The International Tony Award winning musical Million Dollar Quartet is set to appear at Bass Concert Hall from April 9-14, 2013. The Chicago production of Million Dollar Quartet opened in 2008 and is still playing to packed houses at the Apollo Theatre. The West End production played at the Noël Coward Theatre in London in 2011, and a Las Vegas production moved into the Harrah’s Showroom beginning February 2013.
Million Dollar Quartet is set on December 4, 1956, when mostly by chance in an auspicious twist of fate, music legends Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Elvis Presley were brought together in one of the greatest rock ‘n’ roll jam sessions in recording history. Sam Phillips, the “Father of Rock ‘n’ Roll” who was responsible for launching the careers of each icon, brought the four musicians together at the Sun Records storefront studio in Memphis for the first and only time. These four legends gathered to shoot the breeze, harmonize and play their instruments.
Million Dollar Quartet brings that legendary night to life with an irresistible tale of broken promises, secrets, betrayal and celebrations featuring an eclectic score of rock, gospel, R&B and country hits including; “Blue Suede Shoes,” “Fever,” “Sixteen Tons,” “Who Do You Love?,” “Great Balls of Fire,” “Matchbox,” “Folsom Prison Blues,” “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On,” “Hound Dog,” and more. The vitality and explosiveness of the music, along with the touching stories of their troubled lives will shoot straight for your soul. Million Dollar Quartet gives us a glimpse into the magic that happened that day when these men came together to forget all their troubles and express themselves through the beauty of their music.
The show is directed by Eric Schaeffer and features a book by Colin Escott and Floyd Mutrux. The design team includes: Derek McLane (scenic design), Howell Binkley (lighting design), Jane Greenwood (costume design), Kai Harada (sound design) and Chuck Mead (musical arrangements and supervision).
Million Dollar Quartet won a Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical and received a Tony Award nomination for Best Musical and Best Book of a Musical (Colin Escott & Floyd Mutrux). The show received an Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical, a Drama Desk nomination for Outstanding Musical Revue and three Drama League nominations including Distinguished Production of a Musical and Distinguished Performance.
Tickets for this musical start at only $25 and are available at the Bass Concert Hall box office, all Texas Box Office Outlets, by phone at (512) 477-6060 or online at BroadwayinAustin.com. For groups of 10 or more, call toll free at (877) 275-3804 or e-mail Austin.groups@broadwayacrossamerica.com
Bass Concert Hall Show times:
- April 9 – 14, 2013
- Tuesday–Friday at 8 p.m.; Saturday at 2 p.m. & 8 p.m.;
- Sunday at 1 p.m. & 7 p.m.
Reviews:
The New York Times: “a buoyant new musical that whips the crowd into a frenzy,”
New York Magazine: “a dazzling raucous spectacle that sounds like a million bucks,”
NY1: “90 minutes of platinum grade entertainment.”
The Daily Herald: “..A combination concert, history lesson and homage to the musicians and their visionary producer, Sun Records founder Sam Phillips, “Million Dollar Quartet” is the most exuberant theatrical event I’ve experienced all year. A jukebox musical in the best and purest sense of the word, it persuades even those disinclined to the genre that in the right hands, this format has merit.”.
The Chicago Tribune: “contains virtuosic performances. The kind of jaw-dropping turns that snap your head to the stage and unlock your feet from the floor.”
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