The Lyric Stage Company continues its 31st season with "Ears on a Beatle," the Boston premiere of Mark St. Germain’s provocative story inspired by the FBI surveillance of John Lennon. The production opens on Friday, October 22, and runs through Saturday, November 20th. Lyric is located at 140 Clarendon Street (the 2nd floor of the YWCA Building) in Boston.

Who's listening when you speak? How many “ears” pick up and “file” your words? Against the backdrop of the paranoia of the Nixon administration, two FBI agents, a veteran and a novice, form an unlikely friendship in “Ears on a Beatle” when they turn their “ears” on former Beatle John Lennon, whose music and idealism influenced a generation of young activists. Inspired by the release of the actual FBI surveillance records, this recent Off-Broadway hit asks intriguing questions about the agencies that monitor us and their motives.

Director Paula Ramsdell is returning to Lyric Stage with “Ears on a Beatle” following her success with "Over the River and Through the Woods." The cast features two Lyric favorites: Steven Barkhimer, whose work in "Book of Days" (together with appearances at Publick Theatre and Boston Playwrights Theatre), earned him the IRNE award (Independent Reviewers of New England) for Best Supporting Actor; and Michael Kaye, who also appeared in Lyric's "Book of Days" as well as Arthur Laurents’ "2 Lives."

Mark St. Germain's other plays include "Camping with Henry and Tom" (Outer Critics Circle Award and Lucille Lortel Award), "Out of Gas on Lover's Leap" and "Forgiving Typhoid Mary." "Ears on a Beatle," which premiered at the Barrington Stage Company in 2003, was produced in New York earlier this year.

With Randy Courts, St. Germain has written the musicals "The Gifts of the Magi," "Johnny Pye and the Foolkiller" and "Jack's Holiday." They contributed to "A My Name Is Still Alice" and Cass Morgan's "True Home." Mark also wrote the book for "Stand By Your Man: The Tammy Wynette Story" and "Blanche and her Joyboys." Television credits include "The Cosby Show," "Crime & Punishment" and "The Wright Verdicts." He was awarded the New Voices In American Theatre award at the 2001 William Inge Theatre Festival.

For tickets and information, call 617-437-7172 or visit www.lyricstage.com.

-- OnStage Boston

10/10/04