Photo Coverage: Bryan, DiPietro And The MEMPHIS Cast Celebrate Shubert Theatre Box Office Opening

To commemorate the Shubert Theatre Box Office opening for the new Broadway musical MEMPHIS there was festive special performances by Bon Jovi founding member David Bryan, the Cast of MEMPHIS, and VH1 Save the Music Foundation student keyboard ensemble from Jersey City's MS 41. on Wednesday, August 26th at 12pm in Shubert Alley.

B.Smith's gave away Memphis style BBQ samples during the event. Continuing from August through the month of October, the new Broadway musical MEMPHIS has teamed up with VHI Save The Music, committing to donate a portion of each ticket sold up to $30,000 with the goal of supporting the restoration of a full instrumental music program.

Full casting was announced for MEMPHIS, an original Broadway musical, opening Monday, October 19, 2009 at the Shubert Theatre (225 W. 44th Street) following critically-acclaimed and sold-out engagements atLa Jolla Playhouse and Seattle's 5th Avenue Theatre. Previews begin on Wednesday, September 23, 2009.

MEMPHIS will star Chad Kimball (Huey Calhoun) and Montego Glover (Felicia Farrell) with Derrick Baskin (Gator), J. Bernard Calloway (Delray Jones), James Monroe Iglehart (Bobby), Tony nominee Michael McGrath (Mr. Simmons), and Cass Morgan (Gladys Calhoun).

The company also includes Jennifer Allen, Brad Bass, Tracee Beazer, Kevin Covert, Hillary Elk,Dionne Figgins, Rhett George, John Jellison, Sydney Morton, Vivian Nixon, John Eric Parker,Jermaine R. Rembert, LaQuet Sharnell, Ephraim Sykes, Cary Tedder, Danny Tidwell, Daniel J. Watts, Katie Webber, Charlie Williams and Dan'yelle Williamson.

In the smoky halls and underground clubs of the segregated 50's, a young white DJ named Huey Calhoun fell 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 erupted when his vision met her voice, and the music changed forever.

MEMPHIS features a brand new score with music by Bon Jovi's founding member/keyboardistDavid Bryan and lyrics by Bryan and Joe DiPietro (I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change), who also pens the musical's book. Bryan and DiPietro also collaborated on the current award-winning off-Broadway hit, The Toxic Avenger. MEMPHIS is based on a concept by the lateGeorge 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 bySergio Trujillo (Jersey Boys).

Tickets range from $41.50 to $126.50 (including a $1.50 facility fee). The performance schedule is as follows: Tuesday - Saturday evenings at 8pm, Wednesdays and Saturdays at 2pm, and Sundays at 3pm. Beginning October 26th, Tuesday evening curtains will be at 7pm. There will be special performance times during previews and holiday weeks. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.Telecharge.com or call 212.239.6200. The Shubert Theatre Box Office will be open beginning August 24th.

MEMPHIS played a limited, sold-out engagement at La Jolla Playhouse from August 19 - September 28, 2008 and received San Diego's Craig Noel Awards for Excellence in Theatre for both Outstanding New Musical of 2008 and for its star Chad Kimball, in the role of DJ Huey Calhoun. The show then played another critically-acclaimed, extremely successful engagement at Seattle's 5th Avenue Theatre from January 27 - February 15, 2009. This production was co-produced by La Jolla Playhouse (Christopher Ashley, Artistic Director) and 5th Avenue Theatre, Seattle, WA, (David Armstrong, Producing Artistic Director/ Marilynn Sheldon, Managing Director). The world premiere of MEMPHIS in 2003-2004 was co-produced by North Shore Music Theatre in Beverly, MA and TheatreWorks in Silicon Valley, CA.

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 byKen Travis (The Threepenny Opera).

MEMPHIS will be produced on Broadway by Junkyard Dog Productions, Barbara and Buddy Freitag and Kenny and Marleen Alhadeff with Jim and Susan Blair, Demos Bizar Entertainment, David Copley, Dancap Productions Inc., Latitude Link and Tony Ponturo in association withBroadway Across America, Lauren Doll, Linda and Bill Potter, Chase Mishkin and Patty Baker/ShadowCatcher Entertainment.

For more information visit www.memphisthemusical.com.

Photos by Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.

MEMPHIS and VH1 Save The Music Foundation rocks Shubert Alley

MEMPHIS

David Bryan

Joe DiPietro and David Bryan

Joe DiPietro and David Bryan

Joe DiPietro and David Bryan

Joe DiPietro

David Bryan

David Bryan

Joe DiPietro

David Bryan

David Bryan

David Bryan

Joe DiPietro

David Bryan

David Bryan

David Bryan

David Bryan

David Bryan

David Bryan

Fred W. Martin Middle School students

The cast of MEMPHIS

Chad Kimball

Chad Kimball, Derrick Baskin and James Monroe Iglehart

Chad Kimball

Montego Glover

Montego Glover

Montego Glover

Montego Glover and Derek Baskin

Chad Kimball, Montego Glover, Derrick Baskin and James Monroe Iglehart

Chad Kimball and Montego Glover

Chad Kimball and Montego Glover

Chad Kimball and Montego Glover

Chad Kimball and Montego Glover

The MEMPHIS cast

The Cast of  MEMPHIS rocks Shubert Alley!

Chad Kimball and Montego Glover and the cast

Chad Kimball and Montego Glover

Chad Kimball and Montego Glover

Montego Glover leads the cast and crowd

Chad Kimball

Montego Glover

Chad Kimball

Montego Glover

Chad Kimball

Montego Glover and Chad Kimball

Chad Kimball and Montego Glover

Montego Glover and Chad Kimball

Montego Glover and Chad Kimball

Montego Glover and Chad Kimball

Montego Glover and Chad Kimball

Montego Glover and Chad Kimball

Montego Glover, Chad Kimball and the students

David Bryan, Montego Glover, Chad Kimball and Joe DiPietro

MEMPHIS on Broadway

MEMPHIS

MEMPHIS