Photo Coverage: MEMPHIS Opening Night on Broadway - The Gyspy Robe Ceremony!

MEMPHIS, an original Broadway musical, officially opened Monday, October 19, 2009 at the Shubert Theatre (225 W. 44th Street) following critically-acclaimed and sold-out engagements at La Jolla Playhouse and Seattle's 5th Avenue Theatre, began previews Wednesday, September 23, 2009.

The colorful Gypsy Robe, embellished with mementos from Broadway musicals, is presented to the cast member who has the most Broadway chorus credits. Recent Gypsy Robe honoree, BYE BYE BIRDIEs' Paula Leggett Chase passed the special Broadway garment on to John Jellison backstage before the opening night performance and BroadwayWorld.com was there to cheer him on!

MEMPHIS stars Chad Kimball (Huey Calhoun) and Montego Glover (Felicia Farrell) with Derrick Baskin (Gator),J. Bernard Calloway (Delray Jones), James Monroe Iglehart (Bobby), Tony nominee Michael McGrath (Mr. Simmons), and Cass Morgan (Gladys Calhoun).

The company also includes Jennifer Allen, Brad Bass, Tracee Beazer, Kevin Covert, Hillary Elk, Bryan Fenkart, Dionne Figgins, Rhett George, John Jellison, Sydney Morton, Vivian Nixon, John Eric Parker,Jermaine R. Rembert, LaQuet Sharnell, Ephraim Sykes, Cary Tedder, Danny Tidwell, Daniel J. Watts, Katie Webber, Charlie Williams and Dan'yelle Williamson.

In the smoky halls and underground clubs of the segregated 50's, a young white DJ named Huey Calhoun fell in love with everything he shouldn't: rock and 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.

MEMPHIS features a brand new score with music by Bon Jovi's founding member/keyboardistDavid Bryan and lyrics by Bryan and Joe DiPietro (I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change), who also pens the musical's book. Bryan and DiPietro also collaborated on the current award-winning off-Broadway hit, The Toxic Avenger. MEMPHIS is based on a concept by the late George W. George (producer of the Tony nominated Bedroom Farce and the film My Dinner With Andre), with direction by Tony nominee Christopher Ashley (Xanadu) and choreography by Sergio Trujillo (Jersey Boys).

Tickets range from $41.50 to $126.50 (including a $1.50 facility fee). The performance schedule is as follows: Tuesday - Saturday evenings at 8pm, Wednesdays and Saturdays at 2pm, and Sundays at 3pm. Beginning October 26th, Tuesday evening curtains will be at 7pm. There will be special performance times during previews and holiday weeks.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.Telecharge.com or call 212.239.6200. 

MEMPHIS played a limited, sold-out engagement at La Jolla Playhouse from August 19 - September 28, 2008 and received San Diego's Craig Noel Awards for Excellence in Theatre for both Outstanding New Musical of 2008 and for its star Chad Kimball, in the role of DJ Huey Calhoun.

The show then played another critically-acclaimed, extremely successful engagement at Seattle's 5th Avenue Theatre from January 27 - February 15, 2009. This production was co-produced by La Jolla Playhouse (Christopher Ashley, Artistic Director) and5th Avenue Theatre, Seattle, WA, (David Armstrong, Producing Artistic Director/ Marilynn Sheldon, Managing Director). The world premiere of MEMPHIS in 2003-2004 was co-produced by North Shore Music Theatre in Beverly, MA and TheatreWorks in Silicon Valley, CA.

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 (The Threepenny Opera).

MEMPHIS is produced on Broadway by Junkyard Dog Productions, Barbara and Buddy Freitag and Kenny and Marleen Alhadeff with Jim and Susan Blair, Demos Bizar Entertainment, David Copley, Dancap Productions Inc., Latitude Link and Tony Ponturo in association with Broadway Across America, Lauren Doll, Linda and Bill Potter, Chase Mishkinand Patty Baker/ShadowCatcher Entertainment.

For more information visit www.memphisthemusical.com.

Photos by Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.

The Gypsy Robe Ceremony gets ready to take place at Memphis

Memphis on Broadway

Derrick Baskin

Derrick Baskin

John Jellison takes a shot of the guys!

Montego Glover and Christopher Ashley

Montego Glover and Christopher Ashley

Chad Kimball

Bryan Fenkart mugs for the BWW cameras!

Bryan Fenkart and his fellow Memphis cast members who are all making their Broadway debuts!

The cast of Memphis

Welcome to Broadway!

Montego Glover

Bye Bye Birdie's Paula Leggett Chase passes on the Robe

Paula Leggett Chase

John Jellison

John Jellison

John Jellison

David Westphal and John Jellison

Chad Kimball

John Jellison shows off for the cast!

Chad Kimball and the cast cheer on John Jellison

John Jellison

John Jellison

John Jellison

John Jellison

Chad Kimball, John Jellison, Montego Glover, Pi Douglass and Paula Leggett Chase

Chad Kimball, John Jellison, Montego Glover, Pi Douglass and Paula Leggett Chase

Chad Kimball, John Jellison and Montego Glover

Chad Kimball, John Jellison and Montego Glover

Joe DiPietro, John Jellison and David Bryan

Joe DiPietro, John Jellison and David Bryan