HAIR is back! The hit show, which explores the social controversies of the hippie generation and first opened 35 years ago, will be presented by the UAlbany Department of Theatre from April 26 through May 3 in the Main Theatre of the Performing Arts Center.

HAIR: The Great American Tribal Love-Rock Musical is known for its portrayal of the hippie generation’s revolt against the war in Vietnam. The story is about Claude, an American teen whose world is shattered by a draft notice. He and his friends conspire to keep him out of the war, coming up with elaborate plans to foil the draft board. Riding an emotional whirlwind, Claude fails to burn his draft card, deciding to destroy his library card instead. He ends up in Vietnam.

The rock musical is remembered for its controversial nature as well as for such songs as Aquarius, Good Morning Starshine, and Let the Sun Shine In. The show first opened in New York City at the New York Shakespeare Festival Public Theatre. The production moved to a club called the Cheetah before opening on Broadway at the Biltmore Theatre on April 29, 1968. HAIR closed on July 1, 1972 after 1,742 performances. It was nominated for two Tony Awards in 1969 for Best Musical Play and Best Director of a Musical Play for Tom O’Horgan.

HAIR became a rallying point for proponents of the First Amendment. There were several attempts at censorship of the production, the most well-known of which occurred in Boston, Mass., in 1970 and Chattanooga, Tenn., in 1975.

UAlbany’s production is directed by Kristina Bendikas with musical direction by Kirk Smith. The design team consists of Ruben Arana-Downs (set), Andi Lyons (lighting), Janet Sussman (costumes) and Adam Zonder (sound). Choreography is by Ione Beauchamp.