Memphis Lives in Philadelphia

Photo by Mark Gavin
Photo by Mark Gavin

The Walnut Street Theatre is ending their 206th season with a bang as Memphis, the hit four-time Tony Award winning Broadway musical, comes to a close this weekend. Don’t miss your chance to see the musical that is shaking down the WST with it’s electrifying rock and roll score, breathtaking dancing, and the outstanding vocals that will leave you with chills.

Loosely based on real life disc jockey Dewey Phillips, one of the first white DJ’s to play black music in Memphis in the 1950’s. David Bryan of Bon Jovi (music and lyrics) and Joe DiPietro (book) are the creators of Memphis, and they both won Tony Awards for Best Original Score and Best Book of a Musical for this production!

Photo by Mark Gavin
Photo by Mark Gavin

Memphis tells the story of a white radio DJ, Huey, who dreams of changing the world and a black club singer, Felicia, who wants to achieve her “colored dreams” outside of Memphis, Tennessee. Huey finds himself drawn to an underground dance club when he hears Felicia’s voice from outside. He then promises to make her a star and get her records on the radio. Along their journey to fame and fortune, they develop a forbidden love against the will of Huey’s mother and Felicia’s brother who believes you should date within your own race.

The best thing about Memphis is that not only is it a hilarious, feel good musical, but it’s filled with life lessons about love, race, success, and staying true to yourself that are still relevant today to all ages and races.

Returning back to the Walnut Theatre, director and choreographer Richard Stafford and his team have brought the Broadway magic from Memphis and brought it to Philadelphia. Previous work of Strafford’s includes Curtains, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, and Beauty and the Beast.

Memphis stars Christopher Sutten, a performer previously seen at the Walnut Theatre , as well as Huey Calhoun and Kimber Sprawl, who made her Walnut debut this season as Felicia Farrell.

Winner of the 2010 Tony Award for Best Musical, Memphis ran on Broadway 2009 to 2012. It won four Tony Awards and four Drama Desk Awards. It then made its way overseas to the West End and Tokyo before making its stop in Philadelphia. Memphis opened in Philadelphia on May 12 and will play its final performance on July 12!

There are still tickets for the remaining performances and great seats are also still available! Set your dial “smack dab in the middle” of your radio and get your tickets to Memphis before it’s too late! Show times are Wed-Fri at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. with the final show at 7 p.m.