Interviews

WOS TV: Up Close With … Million Dollar Quartet

Million Dollar Quartet, the jukebox musical featuring the music of Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis opened at the Noel Coward Theatre on 28 February (previews from 8 February 2011).

Former Coronation Street star Bill Ward plays legendary music producer Sam Phillips, and is joined in the cast by Ben Goddard (Jerry Lee Lewis), Derek Hagen (Johnny Cash), Francesca Jackson (Dyanne), Robert Britton Lyons (Carl Perkins) and Michael Malarkey (Elvis Presley).

Joseph Pike talks to Malarkey, Ward and Hagen about portraying some of the biggest names in 20th century music and popular culture on stage and about the history of rock and roll.


Million Dollar Quartet is inspired by the actual event that took place on 4 December 1956 at Sun Records in Memphis where, in an move masterminded by Sun Records’ founder Sam Phillips, brought Elvis Presley back to the recording studio that launched him to stardom and had him play with the other musicians he had discovered.

The musical features 20 rock ’n’ roll, gospel, R&B and country hits all taken from the back catelogues of the quartet members including: “Blue Suede Shoes”, “I Walk The Line”, “Fever”, “Great Balls of Fire”, “Hound Dog”, “Folsom Prison Blues” and “Whole Lotta Shakin’
Goin’ On”.

It has a book by Colin Escott and Floyd Mutrux and was originally directed and conceived by Floyd Mutrux. The has scenic design by Derek McLane, costumes by Jane Greenwood, lighting design by Howell Binkley, sound by Kai Harada and musical arrangement and supervision by Chuck Mead.

Million Dollar Quartet is produced in the West End by Relevant Theatricals, John Cossette Productions, American Pop Anthology, John Gore, Thomas B McGrath, Joseph Smith and Michael McCabe.