The cast and creative team were announced June 12. Subtitled The Birth of Rock 'n' Roll, the musical with book and lyrics by Jo DiPietro and music and additional lyrics by David Bryan (Bon Jovi keyboardist and founding member) will play La Jolla Playhouse Aug. 19-Sept. 28 in the Mandell Weiss Theatre. Opening Sept. 3.
Memphis is the first production directed by Christopher Ashley at La Jolla Playhouse since becoming artistic director. Rehearsals begin July 8.
"Memphis is a story about the passion and roots of rock 'n' roll featuring an original gospel, rhythm & blues and early rock score fused with a contemporary sensibility," according to La Jolla Playhouse. "The musical follows the life of the first white deejay who dares to play black music at the center of the radio dial. Taking place on legendary Beale Street in the early 1950s, this dynamic show puts audiences front and center at the birth of rock 'n' roll."
Heading the cast will be Chad Kimball (Lennon, Good Vibrations) as Huey, Montego Glover (The Color Purple, Dreamgirls) as Felicia, J. Bernard Calloway (The Good Negro, "Rescue Me,"' "Law & Order") as Delray, Allen Fitzpatrick (42nd Street, "Kissing Jessica Stein," "Law & Order") as Mr. Simmons, Cass Morgan (Mary Poppins, Ring of Fire) as Mrs. Calhoun, James Monroe Iglehart (The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee) as Bobby and Michael Benjamin Washington (Mamma Mia!, La Jolla Playhouse's The Wiz) as Gator.
Memphis' ensemble includes Brad Bass, Tracee Beazer, Josh Breckenridge, Kevin Covert, Dionne D. Figgins, John Eric Parker, Jermaine Remberdt, Melanie Vaughan, Daniel Watts, Charlie Williams and locals Lorene Chesley, Steve Gunderson, Lauren Lim Jackson, Cashae Monya, Jill Morrison, Irungu Mutu, Pearl Rhein and Megan Yelaney. DiPietro is known for I Love You, Your Perfect, Now Change; The Thing About Men; Over the River and Through the Woods and All Shook Up.
The creative team includes set designer/co-projection designer David Gallo, costume designer Paul Tazewell, choreographer Sergio Trujillo, lighting designer Howell Binkley, wig and hair designer Chuck LaPointe, sound designer Ken Travis, co-projection designer Shawn Sagady, stage manager Frank Hartenstein, production manager Peter J. Davis, dramaturg Gabriel Greene. Associate producer is Dana I. Harrell.
Musical supervisor is Christopher Jahnke. Orchestrations are by Darryl Waters.
The show is based on a concept by George W. George and co-produced in conjunction with The 5th Avenue Theatre (Seattle, WA), where it will surface in early 2009. Two early developmental productions of Memphis played at North Shore Music Theatre (MA) and TheatreWorks (CA).
Performance times in La Jolla, CA, are Tuesday and Wednesday, 7:30 PM; Thursday through Saturday, 8 PM; and Sundays 7 PM. Matinees are held on Saturdays and Sundays at 2 PM.
Single ticket prices range from $42 to $100. To purchase, call (858) 550-1010 or online at www.lajollaplayhouse.org.
