Eric Stang Joins MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET as Jerry Lee Lewis, 10/17

MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET, the hit musical now playing at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street), announced today that Eric Stang will assume the role of Jerry Lee Lewis starting Monday, October 17.

Stang joins the New York production after understudying the role of Jerry Lee Lewis in the Chicago production of MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET. Stang is an accomplished musician, singer/songwriter, and band leader. A Chicago native, MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET will mark his New York stage debut.

David Abeles, who originated the role of Jerry Lee Lewis at New World Stages, will play his final performance on Sunday evening, October 16.

Stang joins the cast which features Eddie Clendening (Elvis Presley), Lance Guest (Johnny Cash), Robert Britton Lyons (Carl Perkins), Victoria Matlock (Dyanne), and James Moye (Sam Phillips).

MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET opened last year to rave reviews from critics and had audiences leaping to their feet every night. The New York Times called the show, "a buoyant new musical that whips the crowd into a frenzy," New York Magazine said it is, "a dazzling raucous spectacle that sounds like a million bucks," and NY1 called it, "90 minutes of platinum grade entertainment." The musical recently transferred to New World Stages, the home of other Broadway musical hits such as Avenue Q and Rent.

The show won a Tony Award and Outer Critics Circle Award and received Tony nominations for Best Musical and Best Book of a Musical, a Drama Desk nomination for Outstanding Musical Revue and three Drama League nominations including Distinguished Production of a Musical and two Distinguished Performance nominations.

In addition to the New York production, the Chicago production of MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET opened in 2008 and is still playing to packed houses at the Apollo Theatre. The national tour will start performances in Cleveland on October 11, and a West End production is currently playing at the Noël Coward Theatre in London.

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 true story, 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.

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

MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET is produced by Relevant Theatricals, John Cossette Productions, American Pop Anthology, and Broadway Across America.

For more information about MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET, visit www.MillionDollarQuartetLive.com.

 

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