Education Through Music Foundation Gala Brings Together Students and MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET, 5/1

Four students representing the Education Through Music Foundation and the cast of MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET will be the highlight of the Education Through Music's Annual Gala held tonight, May 1, at the Grand Hyatt (109 East 42nd Street). The four children working with the MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET cast are middle school students at St. Anselm School in the South Bronx, an Education Through Music partner school since 2007.

Education Through Music believes that every child deserves a well-rounded education, and that music should be taught within that education both as a subject in its own right and as a means of supporting leaving in other areas. ETM ensures that every student in its partner schools receives the weekly music instruction that will inspire them to achieve academically and further their personal development. ETM's model is serving 13,000 at-risk students at 25 New York City schools, and 20,000 children nationwide. For more information, please visit: www.ETMonline.org

MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET opened in 2010 to rave reviews from critics and had audiences leaping to their feet every night. The New York Times called the show, "a buoyant new musical that whips the crowd into a frenzy," New York Magazine said it is, "a dazzling raucous spectacle that sounds like a million bucks," and NY1 called it, "90 minutes of platinum grade entertainment." The musical has played over 700 performances in New York and is currently playing at New World Stages, the home of other Broadway musical hits such as Avenue Q and Rent.

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.

In addition to the New York production, the Chicago production of MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET opened in 2008and is still playing to packed houses at the Apollo Theatre. An upcoming national tour will launch in October in Cleveland, and a West End production is currently playing at the Noël Coward Theatre in London.

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.

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Tickets for MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET are available at www.Telecharge.com, by calling 212-239-6200, or by visiting the New World Stages Box Office (340 West 50th Street). All ticket prices are $89.50. MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET's performance schedule at New World Stages is Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 8PM, and Sundays at 7PM. Matinees are Wednesday and Saturday at 2:30PM and Sunday at 3PM.