With a little help from their friends in the @CT (ACT) Theater Company of Freehold, children with autism and their families can have hope for a brighter future.
The creative team behind “A Day in the Life” includes (l-r) Dan Davidson, music and vocal director and @CT Theater Company founder, Ron MacIntyre, musical and orchestral arranger, and Irwin Hahn, stage director and president of the @CT Theater Company. That is because all of the proceeds from a performance of the original Beatles rock opera “A Day in the Life” will be donated to Parents of Autistic Children (POAC), a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of autistic children and their families.
The one-night musical event will take place Nov. 10 at the Pollak Theatre on the campus of Monmouth University, West Long Branch.
“A Day in the Life,” the brainchild of co-writers Irwin Hahn of Jackson and Dan Davidson of Freehold, blends the stories of characters who are mentioned in songs written by the Beatles into a unique musical journey using the actual songs written by the members of the band.
Anthony Vitalo of Howell, as Sgt. Pepper, rehearses a scene with Erika Valero of Oakhurst, as Lucy Diamond, in the Beatles rock opera “A Day in the Life.” “It all started four years ago when I was listening to some Beatles songs that had other arrangements done as covers,” Hahn said. “I paid attention to the words and noticed stories told that were more affecting than I remembered and it continued to grow from there.”
Hahn, who is president of the @CT Theater Company and stage director of the show, put his creative writing abilities together with Davidson, the founder of the theater company and the music and vocal director of the production, and “A Day in the Life” was conceived.
Musical arranger Ron MacIntyre came aboard and the three of them created the look, sound and words of the show. Actors from the @CT Theater Company will bring the show to life with the help of choreographer Susan Miller of Jackson and stage manager Lorry Davidson.
“It’s a Beatles opera,” Hahn explained. “The lyrics of the songs become the dialogue and the story is told through song, like in operas.”
Set in a quaint restaurant off the beaten path, familiar Beatles characters come to life and tell their heartfelt stories of love and loss in “A Day in the Life.”
Father McKenzie (played by Ray Ruiz of Monroe), Eleanor Rigby (Joanne Rizzo of Freehold), Sgt. Pepper (Anthony Vitalo of Howell), Lucy Diamond (Erika Valero of Oakhurst), Prudence (Samantha Citro of Manalapan), and the Hendersons (Beth Wein and Alan Burkholz, both of Marlboro) are all dining tonight in their favorite, local, cozy café.
They are greeted by the owner (Jack Kusher of Old Bridge) who guides the audience through a magical, musical journey with the help of his adoring wait staff (Elena LaTerra of Freehold and Peter Rodrigo of Staten Island, N.Y).
The timeless lyrics and music of John Lennon, Paul McCartney and George Harrison set the pace of the story with songs such as “Help,” “A Hard Day’s Night,” “Yesterday,” “While My Guitar Gently Weeps,” “All My Loving,” “I Want to Hold Your Hand,” “Let It Be,” “Hello, Goodbye,” “The Long and Winding Road,” “Here Comes the Sun,” “Come Together” and more.
According to Hahn, “The songs have different arrangements from most Beatles pop tunes. The bluesy and jazzy style allows for a more personal delivery of the same tunes. As the owner tells the story you find out about the lives of the characters as well as his life. The story progresses and finally there’s a payoff, and you begin to understand.”
The idea to donate all the proceeds from the show to POAC came from cast member Elena LaTerra. She and her husband, Ross, are involved with POAC and they thought the show and the organization would be a great match.
Ross LaTerra is also the show’s producer and chief executive officer (CEO) of ONCOR Entertainment, based in Freehold.
“Having a child in a special needs program at school has made me aware of the need for better education for our children,” he said. “The training that is provided by POAC to teachers and parents of autistic and developmentally disabled children is essential and is proven to make extraordinary improvements in the lives of these families. The unfortunate truth is that young people studying for a degree in special education are not being instructed with the pairing methods that POAC provides and are not fully prepared upon graduation.”
“Ross and I are so proud to be working with POAC,” added Elena. “With the help from fundraisers like this, POAC will be able to help parents and children in need of support, education, and resources involving the care of autistic children. What this foundation does is so important for those families now. I am thankful that I can lend my voice and my husband can lend his talents to such a worthy cause.”
In a report released in February, the number of children born with autism in the United States today was found to be 1 in every 150. The report suggests that New Jersey’s ratio is 1 in every 94 and 1 in every 60 boys, making the state the highest documented rate in the country.
“Hearing that there are so many people in the state of New Jersey who are diagnosed with autism just breaks my heart,” said Dan Davidson. “After meeting with POAC President Gary Weitzen and learning exactly what POAC does, I couldn’t feel more confident about how the organization is spending the money it receives. So many autism charities are using their resources toward finding a cure for autism, but with the exception of POAC, no one is doing anything to help these kids who are living with autism today.”
While many organizations exist to find a cause and cure for autism, POAC has focused its attention and resources on how best to help the children and families who are dealing with the effects of autism today. For more information on POAC and its services, visit www.poac.net.
Weitzen said, “We are so excited about this show with some of the most beautiful music ever written. The @CT Theater Company is donating all of their time and 100 percent of the proceeds will go toward improving the lives of those affected by autism throughout the state. Monmouth University has a beautiful theater and is contributing greatly to make this a special event.
“I have already seen a performance of ‘A Day in the Life’ myself,” he added, “and thought it was awesome! I know this is an event that all family members will truly enjoy.”
Tickets for the Nov. 10 performance of “A Day in the Life” at Monmouth University are $25 and can be purchased by telephone at (732) 792-3281 or online at www.RockForADifference.org.
Those interested in sponsorship opportunities may call (732) 792-3281.