(Left to right) Ian Fairlee, Austin Hohnke, Austin Thomas and Austin Wayne Price during rehearsal. The four star in “Million Dollar Quartet,” which runs May 30-June 11 at New Stage Theatre. Photo courtesy Melissa Tlilman
The Tony Award-winning musical "Million Dollar Quartet" comes to New Stage Theatre on May 30 to present a piece of rock history.
"Million Dollar Quartet" tells the story of four famed musicians—Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley and Jerry Lee Lewis—who came together for one recording session on Dec. 4, 1956, at Sam Phillip's legendary Sun Studio, which also housed Sun Records label, in Memphis.
Melissa Tillman, who is the marketing director for New Stage Theatre, says that she is excited for the event to come to Jackson.
"(It's) a real event that actually happened," she says. "These four guys ended up at Sun Records together and end up recording this 'Million Dollar Quartet.'"
Audiences who attend the show will hear nearly two dozen songs performed including "That's Alright," "Blue Suede Shoes," "Great Balls of Fire" and "Walk the Line."
Besides bringing the songs people know to life, Tillman says, the musical is significant to Mississippi and the state's roots, as two of the four members of the quartet, Presley and Lewis, were from the state.
Tillman says that during the musical's run, she hopes to take the cast to see the studio where the historic meeting happened, as well as Graceland and the newly reopened home of Lewis.
"Million Dollar Quartet" runs May 30-June 3 and June 6-10 at 7:30 p.m., and June 4 and 11 at 2 p.m. at New Stage Theatre (1100 Carlisle St., 601-948-3531). General admission is $35, and $28 for s students, military and seniors ages 60 and over. For more information, visit newstagetheatre.com.
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