The reason for the reversion is to avoid confusion with The Mamas and the Papas member Michelle Phillips' autobiography which shares the same title. Producer Eric Nederlander stated in a release, "Michelle has been of great assistance in helping us put this show together by graciously granting us the right to use certain images in the production. 'California Dreamin'' is the title of her book, and we feel that Dream A Little Dream will serve us just as well." The latter was the title of the show when it debuted in Toronto in June 2001.
Denny Doherty, one of the two surviving members of The Mamas and the Papas, has teamed up with Canadian playwright Paul Ledoux to pen Dream A Little Dream a musical celebration of his former group. The stage show will now play at the Greenwich Village neighborhood where the group began, March 28 with an official opening April 14. The dates were changed to allow more time for the technically demanding production.
Dream A Little Dream traces the story and the glory of the group from its humble beginnings to its rise to fame and back. The musical stars Papa Doherty — one fourth of the team of John Phillips, Michelle Phillips and Cass Elliott — who sang songs like "California Dreamin'," "Dedicated to the One I Love," "I Saw Her Again," "Monday Monday," "San Francisco (Be Sure To Wear Some Flowers In Your Hair)," which are all featured in the multi-media production, among other hits of the period.
Randal Myler, who helmed the Village's last tenant Love, Janis will direct California Dreamin’. No stranger to musicals derived from popular music, Myler has also directed Hank Williams: Lost Highway. Myler also received credit as playwright on the previous works. Myler directs a new version of Almost Heaven, a musical about the life, times and music of John Denver, for the Denver Center Theatre Company in the 2003-04 season.
The design team will be Walt Spangler (set), David C. Woolard (costumes), Peter Kaczorowski (lighting) and Jan Hartley (projections). For tickets to California Dreamin' at the Village Theatre, 158 Bleecker Street (between Sullivan and Thompson St.) call Ticketmaster at (212) 307-4100 or visit www.ticketmaster.com.
