Levi Kreis Departs MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET Early Due to Injury

BroadwayWorld has confirmed with a production source that Million Dollar Quartet star and Tony winner Levi Kreis will depart the production earlier than scheduled due to an injury he sustained on March 3. Kreis wrote on his Twitter page earlier this week: "If u r planning 2 c my MDQ perf. b4 the 13th, u should know I THINK I tore my ACL surgery out, & could be done. I get MRI results Monday."

He was supposed to leave the production on March 15, but instead played Jerry Lee Lewis for the last time on March 3. He revealed in an official statement, "Due to an injury, I won't be able to perform my final show in MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET. I'm very disappointed that I won't be able to take the stage one last time as Jerry Lee Lewis."

David Abeles stepped into the role during Kreis' absence, but Jared Mason will soon take over for the part. The cast of Million Dollar Quartet currently features Eddie Clendening (Elvis Presley), Lance Guest (Johnny Cash), Jared Mason (Carl Perkins), James Moye (Sam Phillips), and Elizabeth Stanley (Dyanne).

On December 4, 1956, 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 and 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 jam sessions of all time.

Inspired by the actual event, Million Dollar Quartet features a treasure trove of the greatest rock and roll, gospel, R&B and country hits from these musicians, including such iconic songs as "Blue Suede Shoes," "Fever," "Sixteen Tons," "Who Do You Love?," "Great Balls of Fire," "Riders in the Sky," "I Walk the Line," "Folsom Prison Blues," and "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On." 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 Chicago production of Million Dollar Quartet opened in 2008 and is still playing to packed houses at the Apollo Theatre. An upcoming national tour will launch next season and a London production will open at the Noël Coward Theatre on February 28, 2011 with previews beginning February 8, 2011.

For more information about Million Dollar Quartet, visit www.MillionDollarQuartetLive.com

 

Photo Credit: Monica Simoes