Set in 1967 against the backdrop of an East Village park, Hair is the musical tale of a group of hippies celebrating peace and love while shadowed by the Vietnam War. With a score which includes such ageless musical numbers as Let the Sun Shine In, Aquarius, Hair, and Good Morning Starshine, the musical portrays the birth of a ‘60s cultural movement as told by a tribe of optimistic hippies who reside in New York City as the war rages on in Vietnam.

Hair is centered on Berger, the charismatic leader of the “tribe,” and Claude, a sweet and likeable guy from Queens who is about to be drafted. Other memorable characters include Berger’s war protesting girlfriend Sheila, lovable flower child Crissy, Mick Jagger fan Woof, and Claude’s straight-laced parents. Although, cast of characters aside, the real star of Hair may just be its rocking score full of the aforementioned classic hits.

While the revival of Hair debuted in Central Park, the Broadway version manages to maintain the joy and openness which has always made this show a must-see event. Be prepared for some all-in-fun interaction if seated in the front row or in an end seat, because the young cast of 26 manages to be everywhere during the show – climbing ladders into the boxes, frolicking in the aisles, all while singing and dancing the entire time. Backed by a marvelous onstage band, whether you are a Baby Boomer who remembers the music from the Hair’s original productions, or from a following generation, get ready to feel the groove of being back in the ‘60s.

Although the rock score may make Hair appear to be a fun musical for the young ones, it is not truly a family show. A full-frontal nude scene ends Act One, while the dialogue and songs include lighthearted, yet profanity-laced, references to drug use and an assortment of sex acts; probably a good time for parents to rent some movies for the kids and travel back to 1967 on their own.

Following Hair’s off-Broadway debut in October 1967 at Joseph Papp's Public Theater, and a subsequent run in a midtown disco space, the show opened on Broadway in April 1968, where it remained for 1,750 performances. Simultaneous productions in cities across the United States and Europe followed shortly thereafter, including a successful London production which ran for nearly 2,000 performances! Since then, numerous productions have been staged around the world, resulting in dozens of recordings of the musical – some of the songs have become Top 10 hits, and a feature motion picture adaptation was even released in 1979. The Broadway revival of Hair opened on March 31, 2009, earning strong reviews and winning both the Tony and Drama Desk Awards for Best Revival of a Musical.

It has been written that today Hair seems to be even more daring than ever. With the award-winning Broadway revival playing at the Al Hirschfield Theatre in New York, you need to get your tickets now and allow yourself to be transported back to 1967 and become a part of the movement.