NOWHERE MAN, About Paul McCartney's Double, Coming to Theater for the New City

Paul McCartney is back. But so is his double.

While the real Paul McCartney is slated to perform in New York City later this year, a play about his double is set to debut far sooner.

Theater for the New City Executive Director Crystal Field is presenting "Nowhere Man," a new play about a man hired as a double for one of the Fab Four.

The play written by Claude Solnik and directed by Donna Mejia, is being presented June 8 to 18 at Theater for the New City, 155 First Ave., New York, New York.Tickets are available for $18/$15 seniors and students at Tix.

John Anthony Gorman plays Billy Campbell in this story about someone hired to be Paul McCartney's double in the 1960s, and Olivia Boren plays his girlfriend Rita.

Ed Altman plays George Martin, the Beatles' arranger, and Tyler Beau Humphries plays Neil Aspinall, the band's road manager.

Sophie Max plays Emma/Michelle, a fan who follows the band, and Michael Metta plays Tommy, her British boyfriend.

After the Beatles stopped performing at the height of their success, some fans became convinced the singer had died in a car accident.

Rumors circulated that McCartney had crashed and the band concealed the fact, even hiring a double to keep going.

In fact, the band stopped performing and did studio work after the sounds of shouting fans began to drown out their music at concerts.

In Nowhere Man, the Beatles' handlers, such as George Martin, the band's arranger, and Neil Aspinall, their road manager and assistant, orchestrate the hiring.

"It's a Faustian bargain," Solnik said. "Someone's hired to be someone else for the cameras and crowds. The get some of the glory, but they have to give up their own private life, their own identity."

Thus. - Sat. at 8 p.m. Sun. at 3 and one Wed. show June 14 at 8 p.m. Tickets $18/$15 students and seniors. www.theaterforthenewcity.net or call 212-254-1109.

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