Denny Doherty his daughter Mackenzie Phillips, and Elaine "Spanky" McFarlane, which toured and performed old standards and new tunes written by John. Doherty later produced an off-Broadway show called "Dream a Little Dream", which was a narrative of his perspective of the story of The Mamas & the Papas. It was well received and garnered favourable reviews. The show was in part a response to John's PBS documentary "Straight Shooter: The True Story of John Phillips and The Mamas and the Papas". It featured music from the group and focused on his relationship with Cass Elliot. In 1993, he played the part
The Mamas & the Papas Dreamin': The Songs of the Mamas and the Papas." The New Mamas and the Papas were a by-product of John Phillips' desire to "round out the picture of reform" as he awaited sentencing on narcotics charges in 1980. He invited his children Jeffrey and Mackenzie, both living in Los Angeles, and Denny Doherty, who was living in Canada, to join him at the Fair Oaks Hospital in Summit, New Jersey, where he was undergoing rehabilitation. The children arrived around Thanksgiving and Doherty around Christmas. The idea of reviving the group was born at this time, with Phillips and Doherty in