Christopher Jackson to Join MEMPHIS as 'Delray'

Hockadoo! The 2010 Tony winning Best Musical MEMPHIS announced today that Broadway veteran Christopher Jackson (In the Heights, The Lion King) will join the cast of MEMPHIS as "Delray." Jackson is scheduled to begin performances on Tuesday, January 24th. Current "Delray" J. Bernard Calloway will play his final performance on Sunday, January 22nd, before taking a leave of absence to appear in Two River Theater Company's production of August Wilson's Jitney. Calloway is expected to return to MEMPHIS February 28th.

Christopher Jackson (Delray). Broadway: Simba/The Lion King, Benny/In the Heights (Drama Desk Award Outstanding Ensemble Performance '07). Film/TV: "A Gifted Man," "Nurse Jackie," "White Collar," "OZ," "Gossip Girl," "Fringe," "The Electric Co." Co-Music Supervisor: "The Electric Co '08-09. '11 Emmy Award for Outstanding Orig. Song - Sesame Street. Solo album In The Name of Love (available on iTunes).

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.

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 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 (Jersey Boys).