. The defining rock musical, Hair swept Broadway with its revolutionary condemnation of the Vietnam War and shocked audiences with brash depictions of sexuality, drug use, and profanity. A celebration of youth and an exploration for peace, Hair, the musical, remains a critically relevant commentary on American society.

 

Debuting on Broadway in 1968, Hair follows the lives of a group of politically active hippies living a bohemian life in the hustle and bustle of New York City, struggling to avoid the draft and to find love in the meantime. A search for peace, truth, and love, Hair gave a voice to the Baby Boomers of the 1960s and 70s. Coining popular songs such as “Aquarius,” “Let the Sun Shine In,” and “Good Morning, Starshine,” Hair was a perfect vocal outlet for a discouraged generation searching for answers.

 

Nowadays, people are still searching and Hair, the musical, is still providing generations of young adults with an outlet for societal frustrations. Nominated for 10 Tony Awards over the past five decades, Hair finally won Best Revival of a Musical in 2009, proving the increasing relevance of an expression of rebellion and sexual liberation. Now revived all over the world in many forms and venues, Hair speaks to more than just an American population, capturing audiences with its daring statements and catchy lyrics.