Good Day Sunshine with Stories on Stage
Preview by Nicolette Vajtay
It’s springtime in Colorado, a time of renewal, a season of rebirth. As the earth wakes up from its winter of gloom, and communities around the world come back to life after the devastating pandemic, we could all use a few more good days of sunshine. Come on out to the theatre beginning on May 1st, for Stories on Stage’s newest presentation, Good Day Sunshine, a collection of short stories from In Their Lives; Great Writers on Great Beatles Songs, edited by Andrew Blauner.
Artistic Director Anthony Powell found Blauner’s collection of short stories, with contributions from twenty-nine authors and musicians, about their favorite Beatles song and how it affected their life. Like for millions of people around the world, the Beatles music was the soundtrack of Powell’s youth. He can’t remember what he did last week, but he can tell you where he was when his mother brought home Meet the Beatles album. He was five years old.
“We need the Beatles now more than ever,” Powell said. “Their music brings messages of love and tolerance, reminding us to be kind, to share joy, how to navigate the human experience, and how to live in this new world we all find ourselves in.”
How does it get better than the Beatles? Let’s start with an all-star cast, with Sam Gregory, GerRee Hinshaw, and Allison Watrous, with music direction by Matt Bassano. Of course, there will be music mingled in with the stories; how could there not be!
Sam Gregory, a pillar of Denver’s theatre community, reads a story written by actor David Duchovny, most well-known for the X-Files, on how the song Dear Prudence influenced his life, and how it prepared him for his future as an actor, director, producer, and writer.
Lean in as Allison Watrous, a Stories on Stage veteran, reads Octopus’s Garden, by Elissa Schappell. Elissa fell in love with Ringo, even if the other three were the heart throbs of the band. Ringo moved her soul.
The cast is rounded out with the brilliant talents and angelic voice of GerRee Hinshaw, along with her talented friend and musical director Matt Bassano who accompanies the troupe on electric piano. How do you choose just a few songs from an iconic catalogue of music that changed the world? It’s almost impossible, but you can be sure there will be a dynamic smattering of songs from the beginning of their career, throughout their ten years together as a band. Yes, only ten years! Enjoy The Long and Winding Road, She Loves You, and of course Good Day Sunshine, along with a few other classic pieces.
The New York Times wrote: “In Their Lives is full of pleasant surprises.” Come be surprised!
In person on Sunday, Good Day Sunshine will be live on May 1st @ 2:00pm at Su Teatro, and online for the virtual premiere on May 6th at 7pm. Su Teatro is still requiring all in-person attendees be fully vaccinated, present their vaccination cards, and to wear a mask throughout the performance.
Program sponsored by Theresa & Bob Keatinge; GerRee Hinshaw sponsored by Janice Michael; The Fab Four: Scott Raile (John), Melody English (Paul), Marie DesJardin (George), Shirley Carnahan (Ringo) are each sponsoring a story.
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