It's been almost 20 years since we lost John Denver after his plane went down in Monterey Bay. Yet his most devoted fans and friends keep finding ways to honor the man and his music. Members of his band have toured "with" John via sequenced video feeds in the series titled John Denver: A Rocky Mountain High Concert. Individual tribute artists have been popping up and performing all around the world. Now we can add a more theatrical kind of presentation to the mix.

The Road is the real-life story of Dan Wheetman, a musician whose life intersected with Denver's. Wheetman lived in Aspen, Colorado, too, and he traveled in the same musical circles as Denver. The two even toured and performed together at times. Through the direct-address format of this musical play, we learn of Wheetman and Denver's experiences from the voices of two actor-musicians: Sam Sherwood as Dan, and Katie Deal as Penny, Dan's wife.

People's Light is a professional nonprofit theatre that offers two small venues for its performances. The Steinbright Stage seats just 160 people, arranged in nine tiered rows. This intimate venue is a perfect one for sharing such a personal story. The stage was set up to resemble an old barn or a funky western club of the 1970s, complete with John Denver posters on its wood-paneled walls. I even spied and recognized the cover of the May 8, 1975 Rolling Stone issue that featured John in its cover story. (I still have a copy myself. Doesn't everyone?) One wall of the lobby had also been set up with photographic timelines of John's life, Dan's life, and that of director and co-writer Randal Myler, showing where the three paths crossed. So we were already familiar with some of the history before we even sat down.

Although both actors remain on stage for most of the performance, the story is told to us solely by Dan, as if we're just sitting around, sharing stories about the past. We learn how he and John Denver led parallel lives, especially after meeting and both moving to Aspen. Dan's band Liberty opened for John on his major tour of 1974-75, which resulted in the recording of the classic double album, An Evening with John Denver. Dan "wears" an acoustic Taylor guitar here and weaves 29 songs into the course of his story. Most of the tunes were written or recorded by Denver. Two of Dan's original melodies are included as well. Penny sings along or accompanies him on guitar or on mountain dulcimer. Sometimes Dan puts the guitar down and plucks a banjo for a different effect.

This approach is unusual, yet successful. It gives us a way to peek behind the curtain: to understand what was going on backstage and in the musicians' private lives, while we were living out our own stories and occasionally paying to see their concerts or to buy their records. The songs were ones we know by heart, or at least once knew; and we were invited to sing along at times. These included such love songs as "Annie's Song," "Come & Let Me Look in Your Eyes," "For Baby (For Bobbie)" (which begins with the line "I'll walk in the rain by your side") and "Perhaps Love." Happy country life songs included "Back Home Again," "Matthew," "Rocky Mountain High," "Sunshine on My Shoulders," "Grandma's Feather Bed" and "Thank God I'm a Country Boy." And then of course, there were those songs of parting and sadness: "Leaving on a Jet Plane," "How Can I Leave You Again" and "Like a Sad Song."

Together the songs and the narration advance the story from the late 1960s into the 1980s. Dan and John both marry their loves, have children, and then both divorce, partially due to the strain of often being away from home in order to perform for others. The Road is an apt title for this show. While it overwhelmingly celebrates Denver's music, it doesn't sugarcoat the struggles and sacrifices that were undertaken in order for his success to happen. Any musician or anyone who travels long distances for business can relate to this reality.

Sam Sherwood does such a good job at portraying Dan that it's easy to forget that he is not the man who lived through it all. He performs John's songs expertly and effortlessly. Whenever good opportunities come his way, he reacts to the offers with John's signature, "Far out!" This response always gets a laugh. Sam is one of two musicians who have portrayed Dan in this play. He has shared the responsibilities with David M. Lutken, who took on the role for the first few weeks of the run. I'm sure each one approaches the music and the narration a bit differently. But in the end, I'm glad I got to see the play as Sam led it. I had a chance to talk with him later, and he's a nice, knowledgeable and talented young musician.

Katie Deal is a solid musician in her own right, with soprano tones that reveal her north Georgia roots and that easily remind us of Dolly Parton. She even shows us a bit of her fancy footwork at one point in the show. And she delivers the most powerful and poignant piece of the production. In addressing the divorces that both John and Dan were going through, and the difficulties of maintaining long-distance relationships without misunderstandings, Katie sings "I'm Sorry." "I'm sorry for all the lies I told you / I'm sorry for the things I didn't say / But more than anything else / I'm sorry for myself / I can't believe you went away." You can feel and see her pain. John Denver had a No. 1 hit with this song in August 1975, and back then it was played frequently on our radios and stereos. And yet this new and feminine voice allowed us to listen and to understand the words as if we were hearing them the very first time. It was a gift.

The show ends perfectly, with Denver's early song of contemplation, "Poems, Prayers, & Promises." In it, he considers his life and says that "I can't help believing in my own mind / I know I'm gonna hate to see it end." He was in his late 20s when he wrote these lyrics, and he had no idea what lay ahead. Unfortunately, we know where the story ends. I had to get out the tissues.

Dan Wheetman wasn't one of John Denver's best friends or personal confidants, but the two shared much in common, including their music. Dan was obviously impacted by the time they spent together -- as were we all, who counted ourselves among John's fans. This show allows us to return to that time, learn more about the back story, and to sing along with the songs. Most members of the audience were Baby Boomers who had grown up with the music. They picked up the tunes and the lyrics automatically.

This was The Road's third run, after its debut in Milwaukee and a second set of performances in Ivoryton, Connecticut. Each series also included at least one "Hootenanny" post-show gathering. People were invited to bring their own instruments and to continue sharing music after the play was over. These were popular nights that were well attended, and even crowded. And by all accounts, most of the performances were sold out each night, too. Hopefully the play's success to date guarantees that it will be offered elsewhere.

The Road provides good entertainment for all, and it generates good memories of the times and of the music that set the stage for our own lives. For devoted John Denver fans, it's like revisiting an old friend after a long time away. These two hours can appease us a bit, even though we wish that John were still here to sing to us and with us, in person. What a hootenanny that would be!