Nancy Opel Joins MEMPHIS as Mama, John Jellison Takes Over as Mr. Simmons

The 2010 Tony winning Best Musical MEMPHIS announced today that Nancy Opel has joined the cast of MEMPHIS as "Mama." Opel will begin performances on Tuesday, March 15th. Along with Opel, current cast member John Jellison will take over the role of "Mr. Simmons," also beginning performances on Tuesday, March 15th. Cass Morgan and Michael McGrath will play their final performances on Sunday, March 13th.

Nancy Opel (Mama): Recent : Paradise Found (London), The Toxic Avenger (Drama Desk, Drama League, Outer Critics, Lortel noms), The Drowsy Chaperone (National Tour), Gypsy (w/Patti LuPone/ Arthur Laurents, City Center), My Deah (Obie Award). Broadway: Fiddler on the Roof, Urinetown (Tony nom.), Triumph of Love, Anything Goes, Sunday in the Park with George, Evita, others. Off Broadway: Polish Joke (Drama Desk, Lortel noms), Mere Mortals, All in the Timing, others. TV: "The Big C." all L&O's, others. Singing/acting coach, www.nancyopel.com.

John Jellison (Mr. Simmons): Broadway: Phantom Of The Opera, All Shook Up, Caroline Or Change, Oklahoma! Putting It Together, On The Town, The Capeman, Titanic, Crazy For You, Mastergate, Me And My Girl, Sunday In The Park With George, Nick And Nora, Wind In The Willows, Baby, Zalmen Or The Madness Of God and Sweet Bird Of Youth. Off-Broadway: original Assassins, A New Brain, The Waves, Lennon , Deathbed, Asylum ....TV : some soaps and Law and Order(s). Family: Claudine and Matthew.

MEMPHIS takes place in the smoky halls and underground clubs of the segregated 50's, where a young white DJ named Huey Calhoun (Chad Kimball) 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).

Tickets range from $41.50 to $131.50 (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.