YOUR AD HERE »

A day with Lennon

Wren Wertin
No IPTC Header found
ALL |

Imagine spending a couple of hours with John Lennon. The cast and crew of “A Day In His Life” are doing their theatrical best to push through a willing suspension of disbelief and do just that. The musical tribute to Lennon takes the stage at the Vilar Center in Beaver Creek today at 7:30 p.m.

“He speaks to a whole generation,” said Theater Director Kris Sabel about Lennon. “His music, the things that he believed in, and the fact he was assassinate – those all make him a bigger-than-life figure. That’s why we idealize him.”

Sabel booked the show because he thought it sounded interesting, though it didn’t stand out as the hit of the winter season. “A Day In His Life” premiered in Torrance, Calif., last November.



“I’ve had so many people call about this show from across the country,” said Sabel. “One couple saw it in Malibu, and got on the Web site to see where else it was being performed. They decided to vacation in Beaver Creek for the first time specifically so they could catch the show.”

He speculates it will be the “sleeper hit” of the season.

Support Local Journalism



According to reviews, the show works because of Tim Piper, an actor/singer/songwriter from California. He’s been in several bands, but he became terribly popular when he joined Revolution, a Beatles tribute band. One thing led to another, and he’s played Lennon for E! Channel, CBS, NBC and Capitol Records.

“He’s the one The Beatles and Yoko Ono are comfortable playing John Lennon,” said Sabel. “That’s no small feat. The performance is like getting a chance to spend a night with John Lennon.”

The play is crafted around a fictional radio show, based on real life events. Supposedly occurring shortly after Lennon and Ono’s guest hosting of the “Mike Douglas Show” in 1972, all four Beatles plus Ono are scheduled to appear on “The Doug Michaels Show.” Because of a blizzard, only Lennon is able to make it to the taping. Therefore, he has the daunting task of speaking with – and entertaining – Michaels, who is eager to dismiss rock ‘n’ roll as a passing fad.

During the program, Lennon ends up singing 20 songs, both from The Beatles repertoire and his own.

According to the performers’ press material, “A Day In His Life” gives its audience not only the music but also the sound, look, personality and history of one of rock ‘n’ roll’s most enduring legends.

For more information, visit http://www.VilarCenter.org.

“Think of ‘Imagine,'” said Sabel. “It’s such a banner song for a whole generation. And in a time like now, with so much going on in terrorism, he speaks to us about love and peace and how we should all get along. This show has only been out for 6 months, but I think it’s going to get really big.”


Support Local Journalism