PREVIEW: Memphis at 5th Avenue Theatre
Just one week after America’s first African-American President takes office, and this country reaches a new milestone in racial equality, MEMPHIS will open at The 5th Avenue Theatre. This high-energy new musical about race, romance and rock ‘n’ roll reminds audiences just how far we’ve come by returning to Beale Street and the segregated South of the 1950s.
MEMPHIS follows the fictionalized life story of white radio disc jockey Huey Calhoon, who first shocks a city by playing black music on mainstream radio, and later publicly proclaims his love for the beautiful black singer who inspires him. The show arrives in Seattle with a creative team that includes award-winning Broadway professionals Christopher Ashley (Xanadu), popular gay playwright Joe Di Pietro (I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change), Sergio Trujillo (Jersey Boys and Guys and Dolls) and a musical score developed by Bon Jovi keyboardist David Bryan.
Broadway actor Chad Kimball, originally from Seattle, plays the irrepressible, often irreverent white DJ Huey Calhoon, and Montego Glover plays the beautiful Felicia, his forbidden love.
MEMPHIS runs January 27 – February 15, 2008. Tickets are priced from $22 – $81. There is no service charge when purchasing tickets in person at The 5th Avenue Theatre Box Office.
For more info and tickets go to www.5thavenue.org.
