On Dec. 4, 1956, four legendary performers found themselves in Sun Records’ studios for one night and held an impromptu jam session.
That’s the premise for the musical “Million Dollar Quartet,” but its writers wondered “what if” and have created a new musical called “Million Dollar Quartet Christmas.” The show’s Nov. 26 stop at Augusta’s Bell Auditorium is part of the debut tour.
“This takes place in a parallel universe to ‘Million Dollar Quartet.’” It’s reimagined in a Christmas setting,” said Colin Escott, who co-wrote the Tony-nominated “Million Dollar Quartet” and has crafted the Christmas show.
Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash and Jerry Lee Lewis were the Million Dollar Quartet, and the four personalities are brought together again for this Christmas songfest in a parallel world that could’ve happened after the first jam session.
Rehearsals took place in Arizona in the fall with the creative team coming together to set the show and ready it for a run in Phoenix as well as the multi-city tour.
“Million Dollar Quartet” was nominated for three Tony Awards in 2010 and since its run on Broadway has traveled to numerous cities as part of national tours. It was also staged prior to Broadway in Chicago beginning in 2007, he said.
During the rehearsal process for the Christmas show, Escott learned there’s a subculture of former “Million Dollar Quartet” actors.
“There’s this weird brotherhood,” he said.
And each actor has his own story to tell.
Some actors were tribute singers looking for more acting experience when they joined the tour, while some were actors hoping to gain more specialized singing experience. All of them have a bond, he said.
The original show has been performed across the United States, in Europe and on Norwegian Cruise Line.
Chuck Mead, who is the Christmas show’s musical director, said he would love to see the original show performed back-to-back with the Christmas production.
Since it’s a Christmas show, the songs will be ones that people would expect to hear over the holiday season.
Songs such as “Blue Christmas” would be on that list; others people might not think of such as “Boogie Woogie Santa Claus.”
According to Mead, some new Christmas songs are included as well that could’ve been sung by the famous four.
The show begins its travels Nov. 20 with the tour ending Jan. 2, 2022.
Tickets for the Million Dollar Quartet Christmas are $43-$59.25 and are available at aectix.com. Doors will open at 7 p.m., and the show will start at 8 p.m.
Charmain Z. Brackett is the Features Editor for The Augusta Press. Reach her at charmain@theaugustapress.com
