Hair

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Introduction to "Hair"

"Hair" premiered in London’s West End at the Shaftesbury Theatre on September 27, 1968, just a day after Britain abolished theatre censorship, allowing its bold content to shine. Subtitled "The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical," it was created by Gerome Ragni and James Rado (book and lyrics) with music by Galt MacDermot. Running for 1,998 performances until July 1973, it captured the 1960s counterculture spirit, featuring a young cast including Paul Nicholas and Elaine Paige. Its raw energy, nudity, and anti-war stance made it a West End sensation.

The Creative Team Behind the Show

Gerome Ragni and James Rado, both actors, wrote the book and lyrics, infusing "Hair" with their firsthand hippie experiences. Galt MacDermot’s eclectic score blending rock, pop, and soul spawned hits like "Aquarius" and "Let the Sunshine In." Directed by Tom O’Horgan, whose avant-garde style amplified the chaos, the London production featured choreography by Julie Arenal. The original cast, including Marsha Hunt and Sonja Kristina, embodied the “tribe,” while later stars like Tim Curry joined revivals, cementing its free-spirited legacy.

A Tribal Celebration of Freedom

Set in 1960s New York, "Hair" follows Claude, a young man facing the Vietnam draft, and his hippie tribe led by Berger and Sheila. Rejecting conformity, they revel in peace, love, and protest, clashing with parents and authority. Claude’s indecision burn his draft card or enlist drives the tension, ending in a haunting vision of his death. The plot, loose and episodic, pulses with songs like "Good Morning Starshine" and "I Got Life," plus a nude scene that shocked and thrilled, embodying the era’s rebellion.

Performance and Reception

Opening to a polarized response, "Hair" stunned critics some decried its “obscenity,” per The Times, while others hailed its vitality. Audiences flocked, drawn by its timeliness and rawness, pushing it to nearly 2,000 performances despite a 1973 roof collapse forcing a venue switch to the Queen’s Theatre. The 2009 revival at the Gielgud Theatre, with Gavin Creel, ran 167 shows, earning acclaim for its nostalgia. Its cast recording topped UK charts, cementing its cultural quake.

Legacy in West End Theatre

"Hair" revolutionized musicals, ushering in the rock era and inspiring works like "Rent." Its West End debut and 2009 revival, plus a 2019 immersive run at the Vaults, total thousands of performances. The 1979 film and soundtrack, with over 5 million sales, spread its gospel globally. Staged in over 40 countries, it remains a West End milestone its anti-establishment howl and joyous anthems still echo, a testament to theatre’s power to provoke and unite.