ROCK & ROLL'S GREATEST LOVERS Coming to Hollywood Fringe, 6/7-29

The controversial and sometimes tumultuous relationship between former Beatle John Lennon and avant-garde artist Yoko Ono is the focus of the new musical play "Rock & Roll's Greatest Lovers" opening at 3:45 p.m. June 7 at the Lillian Theatre, 1076 Lillian Way in Hollywood as part of the Hollywood Fringe Festival.

The play will also be presented on Friday, June 13 at 6:45 p.m.; Saturday, June 21 at 8:15 p.m.; and on Sunday, June 29 at 3:45 p.m.

"This is truly a new take on the life of John Lennon and Yoko Ono as they experienced life with the backdrop of the 1960s and 70s," said Erin Muir ("Not Another B Movie"), who portrays Cynthia Lennon, John's Lennon's first wife.

"These were two people who were never quite understood by anyone - except each other - as lovers and artists. That is a theme that never goes out of style, that of true love!"

Written by actress/playwright Anzu Lawson, who plays Yoko Ono, opposite Tom Mesmer ("Day of the Dead") who plays Lennon, the play tells the story of the famed rocker, who was then a member of the super group, The Beatles, as he met and later married Ono despite widespread opposition by fans and many of those around them.

Featuring all-new music written by Lawson and Joerg Stoeffel, with lyrics by Lawson, the play reaches back to Ono's past just after the dropping of the atomic bomb in Hiroshima, Japan. Then on to the early sixties when the Beatles arrived in the U.S. with their groundbreaking performance on "The Ed Sullivan Show," and on to the band's high point and ultimate breakup, often blamed by many on Ono herself.

Known for her acting in such television shows as "The King of Queens," "Criminal Minds," "Raising Hope," "Parenthood," "Scandal" and others, Lawson is also an accomplished singer and model, having featured her unique vocal stylings in such films as "The Chronicles of Narnia," "The Da Vinci Code," and others. But it was just three years ago that she began her work on "Rock & Roll's Greatest Lovers."

"I'm very grateful to my teacher/mentor Jocelyn Jones for planting the seed for this story and for every single cast member who has dedicated their talent and time with such passion for this timeless story," Lawson said.
"Rock & Roll's Greatest Lovers" was written and executive produced by Anzu Lawson, directed by Nell Teare, produced by Nell Teare, associate producers Emily Schoener, John "Griff" Griffin and Joerg Stoeffel. The cast includes Anzu Lawson, Tom Mesmer, Erin Muir, Casey Hayden, Jewel Greenberg, William McKinney, Garon Atencio, Rebecca Ocampo, Lauren Poole, Tia Robinson, Joseph Verdi, Nell Teare, Kohana Porter, Drake Hutchinson, Deja Soufka and Lou Santini.

For tickets and more information, visit www.hollywoodfringe.org/projects/1800.

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