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Peoria theater opens ‘Million Dollar Quartet’ stage production

Revisit Presley, Cash Lewis, Perkins jam session to open ABT’s 20th anniversary season

Posted 10/4/24

Travel back in time and witness the greatest jam session ever when rock and roll legends Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins made history.

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ARTS

Peoria theater opens ‘Million Dollar Quartet’ stage production

Revisit Presley, Cash Lewis, Perkins jam session to open ABT’s 20th anniversary season

Posted

Travel back in time and witness the greatest jam session ever when rock and roll legends Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins made history.

Inspired by a true story, the Tony Award-winning musical “Million Dollar Quartet” gives audiences a behind-the-scenes glimpse into one of the most legendary musical experiences ever. The show opens Friday, Oct. 4 at Arizona Broadway Theatre in Peoria and runs through Nov. 2.

The show kicks off the theatre’s historic 20th anniversary season.

"When you get four enormous stars in one room, they're going to butt heads, but that's exactly what makes ‘Million Dollar Quartet’ a great show,” Kurtis Overby, ABT artistic director, shared in a press release. “The camaraderie and drama between these four performers are authentic, and you will see that energy channeled into an incomparable show."

The 1956 spontaneous jam session is one of the greatest and nearly forgotten stories in rock ‘n’ roll history, Overby added.

“Each of the artists was on the precipice of a meteoric rise, and they happened to be in the same studio at the same time,” he stated. “The serendipity can be heard in the recording, giving the stage musical genuine charm and authenticity.”

“Million Dollar Quartet” delivers a score of gospel, R&B, and country hits as well as a journey through the golden age of rock 'n' roll from "Blue Suede Shoes," “Fever” and "Great Balls of Fire" to ballads like "Folsom Prison Blues" and "Walk the Line.”

The cast includes Corey McKinney as Elvis, Brody Wurr as Johnny Cash, Kevin Egan as Jerry Lee Lewis, Michael Santora as Sam Phillips, Julian James as Carl Perkins, Jeffrey Kelly as “Fluke” Holland, Jason Curtis Rivera as Jay Perkins and Quinn Vaira as Elvis’ girlfriend, Dyanne.

Tickets for “Million Dollar Quartet” are available at www.azbroadway.org, by calling 623-776-8400 between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., or by emailing at info@azbroadway.org.