MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET Comes to Philadelphia, 12/11-16

The national tour of the Broadway musical MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET, inspired by the electrifying true story, will make its Philadelphia premiere Dec. 11 – 16 at the Forrest Theatre as part of the Broadway Season presented by The Kimmel Center and The Shubert Organization. The press opening is Tuesday, Dec. 11 at 7:30 pm.

Tickets ranging in price from $49.50 to $97 (includes $2 facility fee) are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased by calling 800-447-7400, online at telecharge.com or at the Forrest Theatre box office, 1114 Walnut St. (open daily 10 am to 6 pm). Groups of 10 or more will receive discounts for select performances by calling 215-790-5883 or 866-276-2947. Performances include: Tuesday – Thursday evening at 7:30 pm; Friday & Saturday evening at 8:00 pm; Sunday evening at 6:30 pm; matinees Saturday at 2:00 pm, Sunday at 1:00 pm and a weekday matinee on Thursday, Dec. 27 at 2:00 pm.

The international Tony® Award Winning musical, MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET is set on December 4, 1956, when an auspicious twist of fate brought Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Elvis Presley together. Sam Phillips, the "Father of Rock 'n' Roll" who was responsible for launching the careers of each icon, brought the four legendary musicians together at the Sun Records storefront studio in Memphis for the first and only time. The resulting evening became known as one of the greatest rock 'n' roll jam sessions in history.

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.

Portraying these icons are, original Broadway cast member Robert Britton Lyons as Carl Perkins, Martin Kaye as Jerry Lee Lewis, David Elkins as Johnny Cash, and Cody Slaughter as Elvis Presley. Vince Nappo plays the "Father of Rock 'n' Roll," Sam Phillips. The cast also features Kelly Lamont as Dyanne, and musicians Billy Shaffer (Fluke, drums), and Corey Kaiser (Jay Perkins, bass). Rounding out the company are: Katie Barton, Austin Cook, Scott F. Moreau, John Michael Presney, David Sonneborn and Billy Woodward.

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

When the Broadway production opened in April 2010, critics and audiences leapt to their feet in unanimous praise. The New York Times called the show, "a buoyant new musical that whips the crowd into a frenzy," New York Magazine labeled it, "a dazzling raucous spectacle that sounds like a million bucks," and NY1 called it, "90 minutes of platinum grade entertainment."

The Chicago production of MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET opened in 2008 and is still playing to packed houses at the Apollo Theatre. The West End production played at the Noël Coward Theatre in London in 2011.

MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET won a Tony Award® for Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical and received a Tony Award® nomination for Best Musical and Best Book of a Musical (Colin Escott & 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 by Relevant Theatricals, James L. Nederlander, John Cossette Productions, American Pop Anthology and Broadway Across America. For more information, please visit the official MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET website at www.MillionDollarQuartetLive.com.

The 2012-2013 Broadway Season is presented by The Kimmel Center and The Shubert Organization with productions at the Academy of Music, Forrest Theatre and Merriam Theater. Season ticket packages are still available by calling 215-893-1955 or online at kimmelcenter.org/broadway1213.

In addition to MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET, the new 2012-13 Broadway Season includes: War Horse (Nov. 20 – Dec. 2) at the Academy of Music; JEKYLL & HYDE (Dec. 26 – 30) at the Forrest Theatre; CATCH ME IF YOU CAN (Jan. 15 – 20); PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT (Feb. 26 – March 3); THE ADDAMS FAMILY (March 19 – 24); and SISTER ACT (April 2 – 7), all at the Academy of Music. The new season will also feature additional shows including: LES MISÉRABLES (Jan. 2 – 13) at the Academy of Music; Cirque Éloize's iD (Dec. 26 – 30), Green Day's AMERICAN IDIOT (Feb. 12 – 17);

BLUE MAN GROUP (March 5 – 10), ROCK OF AGES (June 14 – 16), all at the Merriam Theater; and the return of WICKED (June 26 – Aug. 4) for an extended summer engagment at the Academy of Music.

The Broadway Season is presented by The Kimmel Center and The Shubert Organization.

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