On November 14, 1974, the stage play, Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band On the Road, made its stage debut at the Beacon Theater with John Lennon and May Pang in attendance. There would be 66 performances in all. Robert Stigwood produced both the play and the famous, only somewhat related movie flop starring the Bee Gees.
After the show, the Lennon couple appeared at the Hippopotamus Club where they mingled with Ronnie Spector and Mick and Bianca Jagger. Although there was a lot of talk about a cast album, poor reviews doomed the musical which has been, for the most part, forgotten.
Among the people to see the show was David Bowie whose assistant contributed this entry to "David Bowie's Diary" in Mirabelle Magazine:
I've just gone to see the most amazing show! You may have heard something about it - it's called 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band' - and I must say it's one of the most bizarre shows I've ever seen, besides mine, of course! All the characters from all the old Beatles' songs come to life right before your very eyes! Strawberry Fields is a really pretty girl with a fabulous voice; Mr. Kite is a glitter rock star; Rita, the meter maid, turns out to be a man. The costumes and sets are just spectacular - and everyone in the show is super talented. It's one of the biggest hits in New York these days and soon the whole show will go on the road. It's even set to go to Japan, so it looks like it may come your way, too!
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