Stars of MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET Leave Shoppers 'All Shook Up' at Grand Central, Birmingham

Shoppers in Birmingham city centre were left 'all shook up' earlier this week when not one, but four of America's greatest rock 'n' roll icons - Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash and Carl Perkins - descended on Grand Central shopping centre for an impromptu jam session!

The visit saw the stars of the West End and Broadway smash-hit, Million Dollar Quartet, take time out of their busy performance schedule to visit the Grand Central branch of Ed's Diner where they treated shoppers to an exclusive performance of the 1955 Carl Perkins' hit Blue Suede Shoes before posing for pictures with locals.

Laura Smith, Head of Communications at Birmingham Hippodrome, said: "It's not every day that you're shopping and you find yourself being serenaded by Elvis Presley...let alone Jerry Lee, Johnny Cash and Carl Perkins. The story of Million Dollar Quartet is the story of perhaps the most iconic 'jamming' session in history and so we wanted to do something that really captured the magic of that chance encounter! As you'd expect, the Quartet attracted plenty of attention on their travels, not to mention plenty of requests for selfies from the gathering crowds! Our thanks to Grand Central for helping us recreate a little piece of rock 'n' roll history right here in Birmingham."

Stepping into the shoes of legendary rock 'n' roller Carl Perkins on UK Tour is Birmingham-born actor and musician and Stage2 graduate Matt Wycliffe, whose previous production credits include playing Bob Guadio in Jersey Boys at the Prince Edward Theatre and Buddy in The Buddy Holly Story at Duchess Theatre. Completing the quartet in the roles of Jerry Lee-Lewis, Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley are Martin Kaye, Robbie Durham and Ross William Wild.

The production, which runs until Saturday 29 October at Birmingham Hippodrome, also stars Jason Donovan in the role of legendary record producer and 'inventor of American rock 'n' roll', Sam Phillips.

Following its success in the West End, Las Vegas and on Broadway, Million Dollar Quartet tells the remarkable true story of one of the most famous dates in music history, the date that rock 'n' roll pioneers Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins jammed together in Sun Records Studios in Memphis, Tennessee on 4 December 1956.

The four would use their similar gospel influences to create songs that are still loved to this day. The recording session would become an iconic moment in music history, with the four of them being dubbed the "Million Dollar Quartet".

Featuring a score of classic rock 'n' roll hits including Blue Suede Shoes, Fever, That's All Right, Sixteen Tons, Great Balls of Fire, Walk the Line, Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On, Who Do You Love?, Matchbox, Folsom Prison Blues, Hound Dog and many more, this high-energy, hit musical stars Jason Donovan as legendary record producer, Sam Phillips alongside a cast of four major, musical talents who - together - perfectly capture the spirit of the iconic jamming session that brought together four founding fathers of American rock 'n' roll for one night only!

Million Dollar Quartet runs at Birmingham Hippodrome until Saturday 29 October 2016. Perf times: Mon - Sat 7.30pm, Wed 2pm, Sat 2pm. Tickets from £14, book online at www.birminghamhippodrome.com or call 0844 338 5000 (calls cost 4.5p per min plus your phone company's access charge, 5% transaction fee applies).

Ticket sales: 0844 338 5000 birminghamhippodrome.com

Birmingham Hippodrome Theatre Trust Ltd, Charity No. 510842.
Hurst Street, Southside, Birmingham B5 4TB.
birminghamhippodrome.com

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