“Million Dollar Quartet Christmas” lights a “Ring Of Fire” around the Marriott Theatre
When the doors to Memphis’ Sun Studio opened on December 4, 1956, little did progenitor Sam Phillips know he’d soon be witness to a historic rock and roll jam session like no other, which has since been immortalized on numerous album releases and Broadway’s Tony Award-winning “Million Dollar Quartet” series.
Although primary recording client Carl Perkins was already a star thanks to “Blue Suede Shoes,” Jerry Lee Lewis was relatively unknown to the masses and was simply there to play piano, until of course none other than Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash both separately stopped by and stayed for the afternoon.
Those wanting to see how it all unfolded, albeit with a few innocuous artistic liberties, can turn to the retooled “Million Dollar Quartet Christmas” at the Marriott Theatre through Sunday, January 4 under the direction of Scott Weinstein, who worked on the original production and helped develop the reboot.
Unlike the standard edition featuring a hearty helping of general greatest hits, the majority of this musical revue focuses on holiday tunes cut at some point by the foursome, but not specifically together on the exact date.
Nevertheless, they are easily inserted into the pre-existing storyline and are enthusiastically carried by the remarkably authentic interpretations of Colton Sims as Presley, Michael D. Potter as Cash, JP Coletta as Lewis, Trevor Lindley Craft as Perkins, Ross Griffin as Phillips, Teah Kiang Mirabelli as Elvis’ renamed girlfriend Dyanne, plus band members Jed Feder as Fluke and Cody Siragusa as Brother Jay.
“Santa Claus Is Back In Town,” “Blue Christmas,” “Go Tell It On The Mountain,” “Santa Baby,” “Silent Night,” “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree / Jingle Bell Rock” and “I’ll Be Home For Christmas” are just a few from the generous track list sprinkled between conversations about record deals, fame and family, alongside even a few arguments to be ironed out.
There’s still a fair share of non-seasonal standards of the era, including “Don’t Be Cruel,” “Chantilly Lace,” “Tutti Frutti” and “Ring Of Fire,” culminating in a concert-styled home stretch of “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town,” “Mele Kalikimaka,” “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen,” “Jingle Bells” and “Run, Rudolph, Run” where any perceived competition disappears into pure camaraderie.
Besides faithfully commemorating the once-in-a-lifetime occasion that more or less ended when “Elvis left the building,” “Million Dollar Quartet Christmas” also brings the Marriott’s 50th season to a climatic close, though before it’s over, is bound to make a fairly-priced gift for the multitudes well worth every cent.
