by Cory Woodroof | May 8, 2014 | Opinion
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...
by Cory Woodroof | Mar 15, 2014 | Opinion
Getting ready to wrap up its brief stint at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center, Sister Act: The Musical does not have a single problem with leaving its joyous impression on all who attend. Based on the popular 90s comedy starring Whoopi Goldberg, the play follows Deloris Van Cartier, an aspiring singer who is whisked away to a church for a unique form of witness protection after she witnesses a rotten mobster commit a crime. While in hiding with a caring group of nuns, Cartier must to get used to her new surroundings, a challenge that increases when she is tasked to help the vocally-lacking ladies of the church’s choir. The musical eschews some of the pitfalls that cause other screen-to-stage adaptations to flounder. The musical numbers nicely compliment the storyline, the vocal ensemble is top-notch (hearing Hollis Resnik’s Mother Superior belt “Here Within These Walls” is an easy standout) and the humor actually works. However, the show rests solely on the performance of Ta’Rea Campbell as Cartier, and Campbell does not disappoint. She gets plenty of moments to showcase her immensely talented singing (listen in for “Sister Act,” a show-stopper in every sense of the phrase), but it’s her comedic timing that really impresses. Campbell and Resnik’s back-and-forth makes for some of the sharpest moments in the play. The fellow nuns all contribute greatly to the play’s success, and Chester Gregory earns a special nod for his take on the dedicated cop Eddie Souther, whose standalone number “I Could Be That Guy” might just be the highlight of the entire show. Overall, the musical is a triumphant reminder that...
