Theatre News

Musicals Extend: Thriller & Million Dollar Quartet

West End musical Million Dollar Quartet has extended its book period at the Noel Coward Theatre and is now selling tickets through to 28 April 2012.

The show, which opened in the West End’s on 28 February 2011 (previews from 8 February), is inspired by the actual event that took place on 4 December 1956 at Sun Records in Memphis where 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.

Oliver Seymour-Marsh recently joined the West End cast which also includes Bill Ward (Sam Phillips), Ben Goddard (Jerry Lee Lewis), Derek Hagen (Johnny Cash), Francesca Jackson (Dyanne)and Michael Malarkey (Elvis Presley).

Million Dollar Quartet 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.


In other extension news, Michael Jackson tribute show Thriller Live! has extended its run at the Lyric Theatre until 22 January 2012. The show opened on 21 January 2009 (previews from 2 January), initially for four months only, but increased demand after Jackson’s death has led to numerous extensions in the West End – as well as the launch of a separate, extensive world tour.

The show is also currently on a national tour in the UK, playing dates in Bristol, Liverpool, Birmingham, Woking, Milton Keynes, Aberdeen, York, Aylesbury, Stoke, Southampton and Sunderland.

Billed as a concert show, Thriller Live includes Michael Jackson and Jackson 5 chart-toppers such as “I Want You Back”, “I’ll Be There”, “Earth Song”, “Blame It on the Boogie”, “Billie Jean”, “Beat It” and, of course, the title song, “Thriller”, from best-selling albums including Off The Wall, Thriller, Bad, Dangerous and HIStory. It’s directed by Gary Lloyd and written by Adrian Grant, with design by Jonathan Park. The cast is led by three 13-year olds who rotate in the role of Young Michael.