A Broadway musical based on songs by John Lennon, tentatively titled “The Lennon Project,” will musically explore the turbulent times of the 1960s and 1970s with some 30 songs drawn from more than 200 Lennon wrote after the Beatles break-up. The legendary band released their last album, “Let It Be,” in 1970 but had already dissolved as a act.
“Over the past two decades, I have been experiencing the feedback from the world to John’s life, statements and music,” Yoko Ono said in a statement. “I realized what John had meant to the world. He was a catalyst who brought down the hypocrisy and the old world establishments 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,” she continued.
The show, which is planned for the 2004-2005 season, will be produced by Edgar Lansbury and Don Scardino. Scardino will also direct the show with a script he plans to write with Eric Overmyer.
The Lennon show follows several recent Broadway shows based on preexisting songs by a composer. The long-running “Mamma Mia” is based on music by ABBA; the Tony-winning, rock-ballet “Movin’ Out” is performed to Billy Joel’s music; and this season marks the opening of “The Boy From Oz,” a musical biography of Australian cabaret singer Peter Allen.
As previously reported, Capitol will on Nov. 18 release the “Lennon Legend” DVD, featuring rare newsreel and private footage from the Lennon/Ono archive, 15 new and remastered music video clips, newly created animations of Lennon’s drawings and an extensive photo gallery.
Source Billboard.com.
