Go down south with Memphis the Musical
MORRISTOWN — The Tony winning musical Memphis the Musical comes to Mayo Performing Arts Center on Friday and Saturday, May 8 to 9. Tickets are $39 to $69. This event is sponsored by Crum & Forster.
Inspired by actual events, Memphis, the Musical is set in the places where rock and roll was born in the 1950s: the seedy nightclubs, radio stations and recording studios of the musically-rich Tennessee city of Memphis.
With an original score, it tells the fictional story of DJ Huey Calhoun, a good ole' local boy with a passion for R&B music and Felicia Farrell, an up-and-coming black singer that he meets one fateful night on Beale Street. Despite the objections of their loved ones (Huey's close-minded mama and Felicia's cautious brother, the club owner), they embark on a dangerous affair. As their careers rise, the relationship is challenged by personal ambition and the pressures of an outside world that is just unable to accept their love. Will their love be able to withstand the trials of separation, greed and fame?
Winner of four 2010 Tony Awards including Best Musical, Memphis played pre-Broadway at the La Jolla Playhouse and Seattle's 5th Avenue Theatre and features a Tony-winning book by Joe DiPietro (I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change) and a Tony-winning original score with music by Bon Jovi's founding member David Bryan.
Daniel S. Hines plays the high-energy role of Huey. His New York and National Tour credits include the second national tour of Memphis last season, Gary in "Layla and Bob" and Will in "In The Cards." His regional theater credits include Will Parker in "Oklahoma!," Duke in "Big River," Chris in "Miss Saigon," Bob Wallace in "White Christmas," Lt. Cable in "South Pacific," Jigger Craigin in "Carousel" and Claude in "Hair." www.danielshines.com
Zuri Washington will light up the stage as Felicia and is fresh off the Second National Tour of "Bring It On" tour where she played the role of Danielle. Other professional credits include "'Swonderful as Nina," Yolanda in the regional tour of "Crowns," as well as two productions of "Hairspray."
Keith McCoy plays the role of Felicia's domineering brother, Delray. Originally from Virginia, Keith has performed with regional theatres, summer stock companies, national tours, and theme parks throughout the United States. His performance credits include: "Les Miserables" (Javert), "A Raisin In the Sun" (Walter Lee), "Dreamgirls" (Curtis), "Big River" (Jim), "Little Shop of Horrors" (Audrey II), "Oklahoma" (Jud) and "The Full Monty" (Horse).
Amy Marie McCleary serves as the Director and Choreographer for this production. She has been working with Prather Entertainment Group for over a decade as an actress, choreographer and director. Her highlights as a director/choreographer include productions of "Hairspray," "Joseph," "CATS," "9 to 5," "The Great American Trailer Park Christmas Musical" and "I Love A Piano." Her other director/choreographer credits include "The Music Man," "9 to 5" (Little Theatre on the Square) "Ain't Misbehavin'" and "Spamalot" (Herb Strauss Theatre). She also choreographed the second national tour of "The Wedding Singer." Favorite choreography credits include "High School Musical," "Footloose," "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels," "Annie," "Legally Blonde," "The Drowsy Chaperone" and "The King and I." Amy graduated from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts.
Memphis, The Musical is a Prather Touring production. Prather Touring is owned and operated by William T. Prather. Memphis is the eighth national tour as Seven Brides for Seven Brothers is also on tour this season. Prather Touring previously toured Beehive, the 60s Musical in 2007, the 10th Anniversary tour of Footloose in 2008/2009, The Wedding Singer in 2010, All Shook Up in 2011, Blast in 2012 and Fiddler on the Roof in 2013.
The Mayo Performing Arts Center is located at 100 South St. in Morristown. For more information and tickets contact the box office at 973-539-8008 or visit www.mayoarts.org.