The New York Times Profiles MEMPHIS

In a special feature this week, the New York Times profiles Broadway's MEMPHIS, providing insight into the show's 6-year journey to Broadway and 900+ rewrites.

Writes the Times: "When the musical "Memphis" had its world premiere in 2003, at the North Shore Music Theater in Massachusetts, the central character, Huey Calhoun, was a white, pill-popping alcoholic who limped through Act II after being beaten for dating a black woman. During the show's six-year journey to Broadway, where it opened in October, the character was repeatedly reconfigured (Huey even died at one point), given new songs and went through 'something like 900 drafts of his final scene,' said the director of MEMPHIS Christopher Ashley." 

To read more about MEMPHIS' unpredictable journey to Broadway in the New York Times, click here.

MEMPHIS stars Chad Kimball (Huey Calhoun) andMontego 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 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 $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 holiday weeks. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.Telecharge.com or call 212.239.6200.