On December 8, 1980, Mark David Chapman assassinated John Lennon outside the Dakota apartment building at the corner of 72nd Street and Central Park West in New York City. This shocking news spread quickly, and thousands converged on Manhattan’s Upper West Side to grieve the loss of this peaceful visionary. Songs were sung, prayers were offered, and memories were shared as mourners struggled to grasp the tragic reality of a surreal situation. Written by James McLure in 1984, The Day They Shot John Lennon follows a diverse group of New Yorkers gathered at Lennon’s impromptu memorial service and, in doing so, places a personal face on the worldwide outpouring of grief. This one-act play is a tribute to the life of an artist gone too soon.