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Memphis: A New Musical 2009 - Articles Page 1.8

Run Time:
2 hours and 30 minutes, with one intermission
Opened: October 19, 2009
Closing: August 05, 2012

Memphis: A New Musical - 2009 Broadway History , Info & More


From the rockin' dance halls of Memphis, Tennessee comes this hot and bothered new Broadway musical with heart, soul and energy to burn. Set in the turbulent south in the 1950s, it is the story of Huey Calhoun, a white radio DJ whose love of good music transcends race lines and airwaves. Get ready to experience all the exuberance and the emotion... the beauty and the controversy... of a wondrous, defining time in our history. You're tuning in to Memphis, so turn up that dial!



MEMPHIS features a brand new score with music by Bon Jovi's founding member/keyboardist David 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).


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PREVIEW Memphis: A New Musical - 2009 - Broadway

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FEATURED REVIEWS FOR Memphis: A New Musical

Memphis
8 / 10

The book by Joe DiPietro is missing a strong climax and the end feels tacked on. That aside, 'Memphis' is so loaded with talent, it almost seems pointless to criticize. The music by Bon Jovi keyboardist David Bryan with an assist from DiPietro on lyrics is full of the kind of soul Huey sings about. Whether it's R&B, gospel or rock and roll, the songs recall the hits of the era. And Sergio Trujillo adds a powerful visual stimulus with some dazzling choreography.

'Memphis' exuberantly chronicles the rise of RB
9 / 10

Book writer Joe DiPietro skillfully intertwines these stories. And with composer David Bryan (they co-wrote the lyrics), the two have managed to create a dandy original score that is as tuneful as it is theatrical, the very essence of what a Broadway musical should be. Bryan, keyboard player for Bon Jovi, has a gift for effortless melody and the orchestrations, which he co-wrote with Daryl Waters, makes the music — check out those horns — sound as if it could have first been heard in the '50s.

MEMPHIS Comes to Kennedy Center Opera House, Now thru 7/1
by BWW News Desk - June 12, 2012


The Kennedy Center presents Memphis in the Opera House from tonight, June 12 to July 1, 2012.

BWW Review: MEMPHIS Lives in Buffalo!
by Jenna Rich - June 10, 2012


Anyone who knows me knows that I adore MEMPHIS. Back in 2011, I had the opportunity to see the show on Broadway and I met the fantastical Chad Kimball. Later that year, I went to see the Direct from Broadway showings at my local movie theater (yes, I went 3 times). You could say I'm a bit obsessed. Now here I am, a year later at the first National Tour cast's party in my hometown of Buffalo, NY.

Photo Flash: Taye Diggs Visits MEMPHIS!
by Nicole Rosky - May 25, 2012


Last night, Broadway veteran Taye Diggs brought his mom to MEMPHIS to see friend Adam Pascal play 'Huey Calhoun'. Check out photos of Diggs with the cast below!

MEMPHIS Comes to Kennedy Center Opera House, 6/12-7/1
by BWW News Desk - May 9, 2012


The Kennedy Center presents Memphis in the Opera House from June 12 to July 1, 2012.

STAGE TUBE: MEMPHIS Presents 'A Hockadoo Hair-Do How-Do'
by Sally Henry Fuller - May 7, 2012


Mary Kay Yezerski-Bondoc, of the MEMPHIS wig department, recently did an eight-step video about how to properly take curlers out of a wig and style it. Additionally, this video gives a glimpse at the astounding number of wigs used in the show.

MEMPHIS Comes to St. Louis, Opening Tonight, 5/1
by BWW News Desk - May 1, 2012


MEMPHIS, the 2010 Tony® Award Winner for Best Musical, opens at the Fabulous Fox Theatre tonight, May 1, for a limited engagement.

MEMPHIS, BILLY ELLIOT and More to Headline Broadway Sacramento's 2012-13 Season
by BWW News Desk - April 14, 2012


California Musical Theatre announces the 2012-13 Broadway Sacramento season at Community Center Theater, featuring Tony Award-winning new Broadway musicals as well as heart-warming family favorites. Memphis, which won four 2010 Tony Awards and is still playing on Broadway, kicks off the season, followed by Peter Pan, starring Cathy Rigby, Rock of Ages, Disney's Beauty and the Beast, and multi-Tony Award winner Billy Elliot the Musical. The final show of the season is a Broadway Mega-Hit that can't be revealed until August due to contractual obligations. That show is a brand new production of one of the most beloved and popular Broadway musicals ever, and has been highly praised by critics and audiences alike throughout its wildly successful tour.

Photo Flash: Oprah Winfrey and South African School Kids Visit MEMPHIS!
by BWW News Desk - April 5, 2012


At last night's performance, April 4, the cast of MEMPHIS was treated to a special guest in Oprah Winfrey, along with students from her Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa. After taking in the show, Oprah and the group greeted stars Adam Pascal, Montego Glover, and more backstage. Check out photos from the visit below!

MEMPHIS Announces National Tour Stops Through 2013!
by Nicole Rosky - April 3, 2012


Hockadoo! The 2010 Tony winning Best Musical MEMPHIS will continue to blow the roof off of theatres across the country into the 2012 -2013 season. The season will kick off on September 11th in Portland, OR at the Keller Auditorium, and a return engagement is scheduled in the city where it all began - Memphis, TN at the Orpheum Theatre. On Wednesday, March 14th MEMPHIS celebrated its' 1,000th performance on Broadway where it continues to bring audiences to their feet on a daily basis.

Memphis: A New Musical History

Other Productions of Memphis: A New Musical

2004   Regional (US) Regional Production
Regional (US)
2009   Broadway Original Broadway Production
Broadway
2011   US Tour National Tour
US Tour
2014   West End West End Premiere Production
West End

Memphis: A New Musical - 2009 Broadway Awards and Nominations

Note: Award winners will appear on a background
Year Ceremony Category Nominee
2010 BroadwayWorld Awards Best Book of a Musical Joe DiPietro
2010 BroadwayWorld Awards Best Original Score David Bryan
2010 BroadwayWorld Awards Best Original Score Joe DiPietro
2010 BroadwayWorld Awards Best Original Score David Bryan
2010 Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Choreography Sergio Trujillo
2010 Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Musical Memphis
2010 Outer Critics Circle Awards Outstanding Actor in a Musical Chad Kimball
2010 Outer Critics Circle Awards Outstanding Actress in a Musical Montego Glover
2010 Outer Critics Circle Awards Outstanding Choreography Sergio Trujillo
2010 Outer Critics Circle Awards Outstanding Director of a Musical Christopher Ashley
2010 Outer Critics Circle Awards Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical Cass Morgan
2010 Tony Awards Best Book of a Musical Joe DiPietro
2010 Tony Awards Best Costume Design of a Musical Paul Tazewell
2010 Tony Awards Best Direction of a Musical Christopher Ashley
2010 Tony Awards Best Musical ShadowCatcher Entertainment/Vijay and Sita Vashee
2010 Tony Awards Best Musical Remmel T. Dickinson/Memphis Orpheum Group
2010 Tony Awards Best Musical Loraine Boyle/Chase Mishkin
2010 Tony Awards Best Musical Bob Bartner/Scott and Kaylin Union
2010 Tony Awards Best Musical Dan Frishwasser
2010 Tony Awards Best Musical Patty Baker
2010 Tony Awards Best Musical Jocko Productions
2010 Tony Awards Best Musical Broadway Across America
2010 Tony Awards Best Musical Linda and Bill Potter
2010 Tony Awards Best Musical Lauren Doll
2010 Tony Awards Best Musical Junkyard Dog Productions
2010 Tony Awards Best Musical Marleen and Kenny Alhadeff
2010 Tony Awards Best Musical Latitude Link
2010 Tony Awards Best Musical Jim and Susan Blair
2010 Tony Awards Best Musical Demos Bizar Entertainment
2010 Tony Awards Best Musical Land Line Productions
2010 Tony Awards Best Musical Eric and Marsi Gardiner
2010 Tony Awards Best Musical Barbara and Buddy Freitag
2010 Tony Awards Best Musical Apples and Oranges Productions
2010 Tony Awards Best Musical Dave Copley
2010 Tony Awards Best Musical Dancap Productions, Inc.
2010 Tony Awards Best Musical Alex and Katya Lukianov
2010 Tony Awards Best Musical Tony Ponturo
2010 Tony Awards Best Musical 2 Guys Productions
2010 Tony Awards Best Musical Richard Winkler
2010 Tony Awards Best Orchestrations Daryl Waters
2010 Tony Awards Best Orchestrations David Bryan
2010 Tony Awards Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre David Bryan
2010 Tony Awards Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre Joe DiPietro
2010 Tony Awards Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre David Bryan
2010 Tony Awards Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical Chad Kimball
2010 Tony Awards Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical Montego Glover
2009 Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Actor in a Musical Chad Kimball
2009 Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Actress in a Musical (tie) Montego Glover
2009 Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Book of a Musical Joe DiPietro
2009 Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Music David Bryan
2009 Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Orchestrations David Bryan

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