MEMPHIS Comes to Providence Performing Arts Center, 12/4-9

MEMPHIS, the 2010 Tony Award Winner for Best Musical, comes to the Providence Performing Arts Center (PPAC) Tuesday, December 4 through Sunday, December 9, 2012 for a limited engagement. Please note that MEMPHIS is not recommended for audiences under the age of nine.

Tickets are on sale NOW at the PPAC Box Office, online at www.ppacri.org and by phone at (401) 421-ARTS (2787). Tickets are $73 - $46; all ticket prices include a $3 per ticket restoration charge and are subject to change without notice. The PPAC Box Office is located at 220 Weybosset Street in downtown Providence. Box Office Hours are Monday through Friday, 10A to 5P; Saturday, 10A to 2P; and through curtain time(s) on performance days. Discounted admission is available for groups of 20 or more; for more information and to order, contact Group Sales Representative Paul Hiatt at phiatt@ppacri.org or (401) 574-3162.

Critically acclaimed MEMPHIS won four 2010 Tony Awards including Best Musical, Best Original Score (David Bryan and Joe DiPietro), Best Book (Joe DiPietro), and Best Orchestrations (David Bryan and Daryl Waters), and four Drama Desk Awards including Outstanding Musical, Outstanding Performance by an Actress (Montego Glover), Outstanding Music (David Bryan), and Outstanding Orchestration (David Bryan and Daryl Waters). MEMPHIS has also won four Outer Critic Circle Awards including Outstanding Musical, Outstanding Score (David Bryan & Joe DiPietro), Outstanding Actress (Montego Glover), and Outstanding Choreography (Sergio Trujillo).

MEMPHIS takes place in the smoky halls and underground clubs of the segregated 1950s, where a young white DJ named Huey Calhoun fell in love with everything he shouldn’t: rock 'n' roll and an electrifying black singer. MEMPHIS is an original story about the cultural revolution that erupted when his vision met her voice, and the music changed forever. Come along on their incredible journey to the ends of the airwaves -- filled with laughter, soaring emotion, and roof-raising rock 'n' roll.

The show features a brand new Tony winning score with music by Bon Jovi’s founding member and keyboardist David Bryan and lyrics by Bryan and Joe DiPietro (I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change), who also pens the musical’s book. Bryan and DiPietro also collaborated on the award-winning off-Broadway hit, The Toxic Avenger.

MEMPHIS is based on a concept by the late George W. George (producer of the Tony nominated Bedroom Farce and the film My Dinner With Andre), with direction by Tony nominee Christopher Ashley (Xanadu) and choreography by Sergio Trujillo (Jersey Boys, The Addams Family).

Scenic Design for MEMPHIS is by Tony® Award winner David Gallo (The Drowsy Chaperone, Reasons to Be Pretty), Costume Design is by Tony nominee Paul Tazewell (In The Heights), Lighting Design is by Tony Award winner Howell Binkley (Jersey Boys), and Sound Design is by Ken Travis (The Threepenny Opera).

David Richardson of WOR Radio calls MEMPHIS “The biggest hit on Broadway” while Charles Isherwood of the New York Times says, “David Bryan evokes the powerhouse funk of JAmes Brown, the hot guitar riffs of Chuck Berry, the smooth harmonies of The Temptations, the silken, bouncy pop of the great girl groups of the period.” The New York Post raves, “Of such thrills, Broadway is made,” Newsday calls the show “A smash! An extraordinary show,” the Daily News promises that MEMPHIS will “Blast you out the door humming and happy” and NY1’s Roma Torre cheers, “MEMPHIS ROCKS!”

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