MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET, which had its West End premiere in 2011 after success on Broadway, returns to London for Christmas after extensive UK-wide touring, with a cast of rockabilly #StageFaves playing Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis and Elvis Presley, and the one and only Martin Kemp joining to play the 'father of rock'n'roll' Sam Phillips...
MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET, the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical and West End hit, today reveals casting for the red-hot rock ‘n’ roll extravaganza which appears at Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall as part of Southbank Centre’s Winter Festival supported by NatWest. MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET plays a limited season starring Martin Kemp from Saturday 17 December 2016 to Monday 2 January 2017.
Inspired by the true story of the famed recording session where Sam Phillips, brought together icons Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis and Elvis Presley, MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET includes more than 20 legendary rock ‘n’ roll hits, including Blue Suede Shoes, Hound Dog, I Walk The Line and Great Balls of Fire.
MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET brings that legendary night to life, featuring a score of rock hits which bring you inside the recording studio with four major talents who came together as a red-hot rock ‘n’ roll band for one unforgettable night.
MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET is written by Tony Award nominees Colin Escott and Floyd Mutrux and produced by Simon Friend, Mark Goucher, Tom O’Connell Productions/Debbie Hicks Productions, Laurence Myers and Gavin Kalin. Olivier nominated Ian Talbot OBE, renowned for his tenure as both Artistic and Managing director at The Open Air Theatre in Regent’s Park, directs.
Bios
Martin Kemp joins the cast as legendary record producer Sam Phillips – The man who brought the four recording stars together to create music history. Martin rose to fame as the bassist in one of Britain’s best-loved bands, Spandau Ballet, with over 25 million records sold worldwide, and a string of no.1 hits.
No stranger to the screen Martin became a household favourite playing loveable rogue Steve Owen in Eastenders, for which he won a number of awards. Martin’s numerous TV and film credits include, The Krays, Sugar Town, Back in Business, and Love Lies Bleeding, as well as many series of one off dramas for ITV. His book ‘True – An Autobiography of Martin Kemp’ was published in 2000 and spent several months in the Sunday Times best sellers list. In 2017 he joins the judging panel for Let It Shine, a new reality TV series with Gary Barlow.
Joining Martin for the festive celebrations are five talented actor/musicians currently appearing in the UK tour of MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET:
Martin Kaye plays Jerry Lee Lewis. Martin played the role on the first North American tour of Million Dollar Quartet, which, after a year and a half, led him to open the Las Vegas Production at Harrah’s. Martin has received countless accolades and the award for Best Actor by Vegas Seven Magazine.
Robbie Durham performs as Johnny Cash. His stage credits include 1st cover Tony in Billy Elliot (Victoria Palace); Hoods (Arts Theatre); Sunny Afternoon (Harold Pinter Theatre); Dreamboats and Petticoats (West End & UK tour); Kiss Me, Kate (Upstairs at the Gatehouse); The Confession Room (Landor Theatre); Olivier Awards 2011 (Drury Lane Theatre); Cinderella (Pavilion Theatre Rhyl); Broadway to West End (Drury Lane Theatre).
Ross William Wild joins the cast as Elvis Presley. Recent roles include Norman in Dreamboats and Miniskirts (UK Tour), Michael in The Witches of Eastwick (The Watermill Theatre), Jason in the European Premiere of BARE (Union Theatre and Greenwich Theatre in London) and Kenickie in Grease (National tour).
Matt Wycliffe appears as Carl Perkins. Stage credits include Outspan Foster in The Commitments (Palace Theatre) Bob Guadio in Jersey Boys (Prince Edward Theatre, WhatsOnStage Award nomination), Buddy in The Buddy Holly Story (Duchess Theatre).
Katie Ray is Dyanne. Her stage credits include Wendy in Peter Pan (Grand Canal Theatre, Dublin and Mayflower Theatre, Southampton), Truly Scrumptious in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (UK Tour), Liesl in The Sound of Music (Royal Palladium).
