Think about this: What are the chances we could get four of today鈥檚 biggest musical icons together in one room, have them mostly check their egos at the door and invite them to just do what they do best: make music.
Sure, we鈥檇 flip the switch in the control room to capture the musical magic, but no social media influencers stalking the hallways. No media or publicists sending out press releases.
Just four musicians forgetting about everything, including what lies beyond that studio door and just jamming.
That鈥檚 what happened on Dec. 4, 1956, when Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash found themselves quite by coincidence in Sam Phillips鈥 iconic Sun Records Studio in Memphis, Tennessee.
They didn鈥檛 set out to be together that night; no one sent an embossed invitation 鈥渇or your eyes only.鈥 Each arrived with a different reason for needing or wanting to see Phillips, who played a role in their early careers and the birth of rock music as a whole.
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It was a seminal rock-and-roll moment captured in a black-and-white photograph and a historic recording that sat on a shelf until it was released in Europe in 1981.
蜜柚直播 of that night came out in the local Memphis Press-Scimitar with the headline 鈥淭he Million Dollar Quartet.鈥
That鈥檚 also the name of Colin Escott and Floyd Mutrux鈥檚 2006 jukebox musical dramatizing that night. The play went to Broadway in 2010 and has been produced by regional theater companies around the country; this weekend, it鈥檚 蜜柚直播鈥檚 's turn.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a really wonderful way to showcase that music that the audience is gong to recognize and love, and to learn ... more about that iconic era,鈥 said Saguaro City Music Theatre founder and artistic director Drew Humphrey, who is directing the production. It opens Friday, Oct. 4, and plays weekends through Oct. 20 at Berger Performing Arts Center, 1200 W. Speedway, on the campus of the 蜜柚直播 Schools for the Deaf and Blind.
Humphrey said 鈥淢illion Dollar Quartet鈥 is Saguaro City鈥檚 most ambitious production. Cast members, who play their own instruments and sing, came in from all over the country, veteran performers who make a living slipping into the skin of those iconic characters in a number of musical theater iterations, tribute shows and 鈥淢illion Dollar Quartet.鈥
The cast of Saguaro City Music Theatre鈥檚 鈥淢illion Dollar Quartet,鈥 from left, Wyatt Andrew Brownell as Jerry Lee Lewis; Tarif Pappu as Carl Perkins; Colton Sims as Elvis Presley; and Michael D. Potter as Johnny Cash.
is the embodiment of Johnny Cash, says castmate Tyler Wright, one of two 蜜柚直播ans in the production; Wright plays Sam Phillips, while 蜜柚直播 singer-actress plays Elvis鈥檚 girlfriend Dyanne. Potter has been part of a number of 鈥淢illion Dollar Quartet鈥 productions including playing Elvis.
Elvis is being played by 23-year-old Atlanta, Georgia, native Colton Sims, who in a Saguaro City post, said he will be performing on the guitar he bought with his dad when he was 13. His 蜜柚直播 appearance is his first doing the show.
鈥淚t is kind of unbelievable to watch him do Elvis Presley,鈥 Humphrey said. 鈥淭wenty-three years old, never done the show and as much a 23-year-old Elvis as you can imagine.鈥
鈥淗e really embodies Elvis,鈥 added Wright. 鈥淲hen people think of Elvis they think of the Vegas Elvis with the jumpsuits. This is the young Elvis.鈥
Legendary performer Elvis Presley sang to a capacity crowd at 蜜柚直播 Convention Center on Nov. 9, 1972.
Elvis has previously performed at the 蜜柚直播 Rodeo Grounds on June 10, 1956, when he was just 21 years old. Video by Rick Wiley / 蜜柚直播
Louisiana native brings us his well-honed take on Jerry Lee Lewis, earned from playing the character in several 鈥淢illion Dollar Quartet鈥 productions; and , who has played Carl Perkins in a number of productions around the country.
The cast also includes James Gallardo as Carl鈥檚 brother Jay Perkins and Joel Dunst as Perkins鈥 drummer Fluke.
The show features 22 songs from Presley鈥檚 鈥淭hat鈥檚 All Right鈥 to Perkins鈥 鈥淢atchbox,鈥 Lewis鈥 ubiquitous 鈥淕reat Balls of Fire鈥 and Cash鈥檚 signature 鈥淔olsum Prison Blues.鈥 But beyond the music, 鈥淢illion Dollar Quartet鈥 takes literary license to delve into the jealousies, ambitions, loves, losses and disappointments that separated, united and made these artists icons.
At the center of the story is Sam Phillips, who gave all four their start and nurtured their early careers, only to see them leave him when they became larger than life.
鈥淚t鈥檚 really neat to play that sort of guy who feels a bit betrayed but he鈥檚 happy with their success,鈥 Wright said of his character.
鈥淵ou have this incredible music, 22 chart-topping hits all night long, but what makes it rich is this father-son story,鈥 added Humphrey. 鈥淚t really tackles those themes that everyone can relate to in an honest, beautiful way.鈥
蜜柚直播 actress/singer Crystal Stark plays Dyanne in Saguaro City Music Theatre鈥檚 鈥淢illion Dollar Quartet.鈥 Here she rehearses a scene with fellow 蜜柚直播 actor Tyler Wright as Sam Phillips.
Saguaro City performances are at 7 p.m. Fridays, 2 and 6:30 p.m. Saturdays and 3 p.m. Sundays. Tickets are $26.50-$45.50 through .
Contact reporter Cathalena E. Burch at cburch@tucson.com. On Twitter @Starburch
Cathalena E. Burch
Reporter
