The first Broadway "rock musical" opened in 1968 and became a film in 1979. What was the title?

The groundbreaking 1968 production that brought the counter-culture revolution to the Broadway stage was *Hair: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical*. It is widely considered the first of its kind because it completely broke from theatrical tradition, swapping the typical showtune orchestra for a driving rock band on stage. The musical's score, with music by Galt MacDermot, captured the contemporary sound of the late 1960s, a stark departure from the established Broadway sound.

The show's content was just as revolutionary as its music. Following a "tribe" of young hippies in New York City, it tackled controversial themes head-on, including the Vietnam War, racial inequality, environmentalism, and sexual freedom. The production became legendary for its raw energy and its infamous, though brief, full-cast nude scene at the end of the first act, which symbolized protest and liberation. Anthems like "Aquarius" and "Let the Sun Shine In" became synonymous with the peace movement and the era itself.

Over a decade later, the story was adapted into a 1979 film directed by the acclaimed Miloš Forman. While the original stage show was known for its loose, almost plotless structure, the film created a more conventional and cohesive narrative. It offered a nostalgic, and ultimately more tragic, look back at the ideals of the hippie movement from the vantage point of a new decade, cementing the musical's powerful legacy for a new generation.