Nancy Opel Set Returns to Broadway's MEMPHIS

Nancy Opel will return to the company of the 2010 Tony Award winning Best Musical MEMPHIS as "Mama." Opel will begin performances today. Current "Mama" Cass Morgan played her final performance on Sunday, February 12th. Opel returns from a leave of absence where she appeared in David Bryan and Joe DiPietro's The Toxic Avenger at The Alley Theater in Houston, TX.

Nancy Opel (Mama). Most recently appeared in the Alley Theatre's The Toxic Avenger, written by Memphis creators Joe DiPietro and David Bryan. Previously, Off Broadway, she received Drama Desk, Drama League, Outer Critics, and Lortel nominations for her role. Other Broadway credits include: Fiddler on the Roof, Urinetown (Tony Nomination, Best Actress), Sunday in the Park with George, Anything Goes, Triumph of Love, Evita, others. Appeared Off Broadway most notably in works by playwright David Ives. Received Drama Desk, Lortel nominations for Polish Joke. Won an Obie in John Epperson's My Deah. Vocal/acting coach. Attended The University of Kansas/The Juilliard School.

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).

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 .

Photo Credit: Peter James Zielinski