"Lennon" to open at the Broadhurst Theatre summer 2005

Mon 20 Sep 2004 "Lennon" to open at the Broadhurst Theatre summer 2005 Lennon will open at the Broadhurst Theatre in the Summer of 2005. Lennon, book by Don Scardino, is a new musical based on the life and songs of John Lennon. It tells the story of how one mans life defined the times and the socio-political struggle that overtook our world. Lennon will be produced on Broadway by Edgar Lansbury, Don Scardino and Allan McKeown in association with Clear Channel Entertainment . The production will be directed by Don Scardino, with Choreography by Joe Malone, set design by John Arnone, costume design by Jane Greenwood and Lighting by Jules Fisher & Peggy Eisenhauer. Lennon is produced by arrangement with Yoko Ono. "Over the past two decades, I have been experiencing the worlds feedback to John's life, statements and music,saidYoko Ono. Ive realized what John meant to the world. He was a catalyst who brought down the hypocrisy and the Establishment by saying Gimme Some Truth.What we present on stage should again give people insight, encouragement, inspiration and fun, so they can go on with their lives with some assurance and hope. Director and book writer Don Scardino says, "We will tell the story of John Lennon's life using Lennon's own words and twenty-seven of his songs. Our ensemble of 10 extraordinary and diverse performers and a ten-piece onstage band will guide the audience through Lennon's life and the eras he shaped". Scardino continues, "Out of the nearly two hundred songs to choose from, the musical includes such memorable tunes as Imagine,Instant Karma,Give Peace a Chance,(Just Like) Starting Over and Whatever Gets You Through the Night,among others. Using slide and film projections, Lennon will be a visually stunning search for the real John Lennon." Producer Edgar Lansbury added, "John Lennon wrote hundreds of songs after the Beatles split up. The material is diverse, rich and incredibly theatrical." and producer Allan McKeown said, "In Lennon, we will tell the story of an era - an entire generation. Through his music, Lennon's voice emerges as one of the most unique of our time." Lennon's first preview will be at the Orpheum Theatre in San Francisco from 5 Apr 2005. It will also play at the Colonial Theatre in Boston from 24 May 2005, before its Broadway opening Broadway playing schedule, ticketing, and casting information to be announced.