A NIGHT TO REMEMBER: PRESLEY, PERKINS, LEWIS AND CASH Set for Ridgefield Playhouse, 5/14

Get ready for a night of rockabilly, country, gospel and pure 1950's rock and roll with "A Night to Remember: Presley, Perkins, Lewis and Cash" on Saturday, May 14 at 8 p.m.

The Ridgefield Playhouse and Ridgefield Magazine Broadway & Cabaret Series, will take you back to December 4, 1956, the night when four of the biggest names in early rock and roll - Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis and Johnny Cash - gathered together for an impromptu jam session at the legendary Sun Studios in Memphis! The show, also presented by the Pepsi Rock Series and Mountain Dew Country Series, is a musical tribute that celebrates that historic session, and features songs played that night, plus additional favorites by these iconic musicians. With rock hits "Blue Suede Shoes," "Fever," "That's All Right," "Sixteen Tons," "Great Balls of Fire," "Walk the Line," "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On," "Who Do You Love?," "Matchbox," "Folsom Prison Blues," "Hound Dog." "A Night to Remember: Presley, Perkins, Lewis and Cash" captures what that night may have been like with those icons. Based on the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical, Million Dollar Quartet, this concert is inspired by the true story of the famed recording session where Sam Phillips, the "Father of Rock 'n' Roll" brought together these icons for one unforgettable night. This evening of rock and roll is partially underwritten by Nutmeg Livery. Make it a great night out with dinner and a show - visit Bareburger (38 Danbury Road, Ridgefield) and enjoy a complimentary glass of house wine or draft beer with your entree when you show your ticket!

At the time of the historic session, Elvis Presley was the biggest name in show business: four months earlier, he had made his famed appearance on "The Ed Sullivan Show." Presley, previously a Sun artist but now on RCA, stopped by Sun Studios for a visit. Carl Perkins, already a success with "Blue Suede Shoes" happened to be recording that day. Backing Perkins was Phillips' latest acquisition -- then unknown singer and piano man extraordinaire Jerry Lee Lewis. Presley listened to the playback of Perkins' session, pronounced it good, entered the studio and soon after an epic jam session began. Soon after Sun artist Johnny Cash, who had recently enjoyed a few hits on the country charts, completed the quartet. Noting the astounding level of talent in his studio, Phillips saw a publicity opportunity and contacted local newspaper the Memphis Press-Scimitar. Bob Johnson, the newspaper's entertainment editor, and a photographer came to the studio to document the event. The following day, an article written by Johnson about the session, was published under the title "Million Dollar Quartet." That article contained the now-famous photograph of Presley seated at the piano surrounded by Lewis, Perkins and Cash.

For tickets ($47.50), call the box office at 203-438-5795, or visit ridgefieldplayhouse.org. The Ridgefield Playhouse is a non-profit performing arts center located at 80 East Ridge, parallel to Main Street, Ridgefield, CT.

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