WHEN MUSIC CHANGED FOREVER

Photo Credit: Authors Joe DiPietro and David Bryan, Producer Sue Frost and Producer Ryan Adams at the 2010 Tony Awards; Photo: CBS

“It’s time to lose the day, it’s time to head to Beale,
Where the rhythm is hot, and the music is real.
You can do without love, swear off the booze,
But everyone alive needs to sing the blues.”

Lyrics from “Underground” from MEMPHIS

So, come on down to MEMPHIS, part of the KeyBank  Broadway Series at PlayhouseSquare February 28-March 11, and listen to the music of your soul.

“MEMPHIS explodes off the stage with a rhythm and a drive that soar through the house, creating a feeling of instant joy. – The Record

"The very essence of what a Broadway musical should be. MEMPHIS is sensuous, soulful, tuneful & theatrical, expertly cast & superbly sung. Take a deep breath as the curtain rises, because the exuberance doesn't stop. The propulsive choreography and sinuous, sexy dancing perfectly matches the music. The dancers are among the hottest in town." - Associated Press

"A rambunctious good time highlighted by rousing music and singing, spectacular dancing and a witty, moving story. MEMPHIS arrives on Broadway triumphant! The musical numbers are irresistible…original and incandescent dancing that no current musical and very few past ones could match. Add extremely inventive scenery, exhilarating costumes and unostentatiously incisive lighting.”- Bloomberg

“An original, authentic, extraordinary show!" - Newsday

Four Is the Lucky Number for MEMPHIS
With more than 20 nominations, MEMPHIS is the musical that received the most awards for the 2009-2010 Broadway season!

Winner of four Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Book, Score and Orchestration,
MEMPHIS also was honored with four Drama Desk Awards (Best Musical, Best Actress, Best Music and Best Orchestrations) and four Outer Critics Circle Awards (Best Musical, Best Actress, Best Score and Best Choreography).

Synopsis
MEMPHIS is the story of a time that changed music forever.

Huey Calhoun, a young, white man, falls in love with the wrong beat, the wrong rhythm, the wrong dancing, the wrong music and the wrong girl in 1950s Memphis, Tennessee.

This is the South, in the time of Jim Crow, when blacks and whites used separate water fountains. Blacks had to ride the back of the bus, and relations between blacks and whites consisted of blacks being hired help. And there was white music and black music.

But society didn’t count on:

“The radio! The radio!
I knew it could teach! I knew it could preach,
I knew it could reach across the air!
I knew it could sell, I knew it could yell,
I knew it could tell the truth out there!”

Lyrics from “Radio” from MEMPHIS

Did You Know?
MEMPHIS has a great artistic pedigree.

The music and lyrics of MEMPHIS are by David Bryan, a founding member of Bon Jovi!

Choreography is by Jersey Boys, Next to Normal and The Addams Family whiz kid Sergio Trujillo.

Costumes are by Paul Tazewell, Tony nominated designer of In the Heights, The Color Purple and Bring in ‘Da Noise, Bring in ‘Da Funk.

Lighting Design is created by five-time Helen Hayes award winner Howell Binkley.

The rest of the creative team have worked on Xanadu, Sweeny Todd, Legally Blonde, Billy Elliot The Musical, Wicked, Mary Poppins, Shrek, Mamma Mia, West Side Story and The Lion King. They have worked with The Joffrey Ballet, The Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall, The Guthrie Theater, La Jolla Playhouse, Apollo Theatre as well as in London, Chicago, Toronto, Melbourne and Las Vegas.

The MEMPHIS creative team has assisted Eartha Kitt, Phoebe Snow, Dionne Warwick, Missy Elliot, 98 Degrees, Barbra Streisand, Chita Rivera, Patti LaPone, Bette Midler and Scooby Doo!

No wonder AM New York says, “MEMPHIS is irresistible, invigorating and truly entertaining.”

For information on this show go to: memphisthemusical.com