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Memphis: A New Musical Trivia

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  • Memphis is a musical inspired by the real-life story of Dewey Phillips, one of the first white DJs to play black music in the 1950s.

  • The musical features music by David Bryan and lyrics by Bryan and Joe DiPietro, with a book by DiPietro.

  • Memphis debuted on Broadway on October 19, 2009, at the Shubert Theatre and ran until August 5, 2012.

  • The show won four Tony Awards, including Best Musical, during its Broadway run.

  • Before its Broadway debut, 'Memphis' was performed at several regional theaters including North Shore Music Theatre and TheatreWorks.

  • The main character, Huey Calhoun, is loosely based on the real-life Dewey Phillips.

  • The term 'Hockadoo!', used frequently in the musical, is a made-up expression by the character Huey Calhoun.

  • Montego Glover, who played Felicia Farrell, shared the stage with Chad Kimball, who starred as Huey Calhoun, in both the pre-Broadway and Broadway productions.

  • The first national US tour of the musical kicked off in Memphis, Tennessee in October 2011.

  • The first amateur production of the musical involved high school students from across Illinois, showcasing their talents in a professional theatre setting.

  • The West End production of the musical starred notable performers such as Beverley Knight and Matt Cardle, and ran until October 2015.

  • The Japanese production of the musical started in January 2015 in Tokyo, bringing the show to an international audience.

  • The Australian production in 2017 received rave reviews and enjoyed sold-out performances during its run.

  • A German tour production began on May 6, 2022 at the Capitol Theater Offenbach.

  • The South Korean production of the musical premiered in Seoul in 2023 and featured multiple actors alternating in the lead roles.

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