Wed. May 7 - Sun. May 11

Cancelled.

We had the Doors movie and then we had the Doors band - sorta - with Ian Astbury from the Cult playing Jim Morrison live on stage. The idea, of course: Why let the music die when there are boomer fans still fixated on that era and that sound - and somebody contemporary enough to pull in the younger, curious fans? Now, we've got "Love, Janis," at the Cutler Majestic Theatre Wednesday May 7 - Sunday May 11.  It's a musical that was conceived and directed by Sam Andrews, founding member of Janis Joplin's old band, Big Brother and the Holding Company.

It's based on the book Janis' sister, Laura, wrote, and - just a guess here - her book (and the musical) won't be quite as tawdry and salacious as the one Janis' lover Peggy Caserta wrote some years ago. This one has multiple Janises and includes interpretations of letters she wrote hom, interviews and, of course, songs like "Me and Bobby McGee," "Piece of My Heart" and "Mercedes Benz." There was no white blues singer quite like Joplin - damaged, sometimes drunk and drugged up, heartwrenching. In retrospect, one supposes, a symbol of the rise and fall of hippie culture. But the music endures and we all love a tattered legend - Nina Simone, Billie Holliday, Judy Garland, hey, Jim Morrison. Those died too young - before, at, or just beyond - their peak make us ardent voyeurs. Why did stardom drive them over the edge? Were the demons there to begin with? Did stardom bloat their egos and their indestrucability?
Was it just an attempt to blunt the pain and keep the party going forever? Ponder those questions as you hear some classic rockers. The first show's at 7:30, the next two at 8 and the finale is a Sunday matinee at 2. Tickets: $65-$43.

219 Tremont St., 888-233-3123 www.maj.org