MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET Closes at New World Stages Today, June 24

MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET, now playing at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street), closes today, Sunday, June 24 following 901 performances on Broadway and at New World Stages.

MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET originally opened at the Nederlander Theatre on April 11, 2010, and transferred to New World Stages on July 28, 2011. In addition to the New York production, the Chicago production of MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET is in its fourth smash year where it continues to play to packed houses at the Apollo Theatre and a national tour is currently bringing audiences across the country to their feet. A London production ended its successful run at the Noël Coward Theatre in 2011.

MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET made Broadway history with drop-in appearances by music legends including Jerry Lee Lewis the last surviving member of the real life “Million Dollar Quartet,” Grammy Award winner Melissa Etheridge, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Darlene Love, country music superstar Larry Gatlin, pop music icon Lesley Gore, the Queen of Rockabilly Wanda Jackson, original 1956 “Million Dollar Quartet” audio engineer and music pioneer Cowboy Jack Clement, “Today Show” co-host Kathie Lee Gifford, Grammy Award-winning country star Ray Benson, and Stray Cat bassist Lee Rocker.

MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET currently features Eddie Clendening (Elvis Presley), Lance Guest (Johnny Cash), Robert Britton Lyons (Carl Perkins), Randy Redd (Jerry Lee Lewis), Victoria Matlock (Dyanne), and Curt Bouril (Sam Phillips).

The show won a Tony Award and Outer Critics Circle Award and received Tony nominations for Best Musical and Best Book of a Musical, a Drama Desk nomination for Outstanding Musical Revue and three Drama League nominations including Distinguished Production of a Musical and two Distinguished Performance nominations.

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 true story, 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.

MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET is directed by Eric Schaeffer and features a book by Colin Escott and Floyd Mutrux. The design team for the New York production 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, and Broadway Across America.

For more information about MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET, visit www.MillionDollarQuartetLive.com. Follow MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET news on Twitter @milliondquartet and on Facebook.

Photo credit: Joan Marcus