By Doug Iden, May 29, 2025
Elvis Cashes in at Sun Records! Based on an actual event, Million Dollar Quartet rocks and rolls onto the stage of the Warsaw Federal Incline Theater.
Plot and Characters
On December 4, 1956, four music legends: Carl Perkins (Keaton Eckhoff), Elvis Presley (Corey Meyer), Johnny Cash (Kyle Taylor) and Jerry Lee Lewis (Evan Rogers) assembled at a ramshackle recording studio in Memphis, all with different agendas. But the real story is the emergence of new music genres (rock and roll and country/western) plus the maturation of four singers under the tutelage of Sam Phillips (Mike Comstock).
The primary narrator is Phillips who talks directly to the audience as he recounts how he met and eventually molded the musical styles of each of the singers. (Reality or self-aggrandizement?) Each of the singers has a different reason for visiting the studio. Perkins is there to find that elusive second big hit. Elvis wistfully wants to return to Sun Records. Cash reluctantly plans to tell Phillips that he has signed with another recording company and newcomer Lewis is looking for his first big break. Throughout the show, the singers snipe at each other while maintaining comradery. Perkins is upset that Elvis made a hit with “Blue Suede Shoes” which Perkins had written. Everyone pokes fun at the brash, outspoken Lewis. Cash is anxious to return to his gospel roots and Phillips is desperately trying to stay relevant at Sun Records. Eventually, the show breaks out into a jam session.
Musical Numbers
In this jukebox musical, twenty-two songs made famous by the singers are featured. All the performers play their own instruments along with studio musicians Rhys Boatwright on drums and Perkin’s brother Jay (Jan Diehl) on bass. Perkins opens with “Blue Suede Shoes” followed by Lewis trying to impress everyone with “Real Wild Child” while displaying his unique piano style. Cash, after much joshing about his “outlaw” background, sings “Folsom Prison Blues” and Elvis adds “That’s All Right, Mama.” Elvis persuades his girlfriend Dyanne (Amanda Sant) to do her Peggy Lee best with “Fever” and the ensemble concludes Act One with the lively gospel number “Down by the Riverside”. Featured songs in the second half include “Sixteen Tons” (Cash), “Great Balls of Fire” (Lewis), “My Babe” (Perkins), “Hound Dog” (Elvis) and ensemble numbers “Peace in the Valley,” “Let’s Have a Party” and “Whole Lotta Shakin’”.
Interpretation or Impression?
When playing real people with very popular and unique personalities and singing/instrumental styles, actors must decide whether to “interpret” the role or try to impersonate the person. In this production, there is both. Rogers impersonates both Lewis’ singing, piano playing, and aggressive, over-the-top personality. Meyer interprets Elvis’ talking but impersonates his frenetic, gyrating musical style with lots of leg and hip movements. Both Eckhoff (Perkins) and Taylor (Cash) interpret their respective roles. Eckhoff, Meyer and Rogers excel as musicians. Comstock portrays Phillips as both a caring, sympathetic person but also one with significant ego and braggadocio.
Production Team
Director/Musical Director Hunter Henrickson crafts a marvelous combination of acting and extraordinary musicianship. Brett Bowling’s single set shows the Sun Records studio with its eight gold records and a very detailed control room, emphasizing Phillip’s unique approach to the sound of his records. For most of the play, characters wear costumes by June Hill and Jesselee Whitson suited to their counterparts with Elvis in gold, Cash in black, Lewis in suspender-ed red pants, Perkins in country blue jeans and Phillips in a business suit. The story ends with a photograph of the actual participants (displayed by Denny Reed) and finishes with a montage of their songs. Audio by Greg Dastillung enhances the audience experience.
Overall
People will come for the music but then learn a lot about Sun Records, the infancy of rock and roll and country/western music and the four stars. This is a high energy production infused with sufficient dramatic storytelling to create a complete show and not just a concert. The musicality is superior featuring many familiar songs.
Ticket to Million Dollar Quartet
So, grab your guitar and some old ‘45’s and gyrate down to the Incline Theater to see/hear the Million Dollar Quartet running through June 22. Million Dollar Quartet runs May 28 – June 22, 2025 at Warsaw Federal Incline Theatre, in East Price Hill. Tickets are on sale through the box office, 513-241-6550, or online at https://www.cincinnatilandmarkproductions.com/
