What would happen if you put music greats Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis in the same room for a jam session?

Well, let your imagination turn into reality, because this famous gathering actually happened on Tuesday, Dec. 4, 1956. It’s known as the day of the “Million Dollar Quartet.”

The musical Million Dollar Quartet dramatizes the historic time that all four gathered under the roof of Sun Record Studios in Memphis, Tenn., with legendary label owner Sam Phillips and a company of others.

The show itself is a crowd-pleaser, a nostalgia-dense wonderwork that features some of the best recreated music that stage can produce. Think of one of those gimmicky ‘Good Times Live’ shows with impersonators, but reorganized into the confines of a fascinatingly told story and with some of the best musicians to be found.

The music is largely made up of some of the quartet’s finest work (Presley’s “Hound Dog,” Cash’s “I Walk the Line,” Lewis’ “Great Balls of Fire,” and Perkins’ “Blue Suede Shoes” all make appearances), but a few lesser-known songs also make their way into the show. But, all are played with the same level of vivacious energy. Not only can this cast act – the ensemble can play.

Vince Nappo stands out among the group as the energetic Sam Phillips. Nappo shows both sides of Phillips – the mogul looking to continue his pioneering ways into the industry and the kind-hearted genius who pulls some of music’s greatest faces out of the woodworks and helps them find the soul of their music.

Cody Ray Slaughter does a mean Elvis impersonation, and John Countryman tosses himself into his performance of Lewis (he also throws in some astounding piano skills). James Barry makes a great character out of Perkins, and Scott Moreau plays Cash just as good as anyone else has. Kelly Lamont also earns good notices as Dyanne, Elvis’ beau, and the back-up band (Corey Kaiser as Jay Perkins and Patrick Morrow as Fluke) provide worthy accompaniment.

The live performances are good enough on their own, but the book by Colin Escott and Floyd Mutrux adds an effective dimension into the show. They tell the story of the night with enough dramatic intrigue that you’re left guessing at history (never a bad thing). The book, the cast and, of course, the music all make this a play that cannot be missed.

The show is probably the closest anyone is going to get to that legendary session, and that makes Million Dollar Quartet as much of a ‘must-see’ production as anything could.

The show is playing through May 11 at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center. 

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