By: Jaz Dorsey
THE MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET is a perfect fit for Music City. Even though it’s actually set in Memphis, this tale of recording studios and jam sessions certainly resonates with us here in Nashville and the story is a great reminder of the tremendous contribute which the state of Tennessee has made to American music.
Although the story focuses on that day in 1956 when four greats – Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley – all ended up at Sun Records together and went down in history as The Million Dollar Quartet, for me the real jewel in this show is getting to learn about the man behind it all – Sam Phillips, who was responsible for launching all four of these amazing and groundbreaking artists. On the fateful day this story takes place, Phillips had already had to part with Elvis, and as the play unfolds, he learns that – much to his dismay -Johnny Cash and Carl Perkins are moving on to Columbia Records. At the same time he is just about to sign Jerry Lee Lewis, reaffirming his personal genius for spotting the musical genius of others. Vince Nappo does an incredible job of portraying Sam Phillips and his performance is one that everybody in town needs to experience.
Of course, the show wouldn’t work without a cast that can sell us Presley, Perkins, Cash and Lee, and the fellows who are kicking it up on the TPAC stage couldn’t be better cast. Cody Ray Slaughter was born to play Elvis. Scott Moreau sounds so much like Cash that it give you a chill. John Countryman, who plays Jerry Lee Lewis, almost steals the show with his manic piano playing and personality.
I don’t know enough about Carl Perkins to say how closely he comes to the real thing, but, as with Phillips, I got a real thrill learning about him via James Barry’s performance. At a media event at the Johnny Cash Museum, we a chance to meet these actor/musicians and here them speak a bit about their experiences in this show. Mr. Barry shared that folks across the country do not know Perkins like they do the other three icons and that for him a special joy of being in this role is to be able to share Perkins legacy and bring him more into the spotlight.
I thought it was really cool that WICKED came to hang out for four weeks at TPAC. I don’t think a week is long enough for THE MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET, but that’s all it’s here for this time around, so DON’T MISS IT.
Maybe one day someone will open a theatre here in Music City where shows like this and the classic ALWAYS…PATSY CLINE and other Nashville themed shows can run commercially for tourists just like shows do in New York.
Until then, thank the Lord for Kathleen O’Brien and the staff at TPAC who makes sure that we Nashvillians get the best of what Broadway has to offer.