The musical arrives on Tuesday and continues through Jan. 15.
The Tony Award winning Broadway musical "Memphis" comes to the Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts in Hartford, Jan. 10-15, 2012.Recognized as the home of Elvis Presley, the birthplace of the blues, and the center of the civil rights movement, the Southern city of Memphis is just a short drive down Interstate 91 this week.
The Bushnell Performing Arts Center stage will play host to the popular Broadway play named after Tennessee’s largest city for eight performances between Tuesday and Jan. 15.
“Memphis” takes place in the smoky halls and underground clubs of the segregated ‘50s, where a young white DJ named Huey Calhoun fell in love with everything he shouldn’t: rock and roll and an electrifying black singer. The play is loosely based on a true story about the cultural revolution that erupted in Memphis.
“The Bushnell is extraordinarily excited to be presenting the national tour of the Tony Award-winning musical ‘Memphis,” said David Fay, the Bushnell’s executive director. “It’s a production that entertains, enlightens, provokes thought, and created dialogue. But most of all it’s an exuberant night of theater.”
The 2010 Tony-winning “Best Musical” celebrated its second anniversary on Broadway on Oct. 19 at the Shubert Theater, just three days after the national touring production of the play opened on Oct. 16 at the Orpheum Theater in Memphis.
In celebrating its recent anniversary, show producer Sue Frost said, “We are delighted to celebrate “Memphis’ second anniversary on Broadway. This show continues to enchant Broadway audiences nightly, and is now connecting with audiences across the country. We could not be more grateful to our hardworking and dedicated cast and crew. With the commitment that the ‘Memphis’ family brings to work every day, we hope to continue to celebrate anniversaries for years to come.”
And, the play has a Massachusetts connection. “Memphis” was developed at the North Shore Music Theatre in 2003.
“Memphis” features a score with music by Bon Jovi’s founding member and keyboardist David Bryan and lyrics by Bryan and Joe DiPietro (“I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change”), and who also pens the musical’s book. Bryan and DiPietro previously collaborated on the award-winning off-Broadway show, “The Toxic Avenger.”
“Joe DiPietro and David Bryan are two important and talented new voices on the musical theater scene,” Fray said, “and ‘Memphis’ highlights their talents with an exhilarating, show-stopping production.”
Among the many songs featured in the musical include “Underground,” “The Music of My Soul,” “Ain’t Nothin’ But a Kiss,” “Everybody Wants to Be Black on a Saturday Night,” “Colored Women,” “She’s My Sister,” “Radio,” “Love Will Stand When All Else Falls,” “Change Don’t Come Easy,” “Memphis Lives in Me,” and “Steal Your Rock ‘n’ Roll.”
The play is based on a concept by the late George W. George, producer of the Tony-nominated bedroom farce and film “My Dinner With Andre,” with direction by Tony-nominee Christopher Ashley of “Xanadu,” and choreography by Sergio Trujillo, who is currently represented by three shows on Broadway – “Memphis,” “Jersey Boys,” and “The Addams Family”.
In addition to Best Musical, the critically-acclaimed “Memphis” won several Tony Awards including Best Original Score for Bryan and DiPietro, Best Book for DiPietro, and Best Orchestrations for Bryan and Daryl Waters. The play also garnered four Drama Desk Awards including Outstanding Musical, Outstanding Performance by an Actress for Montego Glover, and Outstanding Music and Outstanding Orchestration. It also has won four Outer Critic Circle Awards including Outstanding Musical, Outstanding Score, Outstanding Actress and Outstanding Choreography for Trujillo.
The national tour of “Memphis” stars Bryan Fenkart as Huey and Felicia Boswell as Felicia with Quentin Earl Darrington as Delray, Rhett George as Gator, Julie Johnson as Mama, Will Mann as Bobby, and William Parry as Mr. Simmons.
In October, Shout! Factory and Broadway Worldwide, Inc. announced a new deal to bring “Memphis” to Blu-ray, DVD and digital download. “Memphis” is expected to hit retail shelves this month, but has been on sale at national tour sites since October.
“‘Memphis’ is proud to make history as the first Best Musical Tony Award winner to be filmed and released while on Broadway and national tour,” producer Randy Adams said.