A Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On at North Shore Music Theatre

September 29, 2024October 5, 2024 michaelhoban1 Comment

‘Million Dollar Quartet’ – Book by Colin Escott and Floyd Mutux. Directed and choreographed by Greg Santos. Music Director Sam Sherwood. Scenic Design by Kyle Dixon. Original Costume Design by Travis M. Grant. Lighting Design by Jose Santiago. Sound Design by Alex Berg. Hair and Wig Design by Rachel Padilla-Shufelt. Through October 6, 2024, at North Shore Music Theatre, 64 Dunham Road, Beverly, MA.

By Linda Chin

A million shout-outs to the uber-talented cast of the Tony Award-winning musical Million Dollar Quartet at Bill Hanney’s North Shore Music Theatre. For about a hundred minutes, actor-musicians Sam Sherwood (Carl Perkins), Blake Burgess ( Johnny Cash), Brandon Fillette (Jerry Lee Lewis), Noah Barnes (Elvis Presley), Joe Bentley (Brother Joy), Stephen Blauch (Fluke), Zach Cossman (Sam Phillips), and Hailie Lucille (Dyanne, the lone female character) teach us some history and gift us with a whole lot of musical magic.

Theatre by the Sea’s ‘Million Dollar Quartet’ is a High Energy Musical Extravaganza

May 28, 2022May 29, 2022 michaelhobanLeave a comment

The cast of MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET playing at Theatre By The Sea thru June 18, 2022. Photos by Mark Turek

by Tony Annicone

Owner and Producer Bill Hanney opens his historic “Theatre by the Sea” after a two-year pandemic with “Million Dollar Quartet.” This Tony nominated musical is set on December 4, 1956, when an extraordinary twist of fate brought Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Elvis Presley together at Sun Records in Memphis for what would be one of the greatest jam sessions ever. It tells the tale of record producer, Sam Phillips, who brought these four stars together for a once in a lifetime jam session – before Jerry Lee Lewis became famous. Sam wanted Carl Perkins and Johnny Cash to sign future contracts with his record label. Elvis, whom Sam sold his contract to RCA and has become a Hollywood movie star, brings his girlfriend to the meeting, while Jay Perkins and their friend, Fluke are also there. This high energy musical extravaganza enthralls you from start to finish. Director Greg Santos picks the best performers for these roles so you can forget about your cares and woes to escape back in time to Memphis, Tennessee to witness Rock n Roll over 60 years ago.

Million Dollar Quartet Scorches the Greater Boston Stage

April 30, 2019 michaelhobanLeave a comment

(Hawver, Geerloff, Linsteadt, and Price in GBSC’s “Million Dollar Quartet”)

By Mike Hoban

‘Million Dollar Quartet’ – Book by Colin Escott and Floyd Mutrux; Directed by Ilyse Robbins; Music Directed by James Scheider; Scenic Designer, Patrick Lynch; Lighting Designer, Jeff Adelberg; Costume Designer, Stephen Pasqual; Sound Designer, John Stone; Presented by the Greater Boston Stage Company, 395 Main Street, Stoneham through May 19

From the hammering opening riffs from Carl Perkins’ guitar until the rocking finale, Greater Boston Stage Company’s production Million Dollar Quartet is a scorcher of a show. A fictionalized account of an actual studio session featuring early rock n’ roll pioneers Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins, Quartet may be the first “jukebox musical” that doesn’t make the moniker sound like an insult. In fact, the term is both accurate and complimentary as the songs blasting out of this jukebox are given explosive new life.