press release
Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis Unite in the High-Voltage Rock ‘n Roll Musical Million Dollar Quartet at the Ogunquit Playhouse
For Immediate Release:
August 13, 2015
The Ogunquit Playhouse is thrilled to be the first regional theatre in the country to produce the Tony Award-winning musical Million Dollar Quartet, on stage August 19 to September 19. This high voltage rock ‘n roll show, with book by Colin Escott and Floyd Mutrux, is inspired by the electrifying true story of the famed recording session that brought together music icons Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins for one of the greatest jam sessions of all time. Featuring timeless hits such as "Blue Suede Shoes," "Great Balls of Fire," "I Walk the Line," "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On," "Fever," "Folsom Prison Blues," "Hound Dog" and more, this thrilling musical brings you inside the recording studio with four major talents who came together as a red-hot rock ‘n’ roll band for one unforgettable night.
Relive the era with the smash-hit sensation featuring an incredible score of rock ‘n’ roll, gospel, R&B and country hits, performed live onstage by world-class actors who play their own instruments, as well as sing and perform. Starring as Johnny Cash is Scott Moreau who is reprising his role from the first National Tour. He has performed in many regional theatres throughout the U.S. in such shows as Ring Of Fire, Johnny Guitar, Mary Poppins, Oliver!, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Ragtime. Robert Britton Lyons stars as Carl Perkins, in addition to being the Musical Supervisor for the Ogunquit production. Mr. Lyons originated the role of Carl Perkins and has been with the show through all of the productions including Broadway, London’s West End and Las Vegas. Starring as Jerry Lee Lewis is Nat Zegree who is making his Ogunquit Playhouse debut and Jacob Rowley stars as Elvis Presley, reprising his role from the National Tour.
The role of Sam Phillips is played by Jason Loughlin who is making his Ogunquit debut. Mr. Laughlin was most recently in The Audience with Helen Mirren on Broadway. His other recent credits include the Broadway production of Machinal directed by Lyndsey Turner and the National Tour of War Horse as Major Nichols. Bligh Voth plays Elvis’ girlfriend Dyanne in the production. She has performed in regional theatres throughout the U. S., including Signature Theatre, Ford’s Theatre, Kennedy Center Millennium Stage, Lyric Theatre and Boston Conservatory. Sam Weber returns to the Ogunquit Playhouse to play the bass and portray Carl Perkins’ brother Jay. He was last seen in the Ogunquit production of Buddy, the Buddy Holly Story as Joe B. Maudlin. Mr. Weber recently performed in the National Tour of Buddy, and at regional theatres in the shows Hairspray, Link, and Tick,Tick...BOOM. David Sonneborn joins the cast as Fluke the drummer. He is a longtime New York City musician, and just completed his fourth year as an original cast member of the Million Dollar Quartet National Tour. David has performed at the New York Musical Theatre Festival as well as touring nationally in Always, Patsy Cline, and Honky Tonk Angels.
Helming the production for the Ogunquit Playhouse is Broadway veteran Hunter Foster, who played the role of Sam Phillips in the original Broadway production. Mr. Foster is an Artistic Associate at the Bucks County Playhouse where he has directed Company, Ain't Misbehavin’, The Rocky Horror Show, Summer of ’42 and National Pastime. Most recently he directed My Fair Lady at the Cape Playhouse and last winter at the York Theatre in New York City he directed Sally Struthers and Annie Golden in a one night staged reading of the new musical Cheer Wars. As a librettist, he has written the books to the Off-Broadway musicals: Summer of ’42 (Outer Critic Nomination for Best New Musical) and Jasper in Deadland. Other musicals include Clyde and Bonne: A Folktale, The Circus in Winter and The Hollow. As an actor, he has performed in the Broadway musicals The Bridges of Madison County, Hands on a Hardbody, Million Dollar Quartet, The Producers, Little Shop of Horrors, Urinetown, Les Miserables, Footloose, Grease and King David.
Jennifer Cody joins the Ogunquit creative team as the Associate Director. She has performed at the Ogunquit Playhouse in Cinderella as Joy, All Shook Up as Natalie/Ed and in Damn Yankees as Gloria. On Broadway she has performed in A Christmas Story, Shrek, Pajama Game, Taboo, Urinetown, No No Nanette (Encores), Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (Actor’s Fund), Seussical the Musical, Mr Magoo’s Christmas (Actor’s Fund) Grease, Beauty and the Beast and Cats. Ms. Cody has spent the last few years lending her voice to movie and TV characters and commercials. She won the Annie Award (the voice-over Oscar for Best Actor in an Animated Motion Picture Feature Film) for creating the voice of Charlotte La Boeuff in Disney’s The Princess and the Frog. She has choreographed the Off-Broadway shows Debbie Does Dallas at the Jane St Theatre, Prodigal at the York Theatre and Henry and Mudge for TheatreWorks, as well as directed regionally and Off-Broadway.
The Ogunquit Playhouse features the original Broadway set designed by Derek McLane for this production. He also designed Broadway sets for Beautiful, The Heiress, Nice Work If You Can Get It, The Best Man, Follies,Anything Goes, How to Succeed in Business..., Bengal Tiger in the Baghdad Zoo...., Ragtime, 33 Variations, Grease, Little Women, The Pajama Game, I Am My Own Wife, The Women, and Present Laughter. He recently designed both the 2013 and the 2014 Oscars, as well as NBC’s Sound of Music Live. He has won OBIE, Lucille Lortel, Tony and Drama Desk Awards for his designs. Additional scenic elements are designed by Adam Koch, who has designed over one hundred productions nationwide, most recently Sister Act for the Ogunquit Playhouse regional premiere and the upcoming Saturday Night Fever; as well as Hello, Dolly!, Miss Saigon, Dreamgirls, Kiss of the Spiderwoman, Big Fish, A Little Night Music, Tarzan, Bye Bye Birdie, Sweet Charity, Call Me Madam, Big River and many more. Off-Broadway he created sets for Rooms: A Rock Romance, Loaded, We the People, Pinkalicious, and Freckleface Strawberry.
The Ogunquit Playhouse will produce two more Broadway musicals in 2015. Saturday Night Fever, with a newly revised book and musical arrangements, comes to life on stage from September 23 to October 25. The Irving Berlin classic White Christmas will be presented just in time for the holidays, December 9 to 20 at the Music Hall in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
Mark your calendars now and get ready to see every show this year. Tickets are on sale now. Prices start at $44 per show. To learn more about becoming a Playhouse member, or to purchase tickets and gift certificates, visit www.ogunquitplayhouse.org or call the Ogunquit Playhouse Box Office at 207-646-5511.
PHOTO CAPTION:
1. Robert Britton Lyons as Carl Perkins, Sam Weber as Brother Jay, David Sonneborn as Fluke (back), Nat Zegree as Jerry Lee Lewis, Jacob Rowley as Elvis Presley, Scott Moreau as Johnny Cash / photo by Jay Goldsmith
2. Nat Zegree as Jerry Lee Lewis with Robert Britton Lyons as Carl Perkins, Sam Weber as Jay, David Sonneborn as Fluke, Jacob Rowley as Elvis Presley, and Scott Moreau as Johnny Cash / photo by Gary Ng
3. Scott Moreau as Johnny Cash, Robert Britton Lyons as Carl Perkins, Jacob Rowley as Elvis Presley and Nat Zegree as Jerry Lee Lewis in the Ogunquit Playhouse production of the high-voltage rock ‘n roll musical Million Dollar Quartet. / photography Jay Goldsmith