Million Dollar Quartet

July 5 - 29, 2018

Elvis Presley

Born: Jan. 8, 1935 | Hometown: Tupelo, MS
Presley was born in Tupelo, MS to poor parents, but moved with them to Memphis when he was 13. He absorbed the Gospel and R&B music he heard on Beale Street as a teenager and infused it into his own music. He auditioned for Phillips in 1954 with “That’s All Right” and became hugely sucessful. Phillips sold Presley’s contract for an unprecedented $40,000 to RCA in 1955.

Jerry Lee Lewis

Born: Sept. 29, 1935 | Hometown: Ferriday, LA
Lewis was born into a poor farming family and began playing piano as a young boy. His jazzy piano playing style got him expelled from the bible school his mother sent him to and shortly after he made his way to Memphis to audition for Sun Records. He was signed onto the label by Jack Clement, and was playing piano in Perkin’s track during December 4th recording session.

Sam Phillips

Born: Jan. 5, 1923 | Hometown: Florence, AL
Phillips fell in love with music on a family trip traveling through Memphis when he snuck away to Beale Street. He was a DJ and radio engineer in Alabama, and eventually moved to Memphis where he opened Sun records. The studio released 226 singles from the time it opened in 1952 to the time Philllips sold it in
1968.

Johnny Cash

Born: Feb. 26, 1932 | Hometown: Kingsland, AR
Johnny (J.R.) Cash grew up on a farm in Arkansas. After serving in the airforce in Germany, Cash moved to Memphis and played with guitarist Luther Perkins and bassist Marshall Grant at nights. Originally auditioning for Sun Records with gospel music, Phillips steered them in a different direction, and soon they recorded their first rockabilly songs in 1955.

Carl Perkins

Born: April 9, 1932 | Hometown: Tiptonville, TN
Perkins was born to a poor sharecropping family in West Tennessee. He and his brothers started the Perkins Brothers band and after hearing an Elvis song on the radio. In 1956 they headed to Sun Records to record. His hit song “Blue Sude Shoes” was released in December 1956 and ended up selling a million copies by April, ultimately becoming a hit for the man who inspired him, Elvis.

Marilyn Evans (Dyanne)

Hometown: Fresno, CA
Marilyn was working as a chorus dancer in Las Vegas when she met Presley. While they were dating, she was invited to his house in Memphis, and to this legendary recording session. She has since become so scarce, creators of the show had to change her name because they couldn’t track her down to ask permission to use her likness. She prefers to dwell on her children, two late husbands and dance career over her 1956 brush with fame, she told the Chicago Tribune in 2016.

Description

Book by COLIN ESCOTT and FLOYD MUTRUX

Original Concept and Direction by FLOYD MUTRUX

Inspired by ELVIS PRESLEY, JOHNNY CASH, JERRY LEE LEWIS and CARL PERKINS

The Tony Award nominated MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET explodes on stage with a monumental night of rock ‘n’ roll. Inspired by the most famous jam session in recording history, this smash-hit musical tells the story of legendary music icons Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Carl Perkins as they come together on December 4, 1956 at the famous Sun Studios. Featuring 21 timeless hits including “Blue Suede Shoes,” “Sixteen Tons,” “Great Balls of Fire,” “I Walk the Line,” “Fever,” “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On,” “See Ya Later, Alligator,” “Fever,” “Folsom Prison Blues,” and “Hound Dog,” this thrilling musical brings you inside the recording studio to experience an irresistible tale of broken promises, secrets, betrayal and celebrations.

This production contains Theatrical Fog and Strobe Lights.

MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET is produced by Gershwin Entertainment.

Recommended for audiences 10 and up

Open caption performance: Saturday, July 28, 2018 at 2:00PM

Talk-back performance dates: Saturday, July 14, 2018 at 2:00PM and July 19, 2018 at 7:30PM

Tiffan Borelli
Dyanne
Biography »
Tiffan Borelli

National tours: Million Dollar Quartet (Dyanne), Flipside: The Patti Page Story (Patti Page), The Sound of Music (Elsa Schreader/Asia Tour) Regional: The Music Man ‘Marian Paroo’ at Theatre by The Sea, Camelot ‘Guinevere’ at Mt. Gretna, Kiss Me Kate ‘Kate/Lilli’ with Staten Island Philharmonic, Two by Two ‘Goldie’ at The York w/ Jason Alexander. TV: Law & Order: SVU. Founding member of Core Artist Ensemble Theatre Co. OCU Alum. Insta: @tiffborelli Much gratitude to Burt & Fran Baum!

Bill Morey
Brother Jay
Biography »
Bill Morey

has performed on multiple national tours and international engagements. Recently, he finished touring in the US with the Million Dollar Quartet national tour, as Brother Jay. Before that, he was on the 20th Anniversary National Tour of Smokey Joe’s Cafe, starring the Coasters. Following Smokey Joe’s, he was on the road with the off-Broadway hit musical, BUDDY: The Buddy Holly Story, starring as the Crickets bassist, Joe B. Mauldin. In addition to theatre, Bill performs with multiple tribute acts, Rock and Roll bands, and entertainment companies throughout the country. As a bass player, Bill has managed to develop an organic slap bass style, as well as demonstrating some wild and crazy bass antics, that tips the hat to some of his major influences, such as Bill Black (Elvis Presley’s bassist), Marshall Lytle (Bill Haley and the Comets bassist),and Willie Dixon (Chess Records). Bill is excited to be performing again at Laguna Playhouse! www.BillMoreyBass.com

Billy Rude
Jerry Lee Lewis
Biography »
Billy Rude

Is proud to be rockin’ and shakin’ with this sensational Million Dollar Quartet cast! A Chicago native, some favorite credits include They’re Playing Our Song (Porchlight Music Theatre), Altar Boyz (Theo Ubique), and The Civility of Albert Cashier (Permoveo Prod./Pride Films & Plays), a role for which he received a Joseph Jefferson Award Nomination. Billy graduated with a BFA Musical Theatre from The Chicago College of Performing Arts this past May. He would like to thank his family and loved ones from all over for constant support and never-ending adventures! IG: @billy_rude

Jon Rossi
Fluke
Biography »
Jon Rossi

National tours: Million Dollar Quartet (2017-2018), A Night With Janis Joplin (2017-2018), Million Dollar Quartet (2015-2016), Smokey Joe’s Café (2014-2015). When not on tour, Jon is often heard playing and music directing at regional theatres across the country, doing studio work, or taking pictures of sea turtles and red pandas.  Jon proudly endorses Saluda Cymbals. Say hi on Instagram: @rossidrums @rossifari www.rossidrums.com #dinosaurs

Hugh Hysell
Sam Phillips
Biography »
Hugh Hysell

Is thrilled to be returning to one of his favorite roles. Tours: Phantom of the Opera, Pippin, Pirates of Penzance. Off Broadway: Perfect Crime, More Than All The World, My Big Gay Italian Wedding / Funeral. Regional theater: Million Dollar Quartet (Totem Pole Playhouse), Tintypes (7 Angels), Peter and the Starcatcher (WV Public Theatre), Buddy (Gateway), Man of La Mancha (Jupiter Theater), 110 in the Shade (Dorset Theater Festival), A Christmas Carol (Hippodrome). TV: Divorce (HBO), Suddenly Rich (TLC), After Forever (Amazon Video), Saturday Night Live (NBC) Happy (syfi). Hugh is a Tony Award ® winning Broadway producer whose projects include Vanya + Sonia + Masha + Spike, Peter and the Starcatcher and others. Training: UNC-Greensboro (BFA Acting), University of Florida (MFA Acting). Insta/FB: @hughhysell www.HughHysell.com

Peter Oyloe
Johnny Cash
Biography »
Peter Oyloe

Recent credits include: Hank Williams in Hank Williams: Lost Highway (Clarence Brown Theatre), Paul Clayton in Search: Paul Clayton (Martha’s Vineyard Playhouse, Off Broadway), Juno (Timeline Theatre), Giorgio in Passion (Theo Ubique – Jeff Award Best Musical), See What I Wanna See (Bailiwick/Steppenwolf); Hank Williams in Hank Williams: Lost Highway (Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park - LCT Award Best Lead Actor, Musical), Hank Williams: Lost Highway with George Wendt (Merry Go Round Playhouse, Hank Williams in Hank Williams: Lost Highway (Filament Theatre Ensemble - Jeff Award Best Lead Actor, Musical); REVERB (Redtwist); Orpheus in Eurydice (Filament Theatre Ensemble); Elling (Redtwist Theatre, Jeff Award Nom., Best Actor); Michael in The Pillowman (Jeff Award, Best Supporting Actor), Alan Strang in Equus (Jeff Award, Best Actor), The Phantom in Phantom (Porchlight Musical Theatre); Cherry Smoke (The Side Project); Baal (TUTA), Marius in Les Misérables. Film work includes: In Love With A Nun (Cannes Selection), NBC’s Chicago PD and others. www.peteroyloe.com

Daniel Durston
Elvis Presley
Biography »
Daniel Durston

Previous: Million Dollar Quartet (The Little Theatre on the Square), Million Dollar Quartet (national tour), Flashdance the Musical (national tour), Memphis the Musical (national tour), For the Record: The Brat Pack (Norwegian Cruise Line), For the Record: Scorsese - American Crime Requiem (Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts), Vans Warped Tour, Max Schneider (various national tours). All my love to the Durston brothers for being everything a baby brother can ask for, my Mom and Dad who never once questioned my love and passion for the arts, the Masterson family for believing in me and creating the artist I am today, Lisa Granados and the Lee Family for the endless love and support, and to The King himself for breaking racial boundaries and changing the entire world for the better. For updates and original music please visit www.danieldurston.com and follow @downtowndurston

Austin Hohnke
Carl Perkins
Biography »
Austin Hohnke

is delighted to lace up his blue suede shoes again after a brief stint playing Nick Bottom in A Midsummer Night’s Dream in Durango, CO. Other favorite credits include Ring of Fire (Seven Angels Theatre), Legally Blonde (Ogunquit Playhouse), Much Ado About Nothing, and The 39 Steps (Merely Players). Austin has co-composed commercial jingles for Wal-Mart, Coca-Cola, and Publix. He normally resides in Brooklyn where he holds an advanced wine certificate from the WSET and spends his evenings practicing bluegrass mandolin. NYU/Tisch/CAP21 austinjhohnke.com

Press Coverage

  • Million Dollar Quartet Strikes it Rich at Laguna Playhouse

    There are few shows of this genre, i.e., cover bands, tributes to, impersonators and artists embodying a legendary character... or three or four... that have the triple-threat talent needed for these portrayals of Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis and Elvis Presley.

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  • Stu News Laguna

    When you can’t decide which of the actors on stage thrilled you most – and here I’m talking not just about the four men who portray famous singers in this performance, but the star turns also by Tiffan Borelli as Elvis’s girlfriend, Hugh Hysell in the grounding role of recording studio owner Sam Phillips, and acrobatic upright bass player (well, the bass is upright, but not always the musician), Bill Morey – then you know the performance has been one for the ages.

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  • Million Dollar Quartet

    Listen up anyone with a pulse, feet to tap and hands to clap: Y’all  need to be at the Laguna Playhouse to partake in a lot of shaking to “Million Dollar Quartet” between now and July 29.

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