Video: One Amazing Night!

The national tour of Million Dollar Quartet, the Tony® Award-winning new musical inspired by the true story of four rock 'n' roll icons, will make its Tampa premiere Jan 3-8, 2012, in Carol Morsani Hall at the David A. Straz, Jr. Center for the Performing Arts as part of the Bank of America Best of Broadway Tampa Bay series.

On Dec. 4, 1956, an auspicious twist of fate brought Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis 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 young musicians united for the only time in their careers for an impromptu recording that has come to be known as one of the greatest rock 'n' roll jam sessions of all time.

Million Dollar Quartet brings that legendary night to life with an irresistible tale of broken promises, secrets, betrayal and celebrations featuring an eclectic score of rock, gospel, R&B and country hits including "Blue Suede Shoes," "Fever," "Sixteen Tons," "Who Do You Love?," "Great Balls of Fire," "Matchbox," "Folsom Prison Blues," " Whole Lotta Shakin'Goin' On," "Hound Dog" and more.

The New York Times praises Million Dollar Quartet by saying, "A hit parade of favorites, providing the audience with blast after blast of sweet nostalgia." Echoing accolades come from the Associated Press as they describe the production as "Musical fireworks! Million Dollar Quartet gets the cheering audience to its feet!" NY 1 agrees, "Million Dollar Quartet makes for 90 minutes of platinum grade entertainment."

Portraying these icons are Derek Keeling as Johnny Cash, Billy Woodward as Elvis Presley, Martin Kaye as Jerry Lee Lewis and Lee Ferris as Carl Perkins. Christopher Ryan Grant will play the "Father of Rock 'n' Roll," Sam Phillips.  The cast also features Kelly Lamont as Dyanne, and musicians Billy Shaffer (Fluke, drums) and Chuck Zayas (Jay Perkins, bass). Rounding out the company are Steve Benoit, Austin Cook, Scott Moreau, John Michael Presney, David Sonneborn and Alyssa Marie. 

Million Dollar Quartet is directed by Eric Schaeffer and features a book by Colin Escott and Floyd Mutrux. The design team for the national tour includes Derek McLane (scenic design), Howell Binkley (lighting design), Jane Greenwood (costume design), Kai Harada (sound design) and Chuck Mead (musical arrangements and supervision).

In 2008 the smash-hit musical opened in Chicago and continues its run at the Apollo Theatre. The Broadway production premiered at the Nederlander Theater in April of 2010. The first international production of Million Dollar Quartet debuted in February 2011 at the Noël Coward Theatre in London's West End.

Million Dollar Quartet won a Tony Award® for Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical and received Tony Award® nominations for Best Musical and Best Book of a Musical (Colin Escott and Floyd Mutrux). The show received an Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical, a Drama Desk nomination for Outstanding Musical Revue and three Drama League nominations including Distinguished Production of a Musical and Distinguished Performance.

Million Dollar Quartet is produced on Broadway by Relevant Theatricals, John Cossette Productions, American Pop Anthology, Broadway Across America and James L. Nederlander.

For more information on Million Dollar Quartet, visit www.milliondollarquartetlive.com.

Million Dollar Quartet will play Carol Morsani Hall, Jan. 3-8, 2012. Performances are Tuesday - Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m. and Sunday at 1 and 6 p.m. Regularly priced tickets start at $38.50 and may be purchased by calling 813.229.STAR (7827) or 800.955.1045 outside Tampa Bay, in person at the Straz Center Ticket Office or online at www.strazcenter.org. For more information about the David A. Straz, Jr. Center for the Performing Arts and its upcoming events, please visit www.strazcenter.org.