Friday, March 18, 2011

'Memphis' on Broadway Comes to Movie Screens


In a rare endeavor, a musical still running on Broadway, will be filmed and released to movie theaters across the country. 'Memphis', the 2010 Tony Award winner for best musical was filmed in January in high definition and scheduled to play cinemas for four performances beginning April 28, 2011.

This is the first musical to ever receive such a treatment. For movie audiences, the live performance will feature the original cast including the stars, Chad Kimball and Montego Glover, who were nominated for leading acting Tony Awards. The presentation will include behind-the-scenes footage.

The timing is to draw attention to the upcoming national tour of the show and to the New York production at the Shubert Theatre now in its second year of performances.

The musical is about what happens when a 1950s Memphis DJ with white listeners decides to play African-American music. The DJ becomes involved in an interracial love affair in the segregated South. The story is inspired by the legendary DJ Dewey Phillips and the music that became known as "rock 'n' roll." The film won four Tony Awards for best musical, best book, best score and best orchestrations. Bon Jovi songwriter and band member David Bryan with Joe DiPietro composed the score of gospel, rhythm and blue, rock and soul. The show opened on Broadway October 19, 2009 and continues an open-ended run. For more info visit MemphistheMusical.com.

I was underwhelmed when I saw the production live on Broadway last June. By winning best musical, expectations should be high. This will give me the opportunity to revisit the show for a second look.

The filmed production is a presentation of Broadway Worldwide and NCM Fathom. Scheduled show times are April 28, 30 and May 3 at 7:30pm and May 1st at 12:30pm. Visit fathomevents.com for tickets and a movie theater near you. Tickets are priced at $20. Not a bad deal considering an orchestra ticket top out at $131.50 and premium seats priced at $251.50.

A review will be published by The Hopeful Traveler after the first movie presentation.

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