The 2010 Tony Award winning Best Musical MEMPHIS announced today that original Broadway cast member J. Bernard Calloway will return to the company as "Delray," following his performance in the critically acclaimed Jitney at the Two River Theater Company. Calloway will resume performances on Tuesday, February 28th. Current "Delray" Christopher Jackson will play his final performance on Sunday, February 26th.
MEMPHIS takes place in the smoky halls and underground clubs of the segregated 50’s, where a young white DJ named Huey Calhoun (Adam Pascal) fell in love with everything he shouldn’t: rock and roll and an electrifying black singer (Montego Glover). MEMPHIS is an original story about the cultural revolution that erupted when his vision met her voice, and the music changed forever.
J. Bernard Calloway also serves as President of Creative Couple Productions, Inc. and has appeared Off-Broadway as Henry in The Good Negro (Public Theatre, Pulitzer Prize nom). Regionally, he appeared as Marty in Dreamgirls (Fox Theatre); film roles include Sgt. Moran in The Taking of Pelham 123, Man on a Ledge (2012) and Calloway appeared as Dayne in "Person of Interest" (CBS).
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 features a Tony-winning score with music by Bon Jovi’s founding member/keyboardist David Bryan and lyrics by Bryan and Tony-winner Joe DiPietro (I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change), who also pens the musical’s book. MEMPHIS is based ona 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 (Jersey Boys).
MEMPHIS opened on October 19, 2009 at Broadway’s Shubert Theatre (225 W. 44th Street). Tickets range from $41.50 to $136.50 (including a $1.50 facility fee). The performance schedule is as follows: Tuesday at 7pm, Wednesday – Saturday evenings at 8pm, Wednesdays and Saturdays at 2pm, and Sundays at 3pm. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.Telecharge.com or call 212.239.6200.
