Audience Guide
Generous support for the Adopt-A-School Project is provided by C.R. Bard Foundation, The Mall at Short Hills, MetLife
Foundation, Nordstrom, PNC Foundation, PSEG Foundation, The Schumann Fund for New Jersey, and Wells Fargo Foundation.
This program is made possible in part by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.
Paper Mill Playhouse is a not-for-profit arts organization.
Audience Guide content compiled and written by Andrew Lowy.
“On December 4, 1956, one man brought Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Elvis Presley to
play together for the first and only time. His name was Sam Phillips... The place was Sun Records...
That night they made Rock ‘n’ Roll history.”
~MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET~
PRODUCTION HISTORY
Million Dollar Quartet was dreamed up by Colin Escott and Floyd Mutrux after
being inspired by the story of the night four rock legends converged on Sun
records in Memphis. In 2006, the musical premiered with a five-week run at
Seaside Music Theatre in Daytona Beach, Florida. It soon after broke all box
office records during its short run at the Village Theater in Washington.
The show became a smash hit in its third production, which initially premiered
at the Goodman Theater in Chicago in October 2008. It quickly moved for a commercial run on the North Side
of Chicago at the Apollo Theater. The show became the longest running musical in Chicago history in 2013 and
by the time it closed in 2015, it had played over 3,000 performances.
The success of the Chicago production brought on the demand for productions in Las Vegas and Broadway. It
opened at the Nederlander Theater on April 11, 2010 and was nominated for three Tony Awards, winning for
Best Featured Actor (Levi Kreis) and receiving nominations for Best Book and Best Musical. It also received
nominations for the Outer Critics Circle, Drama Desk, and Drama League Awards. After playing over 500
performances on Broadway, the show moved Off Broadway to New World Stages where it would run for another
year, closing in June 2012. During the Broadway run, an international production was launched at the Noel
Coward Theatre on London’s West End, where it would go onto run for one year
In September, 2010, the sole surviving member of the quartet, Jerry Lewis, joined the company for an encore
performance. In attendance that night were President Bill and Hillary Clinton and their family.
The events that inspired the musical are currently being featured on television in the new CMT series Sun
Records.
http://www.milliondollarquartetlive.com/tour-production.html
http://www.theatreinchicago.com/news.php?articleID=732
CREATIVE TEAM OF MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET
Hunter Foster (Director) is an artistic associate at the Bucks County Playhouse, where he has
directed Company, Ain’t Misbehavin’, The Buddy Holly Story, National Pastime, The Rocky
Horror Show, Summer of ’42, and It’s a Wonderful Life, and later this spring will direct a new
musical adaptation of the movie Clue. He also has directed at Cape Playhouse, North Carolina
Theatre, and Casa Mañana, as well as Million Dollar Quartet for Ogunquit, Gateway, St. Louis
Rep, and Westchester Broadway. He wrote the books to the musicals Jasper in Deadland,
Summer of ’42, Clyde and Bonnie: A Folktale, and more. Hunter’s Broadway acting credits
include The Bridges of Madison County, Hands on a Hardbody, Million Dollar Quartet (as Sam
Phillips), Little Shop of Horrors (Tony nomination), Urinetown, and Footloose, among others, and he appeared
at Paper Mill in Children of Eden.
Colin Escott (Writer) Mr. Escott is a writer and producer, who famously wrote the book Good
Rockin’ Tonight: Sun Records and the Birth of Rock ‘n’ Roll. This was the first in-depth account
of the Sun Records story and is widely considered the foremost authority of the history of that
famous company. His later book, Hank Williams–The Biography, was recently adapted into the
movie I Saw the Light, starring Tom Hiddleston and Elizabeth Olsen. His multi-CD box set, The
Complete Hank Williams, won a Grammy, and another of his productions, B.B. King- King of the
Blues, was nominated for a Grammy. He is the co-author with Mr. Mutrux on the Broadway
musical Baby It’s You. Born in England, Colin Escott lives near Nashville, Tennessee.
Floyd Mutrux (Writer) After attending Columbia University and Second City, Mr. Mutrux
moved to Los Angeles where he was integral in many films. Some of the films he conceived,
wrote, directed, or produced 50 films: American Hot Wax, Scarecrow, Urban Cowboy,
Untouchables, Up in Smoke, Dick Tracy, and There Goes My Baby. On Broadway, he wrote
Baby It’s You, a musical about the creation of the girl group The Shirelles. It ran over 150
performances on Broadway in 2011. He’s also the creator of the musical The Boy From New
York City, the story of producer George Goldner.
WHO WAS IN THE MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET?
JOHNNY CASH (“THE MAN IN BLACK”)
Singer and Guitarist
From: Kingsland, Arkansas
Famous Songs: “I Walk the Line”, “Ring of Fire”, “Riders
in the Sky”, “Get Rhythm”
Inspired by Blues and spiritual music, he created a
universal sound. After serving in the air force, he
returned as a self-taught musician who took the
country world by storm. His song “Walk the Line” was
an immediate hit record. After his star rose, he
encountered some personal struggles that derailed
him for years, until his wife June helped him settle his
life. He then went on to tour the world and create some of the most memorable country tunes in history. In a
career where he wrong thousands of songs, had 130 hit country records, and sold over $90 million records, he
was inducted into the Country (1980)) AND Rock and Roll Halls of Fame (1992).
JERRY LEE LEWIS (“THE KILLER”)
Singer and Pianist
From: Ferriday, Louisiana
Famous Songs: “Great Balls of Fire”, “Real Wild Child”, “Whole Lotta
Shakin’ Going On”
From an early age, Lewis showed a deep talent at the piano and
moved to Memphis to start a career as a studio musician. He soon
was creating his own music based off spending a lot of time in black
churches. He became an innovator with his piano based rock n roll
music and created some of the biggest rock n roll hits of his time. He
was the first person to be inducted into the first class of the Rock ‘n
Roll Hall of Fame in 1986.
CARL PERKINS (“THE KING OF ROCKABILLY”)
Singer and Guitarist
From: Tiptonville, Tennessee
Famous Songs: “Blue Swede Shoes”, “Matchbox”, “Honey Don’t”
Carl Perkins is best known for combining elements of rock n roll and
country together to form rockabilly. Many musicians over the years have
credited Perkins with creating the template in which hundreds of artists
have followed. Along with his brothers, they had a promising career until
a tragic car accident derailed their progress. Mr. Perkins eventually would
go onto write a ton of hit songs for many famous singers, as well as tour
with Johnny Cash. He was inducted into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame in
1987.
ELVIS PRESLEY (“THE KING OF ROCK ‘N ROLL”)
Singer and Guitarist
From: Tupelo, Mississippi
Famous Songs: “Hound Dog”, “Jailhouse Rock”,
“Heartbreak Hotel”, “Love Me Tender”
While showing an interest in music from a young
age, he did several jobs while pursuing his dream to
be a musician. He eventually got Sam Phillips to
listen to his demo and the rest was history. Presley
created a new sound that combined country,
gospel, and rock n roll, which became an immediate
sensation. After a string of hits, he paused his music
career to serve in the US Army. Following his service,
he starred in many films and created more
memorable music. He passed away at the young age
of 42 and to this day is a beloved cultural icon. He
had 149 songs appear on the Billboard Top 100 list
and is estimated to have sold over 1 billion records.
WHAT HAPPENED ON DECEMBER 4, 1956?
There’s a saying that goes “when the legend becomes fact, print the legend.” This is certainly the case when
telling the story of what became known as the Million Dollar Quartet.
What has become the legend over many years is that on December 4,
1956, Carl Perkins and his brothers arrived at Sun Records in Memphis
to lay down some tracks. He had had a hit already with “Blue Suede
Shoes” but was looking to record some new material. Producer Sam
Phillips (see picture on right) thought they could use a pianist so he called
in his friend Jerry Lee Lewis to come in and work with them. At some
point during the afternoon, Elvis Presley, who at the time was at the top
of his popularity, stopped by the studio with his girlfriend Marilyn Evans
as he was a good friend of Mr. Phillips. Per many stories, he was just
listening to playback on the tracks in the booth when he went into the
studio to talk about the music and eventually started jamming with them.
Depending on who you believe, Johnny Cash
soon followed into the studio and started
playing with them. In his autobiography, Cash
believes that he was the first one at the studio
and everyone happened to stop by after his
arrival. Phillips could not believe what was
happening in his studio and called reporter Bob
Johnson of the Memphis Press-Scimitar. He ran
over to the studio with a photographer (see
picture on right) to capture this moment in music
history, saying that this session could “sell a
million,” which led to them being called the
Million Dollar Quartet.
The product of this night was hours of
recordings that have been beloved for over a
half a century. The musicians each had a shared love for different genres of music, which was evident from their
song selection. There was everything from spiritual hymns, country classics, and rock n roll all happening one
after the other for hours.
This almost mythical day became a significant event in music and 20th Century culture and to many included
the greatest minds in American rock n roll history.
http://www.sunrecords.com/news/million-dollar-quartet-dec-4-1956
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2008/nov/13/elvispresley-usa-girlfriend-chicago
http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/music-arts/cast-broadway-million-dollar-quartet-talented-music-missingstory-article-1.165239
FUN SONG FACTS IN MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET
Johnny Cash wrote “Folsom Prison Blues” after seeing the
movie Inside the Walls of Folsom Prison while serving in the Air
Force in Germany. Cash performed the song at Folsom Prison
on January 13, 1968.
LIFE IN THE 1950S
The decade of the 50s was one that is looked back upon today as a simpler time. The world was not as
complicated as it is today and few people had a television in their home, much less a computer. For many
people, the center of their existence was home and family. Suburban living was on the rise and the roles for
men and women were clearly defined. Men felt the societal pressure of bringing
home a paycheck to support a wife and family. Women felt the pressure to stay and
home and be a wife and mother.
Back in the 50s, a woman's best chance at employment was
in traditionally accepted ‘women's jobs’ such as secretary,
teacher, nurse, librarian, etc. There was an economic
incentive to get married and stay married. People also got
married younger. The average age for a first marriage was
22.8 years old for men and 20.3 for women. In 2010 the
median age for a first marriage was 28.2 for men and 26.1
for women. In 1950 there were 40,174,705 employed males and only 15,559,454
employed females.
In a typical suburban 50s household, the family would watch TV after dinner, if they had one, which by the end
of the decade was likely. The whole family watched the same show because there was only one TV. But the
children might have had a small record player or a transistor radio. That transistor radio helped to spread the
popularity of Rock and Roll. Popular artists such as Bill Haley, Elvis Presley, and Jerry Lee Lewis were promoted
on radio by popular disc-jockeys (DJs) like Alan Freed (see picture on left).
When Bill Haley's “Rock
Around the Clock” (see picture
on right) became popular in
1955, the nation learned to
swing to a whole new sound.
The song would later come to
represent the entire decade.
Fashion successes were Bill Blass and his blue jeans, poodle skirts made of felt and
decorated with sequins and poodle appliqués, pony tails for girls, and flat tops and crew
cuts for guys. Teenagers were defined as a separate generation and were represented by
James Dean who wore blue jeans in Rebel Without a Cause and created a fashion and
attitude sensation. We liked watching and dancing to Dick Clark's “American Bandstand”
(see picture on right) on TV. Fad hits with kids were toys like hula hoops, Davy Crockett coon
skin hats, and Silly Putty.
JUKEBOX MUSICALS
A jukebox musical is a stage or film musical that uses previously released popular songs as its musical score.
Usually the songs have a connection with a particular popular musician or group — because they were either
written by, or for, the artists in question, or at least covered by them. The songs are contextualized into
a dramatic plot: often the biographical story of the performer(s) whose music is featured, although in some
cases the plot does not revolve around the particular group at all.
Year
Title
Based on the music of
1977
Elvis
Elvis Presley
1978
Ain't Misbehavin'
The Harlem Renaissance/Fats Waller
1984
Leader of the Pack
Ellie Greenwich, Jeff Barry, and Phil Spector
1988
Always ... Patsy Cline
Patsy Cline
1989
Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story
Buddy Holly, including many early rock "standards"
1990
Five Guys Named Moe
Louis Jordan
1995
Smokey Joe's Cafe
Leiber and Stoller
1998
Saturday Night Fever
The Bee Gees
1999
Mamma Mia!
ABBA
1999
The Marvelous Wonderettes
Female vocal harmony groups of the 1950s and 1960s
2002
We Will Rock You
Queen
2002
Movin' Out
Billy Joel
2003
The Boy from Oz
Peter Allen
2004
On the Record
The Walt Disney Company
2005
Lennon
John Lennon
2005
Good Vibrations
The Beach Boys
2005
All Shook Up
Elvis Presley
2005
Jersey Boys
Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons
2006
Priscilla Queen of the Desert – the
Musical
Various Artists, based on the movie, Priscilla, Queen of the Desert
2006
Ring of Fire
Johnny Cash
2006
Rock of Ages
Glam metal of the 1980s
2006
Thriller - Live
Michael Jackson
2006
The Times They Are A-Changin'
Bob Dylan
2007
Xanadu
Electric Light Orchestra and Olivia Newton-John
Year
Title
Based on the music of
2010
Come Fly Away
Frank Sinatra
2010
Million Dollar Quartet
Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Johnny Cash
2010
American Idiot
Green Day
2012
Viva Forever!
Spice Girls
2012
Disaster!
Popular songs from the 1970s
2013
Beautiful: The Carole King Musical
Carole King
2013
Motown: The Musical
Motown
2014
Holler If Ya Hear Me
Tupac Shakur
2015
On Your Feet!
Emilio Estefan and Gloria Estefan
ACTIVITIES AND QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
1. How was life in the 50s different than today? What ideas still exist? Has your view of the 50s changed
since watching MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET?
2. What does Rock ‘n’ Roll mean to you? What artists represent this genre of music today?
3. Who has the most music influence amongst the men in MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET? Does one
character have more power than the others?
4. What was most exciting about these four men jamming together? What song sticks with you?
5. What did you learn about Sam Phillips based on his actions during the recording session?