Auditions for the four main roles of Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash and Carl Perkins will begin Sept. 13 in London, with dates to follow in Glasgow, Liverpool, Bristol and Dublin, according to the official U.K. website for Million Dollar Quartet. The official site also states that the West End production is projected for a 2011 arrival.
Representatives for the musical offered the following statement to Playbill.com: "Produced by Relevant Theatricals, John Cossette Productions, American Pop Anthology, Broadway Across America, James L. Nederlander, Joseph Smith and Michael McCabe, Million Dollar Quartet is looking to open in London's West End in 2011 with exploratory casting sessions/auditions beginning this month."
As on Broadway, producers of the London run are seeking actor-musicians who will not only inhabit the music icons, but play their songs as well. Producers are also soliciting auditions via a YouTube casting page for the musical.
Million Dollar Quartet opened April 11 at the Nederlander Theatre following an acclaimed Chicago run, where the musical continues to play the Apollo Theater. A U.S. national tour will launch October 2011 at Playhouse Square in Cleveland, OH.
Eric Schaeffer staged the musical that features a book by Colin Escott and Floyd Mutrux; the latter conceived and originally directed the musical. The production earned a 2010 Best Musical Tony nomination, as well as Best Book of a Musical and Best Featured Actor for Levi Kreis, who took home the honor.
"On Dec. 4, 1956," press notes state, "an auspicious twist of fate brought Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Elvis Presley together. The place was Sun Records' storefront studio in Memphis. The man who made it happen was Sam Phillips, the 'Father of Rock 'n' Roll,' who discovered them all. The four legends-to-be united for the only time in their careers for an impromptu recording that has come to be known as one of the greatest rock jam sessions of all time. . . . Million Dollar Quartet captures the infectious spirit, freewheeling excitement and thrilling sounds of a singular moment when four of the music industry's most extraordinary talents, all in their creative prime, came together for one of the most memorable nights in music history."
The design team for Broadway includes Derek McLane (scenic design), Howell Binkley (lighting design), Jane Greenwood (costume design), Kai Harada (sound design) and Chuck Mead (musical arrangements and supervision).
