Music and Lyrics by David Bryan
Lyrics and Book by Joe DiPietro
Directed by Christopher Ashley
Set in the turbulent south in the 1950’s, MEMPHIS is the story of Huey Calhoon, a white radio DJ whose love of music transcends race lines and airwaves. With his influence and encouragement, African American music heard only in segregated clubs reaches radio audiences everywhere, and the Golden Era of early rock ‘n’ roll takes flight. But when Huey falls for Felicia Farrell, a black singer he is helping to promote, and despite objections of their loved ones, they embark on a dangerous affair. Whether the world is really ready for their music, and their love, it is all put to the test.
During its three-year Broadway run at the Schubert MEMPHIS successfully completed 1,166 performances and accumulated four 2010 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, four Outer Critic Circle Awards, and four Drama Desk Awards. MEMPHIS launched a successful 55 city National Tour that ran from 2011-2013. In 2011, NCM and Broadway Worldwide filmed the live stage version of MEMPHIS for theatrical release, making it the first Broadway show to release a film version while still running on Broadway. The DVD, Blu Ray and the Original Broadway Cast Recording of MEMPHIS are all available for purchase. The Second National Tour was produced by Networks Presentations in 2013, followed by the West End production in London in 2014, a Japanese production at the Akasaka ACT Theater in Tokyo in 2015, and an Australian production at Chapel Off Chapel in Melbourne in 2017.