Riverside Theatre will present Almost Heaven, Songs of John Denver, opening May 10 on the Stark Stage after a long pause in the 2021-2022 season.
Described as “among the most beloved entertainers of his era,” John Denver was an American musical icon who achieved great success with his down-to-earth acoustic sound. Almost Heaven celebrates the life and times of this music man with over 25 Denver’s chart-topping hits including: “Rocky Mountain High,” “Sunshine on My Shoulders,” “Thank God, I’m a Country Boy,” “Annie’s Song,” “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” and many more.
Born Henry John Deutschendorf Jr. in December of 1943, John Denver was an American singer-songwriter, activist, and humanitarian. He began his music career with folk groups in the late 1960’s and became one of America’s best-selling artists by 1974. Denver recorded and released 33 albums and singles during his career, mostly self-composed solos celebrating his love of nature, disdain for city life, enthusiasm for music, and romantic relationships. His career continued into the 1990s and much of his music focused on environmental issues. For Earth Day 1990, Denver was the on-camera narrator of a well-received environmental television program, In Partnership With Earth, with then-EPA Administrator William K. Reilly. He also filmed an episode for the television series Nature, focusing on the natural wonders that inspired so much of his music.
Denver lived in Aspen for most of his life and the Colorado state legislature even adopted "Rocky Mountain High" as one of its two state songs in 2007. West Virginia did the same for "Take Me Home, Country Roads" in 2014.
An avid pilot, Denver died in 1997 in a plane crash while piloting alone in a recently purchased light airplane. Upon the announcement of his untimely death, Colorado Governor Roy Romer ordered all state flags to be lowered to half-staff in his honor. In 1998, Denver posthumously received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the World Folk Music Association, which also established a new award in his honor.
Almost Heaven is an ensemble musical, conceived by producer Harold Thau, that celebrates the life and times of John Denver from the beginning of his career until his passing. This performance will surely bring back wonderful memories of a beloved music man for many of us and, hopefully, introduce a younger audience to the timeless talent that was, is, and always will be John Denver. Tickets are on sale now online, at the box office located at 3250 Riverside Park Drive in Vero Beach, or by phone at
772-231-6990.