In December 1956, Sam Phillips, founder of Sun Records and now known as the \u201cfather of rock \u2018n\u2019 roll,\u201d brought together four pioneers in the industry\u2014Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Elvis Presley\u2014in his recording studio in Memphis, Tennessee.<\/p>\n
Tony Award-winning musical Million Dollar Quartet tells the story of that one entertaining night that went down in history. Flat Rock Playhouse will kick off this year\u2019s mainstage season with performances April 28 through May 21.<\/p>\n
Carl Perkins happened to be recording at Sun Studio with Sam when Elvis stopped by. Jerry Lee Lewis was at the studio as well. Johnny lived just outside of Memphis, and Sam let him know that Elvis was in town and that he should come, too.<\/p>\n
The four performers recorded new versions of well known rock \u2018n\u2019 roll, gospel, R&B, and country hits, such as \u201cBlue Suede Shoes, \u201cFever,\u201d \u201cWalk the Line,\u201d \u201cSixteen Tons,\u201d \u201cGreat Balls of Fire,\u201d \u201cFolsom Prison Blues,\u201d \u201cHound Dog,\u201d and \u201cWho Do You Love?\u201d The show debuted at Chicago\u2019s Goodman Theatre in 2008 before moving to The Apollo and later Broadway. This production features Nat Zegree as Jerry Lee Lewis, Jeremy Sevelovitz as Carl Perkins, Johnny Kinnaird as Johnny Cash, and Chris Fordinal as Elvis Presley.<\/p>\n
The show will be directed by James Moye, based in New York, who played Sam Phillips in the Broadway version.<\/p>\n
\u201cI hope the audience gets a very good feel for these four guys, but it is a feel for who they were in 1956,\u201d James told The Laurel.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne of the best things about this show is getting to meet these guys at the beginning of their respective journeys. Even though we know how the story unfolds, it\u2019s nice to get a peak behind the curtain as it begins.\u201d<\/p>\n