A Broadway Production
The musical stirred some controversy when it first started touring. It was the first time that a play on Broadway had actors performing with no clothes on for starters. Its anti-war message and the desecration of the American flag triggered many lawsuits, with two eventually making their way to the US Supreme Court.
Don Dacus, Annie Golden, Dorsey Wright, and Treat Williams in “Hair” 1979. Photo by United Artists / Kobal / Shutterstock
The musical’s ensemble and the audience were often met with picketers, and, in a few instances, the situation turned violent. In April 1971, a home-made bomb was thrown at the outside of a theater in Cleveland, Ohio, but fortunately, no one was hurt. A month later, however, the families of actor Jonathan Johnson and stage manager Rusty Carlson were killed in a fire set by protesters.