MEMPHIS Comes to Columbus, Opening 5/29

MEMPHIS, the 2010 Tony® Award-winner for Best Musical, opens at the Ohio Theatre on May 29 for a limited engagement.

Tickets begin at $28 and are available at the Ohio Theatre Box Office (39 E. State St.), all Ticketmaster outlets, and www.ticketmaster.com. To purchase by phone, please call (614) 469-0939 or (800) 745-3000. Orders for groups of 20 or more may be placed by calling (614) 719-6900. Performance schedule, prices, and cast are subject to change without notice.

The performance schedule is as follows:

Tuesday, May 29, 8pm
Wednesday, May 30, 8pm
Thursday, May 31, 8pm
Friday, June 1, 8pm
Saturday, June 2, 2pm & 8pm
Sunday, June 3, 1pm & 6:30pm

Critically acclaimed MEMPHIS won four 2010 Tony® Awards, including Best Musical, Best Original Score (David Bryan and Joe DiPietro), Best Book (Joe DiPietro), and Best Orchestrations (David Bryan and Daryl Waters). MEMPHIS won four Drama Desk Awards, including Outstanding Musical, Outstanding Performance by an Actress (Montego Glover), Outstanding Music (David Bryan), and Outstanding Orchestration (David Bryan and Daryl Waters). MEMPHIS has also won four Outer Critic Circle Awards including Outstanding Musical, Outstanding Score (David Bryan & Joe DiPietro), Outstanding Actress (Montego Glover), and Outstanding Choreography (Sergio Trujillo).

MEMPHIS takes place in the smoky halls and underground clubs of the segregated ‘50s where a young, white DJ named Huey Calhoun falls in love with everything he shouldn’t—rock and roll and an electrifying, black singer. MEMPHIS is an original story about the cultural revolution that erupts when his vision meets her voice, and the music changes forever. Come along on their incredible journey filled with laughter, soaring emotion, and roof-raising rock 'n' roll.

The show features a brand new Tony-winning 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), who also penned the musical’s book. Bryan and DiPietro also collaborated on the award-winning, off-Broadway hit, The Toxic Avenger. MEMPHIS is based on a concept by the late George W. George (producer of the Tony nominated Bedroom Farce and the film My Dinner with Andre) with direction by Tony nominee Christopher Ashley (Xanadu) and choreography by Sergio Trujillo, who are both currently at work on Leap of Faith which began previews on April 3, 2012. Trujillo is currently represented by two shows on Broadway (Memphis, Jersey Boys).

Scenic design for MEMPHIS is by Tony® Award-winner David Gallo (The Drowsy Chaperone, Reasons to Be Pretty), costume design is by Tony nominee Paul Tazewell (In the Heights), lighting design is by Tony Award-winner Howell Binkley (Jersey Boys), and sound design is by Ken Travis (The Threepenny Opera).

David Richardson of WOR Radio calls MEMPHIS, “The biggest hit on Broadway,” while Charles Isherwood of the New York Times says, “David Bryan evokes the powerhouse funk of James Brown, the hot guitar riffs of Chuck Berry, the smooth harmonies of The Temptations, the silken, bouncy pop of the great girl groups of the period.” The New York Post raves, “Of such thrills, Broadway is made.” Newsday calls the show “A smash! An extraordinary show.” The Daily News promises that MEMPHIS will, “Blast you out the door humming and happy,” and NY1’s Roma Torre cheers, “MEMPHIS rocks!”

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