The industry paper reports that a group sales announcement indicates previews of Memphis will begin Sept. 23 at the Shubert, the current home of the revival of Blithe Spirit. Opening is scheduled for Oct. 18.
No official announcement about a theatre or preview and opening dates have been made.
As previously reported, Memphis will be directed by Christopher Ashley (Xanadu) with choreography by Sergio Trujillo (Jersey Boys). Both were involved with the show's regional engagements at the La Jolla Playhouse and Seattle's 5th Avenue Theatre this past season. Memphis was also presented in earlier incarnations at the North Shore Music Theatre and TheatreWorks.
Based on a concept by George W. George, Memphis features book and lyrics by Joe DiPietro (I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change) and a score and lyrics by Bon Jovi's David Bryan. DiPietro and Bryan are also currently represented with the Off-Broadway musical The Toxic Avenger.
Chad Kimball (Lennon, Good Vibrations, Into the Woods, My Life With Albertine) and Montego Glover (The Color Purple, Radiant Baby) starred in the recent engagements of the musical which, according to press notes, "follows the fictionalized life story of young, white radio disc jockey Huey Calhoon growing up in Memphis, Tennessee in the 1950’s. An unlikely hero with a great love of the music he hears in the black bars on Beale Street, Huey’s on-air antics and unstoppable enthusiasm for 'race records' creates a new white audience for African-American music. His personal life transcends the race line as well, when he falls in love with a beautiful black singer - with dramatic consequences." Casting for the Broadway engagement will be announced shortly.
The Broadway creative team includes scenic designer David Gallo, costume designer Paul Tazewell and lighting designer Howell Binkley.
Memphis will be produced on Broadway by Junkyard Dog Productions and Barbara and Buddy Freitag in association with Marleen and Kenny Alhadeff, Demos Bizar Entertainment and Dancap Productions.