MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET, Broadway's new hit musical, is pleased to announce that Darlene Love will join the cast of the Tony nominated Best Musical for a special performance during the finale of the Thursday evening, December 9 performance at the Nederlander Theatre (208 West 41st Street).
Love has been hailed as one of the greatest singers in pop music starting with her first number one recording, "He's A Rebel," through her string of label hits with legendary producer Phil Spector, including "Da Doo Ron Ron," "He's Sure The Boy I'm Gonna Marry," and "Christmas Baby Please Come Home." Love was recently nominated for the third time to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
The cast of MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET features Eddie Clendening (Elvis Presley), Lance Guest (Johnny Cash), Tony Award® winner Levi Kreis (Jerry Lee Lewis), Robert Britton Lyons (Carl Perkins), Tony Award® nominee Hunter Foster (Little Shop of Horrors, Urinetown) and Elizabeth Stanley (Cry-Baby).
On December 4, 1956, an auspicious twist of fate brought Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Elvis Presley together. The place was Sun Records' storefront studio in Memphis. The man who made it happen was Sam Phillips, the "Father of Rock and Roll," who discovered them all. The four young musicians united for the only time in their careers for an impromptu recording that has come to be known as one of the greatest rock jam sessions of all time.
Inspired by the actual event, MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET features a treasure trove of the greatest rock and roll, gospel, R&B and country hits from these musicians, including such iconic songs as "Blue Suede Shoes," "Fever," "Sixteen Tons," "Who Do You Love?," "Great Balls of Fire," "Riders in the Sky," "I Walk the Line," "Folsom Prison Blues," and "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On." MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET captures the infectious spirit, freewheeling excitement and thrilling sounds of a singular moment when four of the music industry's most extraordinary talents, all in their creative prime, came together for one of the most memorable nights in music history.
In addition, to Kreis' Tony® for Best Featured Actor in a Musical, MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET received Tony nominations for Best Musical and Best Book of a Musical (Colin Escott & Floyd Mutrux). The show received an Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical (Levi Kreis), a Drama Desk Nomination for Outstanding Musical Revue and three Drama League Nominations including Distinguished Production of a Musical and Distinguished Performance (Lance Guest & Levi Kreis).
MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET is directed by Eric Schaeffer and features a book by Colin Escott and Floyd Mutrux. The design team for Broadway includes: Derek McLane (scenic design), Howell Binkley (lighting design), Jane Greenwood (costume design), Kai Harada (sound design) and Chuck Mead (musical arrangements and supervision).
MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET is produced by Relevant Theatricals, John Cossette Productions, American Pop Anthology, Broadway Across America, and James L. Nederlander.
The Chicago production of MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET opened in 2008 and is still playing to packed houses at the Apollo Theatre. An upcoming national tour will launch next season and a London production will open at the Noël Coward Theatre on February 28, 2011 with previews beginning February 8, 2011.
For more information about MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET, visit www.MillionDollarQuartetLive.com.
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Tickets for MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET are available online www.TicketMaster.com, by calling 877-250-2929, or by visiting the Nederlander Box Office (208 West 41st Street).
MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET's performance schedule is Tuesday at 7PM, Wednesday through Saturday at 8PM. Matinees on Wednesday and Saturday at 2PM and Sunday at 3PM.
NEW REGULAR PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE (BEGINNING MONDAY, JANUARY 3) is Tuesday and Wednesday at 7 PM, Thursday through Saturday at 8 PM. Matinees Wednesday and Saturday at 2:30 PM and Sunday at 3 PM.
Darlene Love. From her first number one recording, "He's A Rebel," through her string of label hits with legendary producer Phil Spector, including "Da Doo Ron Ron," "He's Sure The Boy I'm Gonna Marry," and "Christmas Baby Please Come Home" to the countless songs she sang backup on for artists like Sam Cooke, Elvis Presley, Dionne Warwick, Cher, Luther Vandross and Aretha Franklin, Darlene Love is still blazing a trail of success in the music industry and has been nominated to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Her albums include Age of Miracles, recorded live in New York City, her first gospel album; Unconditional Love released by Harmony records.
Over the course of her career Darlene has been hailed as one of the greatest singers in pop music by such music legends as Cher, Better Midler and the legendary Luther Vandross. She has proven herself a talented actress as well on stage and screen, starring as Danny Glover's wife in all of the Lethal Weapon films and lighting-up Broadway in such musicals as Grease and the Tony Award®-nominated Leader of the Pack. Darlene also starred for three years on Broadway as Motormouth Maybelle in the Tony Award®-winning musical Hairspray.
Darlene Love was just a high school sophomore in Los Angeles when she was discovered out of a gospel choir, and asked to join a burgeoning girl group called The Blossoms, who began recording for Phil Specter. Soon thereafter, other artists like Sam Cooke were attracted to her powerful sound, and sought Darlene on their recordings. With The Blossoms and Bob B. Soxx and the Blue Jeans, Darlene sang lead vocals on some of the greatest music hits of the 60's. The Blossoms landed a weekly spot on the landmark television series "Shindig", and through the 60's and 70's, Darlene continued to perform with and back-up such diverse artists as The Beach Boys, The Mamas & The Papas, Tom Jones, The Righteous Brothers and Sonny & Cher.
Darlene then took her years of singing to a new level in order to pursue a solo career and when she did, rock & roll history was made. She has received great national press exposure, including a feature in People magazine, a CNN television documentary on her life, and bookings on numerous national television programs, including "Today," Rosie O'Donnell, and the Oprah Winfrey show as well as her yearly stint on the David Letterman show which she has done for over 20 years.
Darlene's first studio Christmas album, "It's Christmas, Of Course" was released December 2007 to national critical praise. In 2010 Darlene began a tour of Australia starring as ‘Miss Sherman' in "Fame: The Musical." Darlene has also released a CD and DVD of her live concert "The Concert of Love" produced and released by Reel Good Productions.
Darlene was also recently nominated for the third time to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. 2011 will bring a feature film based on Darlene's autobiography "My Name Is Love." The film is currently scheduled to begin shooting next spring-summer. For more information, visit www.whoisdarlenelove.com.
