As the first truly counter-culture musical to ever be produced, Hair: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical opened on Broadway in 1968, breaking down moral majority bigotries and conservative “values,” and helped propel the sexual revolution and anti-war movement the forefront of the American mind. With graphic depictions of illegal drug use, irreverence for the American flag, overt use of profanity and nude scenes, and containing the most racially integrated cast in the history of the Great White Way, Hair was a phenomenon. The story was loose—a young square comes to New York City where he meets a bunch of hippies and changes his tune about Vietnam—but the songs were masterpieces with several, such as “Age of Aquarius” and “Let the Sun Shine In,” becoming anthems of the peace movement. This 2009 revival production won every major award last year, with critics particularly impressed with the new staging and lighting effects, so catch the musical message of hope and take a trip back to the days when the young embraced pacifism and free-love, not just because it was the cool thing to do, but because it was also the right one. (Jane Mast)
IF YOU GO
What: Hair.
When/Where: Jan. 25–Feb. 6 at the Orange County Performing Arts Center, 600 Town Center Dr., Costa Mesa.
Info: Call (714) 556-2121, or go to www.ocpac.org. Tickets start at $20.
