MEMPHIS Comes to Kennedy Center Opera House, Now thru 7/1

The Kennedy Center presents Memphis in the Opera House from tonight, June 12 to July 1, 2012.

Winner of four 2010 Tony Awards® including Best Musical, Best Original Score (David Bryan and Joe DiPietro), Best Book (Joe DiPietro), and Best Orchestrations (David Bryan and Daryl Waters), the production features music by Bon Jovi’s founding member and keyboardist David Bryan, and lyrics by Bryan and Joe DiPietro (Nice Work If You Can Get It, I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change), who also pens the musical’s book. Bryan and DiPietro also collaborated on the award-winning Off-Broadway hit, The Toxic Avenger.

Memphis is based on a concept by the late George W. George, with direction by Tony® nominee Christopher Ashley (Xanadu) and choreography by Sergio Trujillo, whose work is currently represented by shows on Broadway including Memphis and Jersey Boys. Press opening night is Thursday, June 14 at 7:30 p.m.

Memphis takes place in the smoky halls and underground clubs of the segregated 1950s, where a young white DJ named Huey Calhoun fell in love with everything he shouldn’t: rock n’ roll and an electrifying black singer. Memphis is an original story about the cultural revolution that erupted when his vision met her voice, and the music changed forever.

The national tour of Memphis stars Bryan Fenkart (Huey) and Felicia Boswell (Felicia) with Quentin Earl Darrington (Delray), Rhett George (Gator), Julie Johnson (Mama), Will Mann (Bobby), and William Parry (Mr. Simmons).

The company includes Alexander Aguilar, Chelsey Arce, Whitney Leigh Brown, Whitney Cooper, Tami Dahbura, Scott Difford, Christopher Gurr, Daisy Hobbs, Adrienne Howard, Crystal Joy, Kyle Leland, Jarvis R. McKinley, Kenna Michelle Morris, Jill Morrison, Austin Owen, Kent Overshown, Alfie Parker Jr., Justin Prescott, Jody Reynard, Peter Matthew Smith and Derek St. Pierre. Scenic design for Memphis is by Tony Award® winner David Gallo (The Drowsy Chaperone, Reasons to Be Pretty), costume design is by Tony® nominee Paul Tazewell (In The Heights), lighting design is by Tony Award® winner Howell Binkley (Jersey Boys), and sound design is by Ken Travis.