Christian Houston

Love is love. That is the overarching message to the storyline of MEMPHIS. Love who you love: male, female, black or white. In the case of this particular show, the historically societal boundary being crossed is one of race. However, the words and songs in the script could apply to many current-day issues. Sadly, the performance at Music Theatre of Denton misses the mark and the message is lost amid uneven performances and questionable direction.

From the underground dance clubs of 1950's Memphis, Tennessee, comes the Tony and Olivier Award-winning musical that bursts off the stage with explosive dancing, irresistible songs and a thrilling tale of fame and forbidden love. Inspired by actual events, Memphis is about a white radio DJ who wants to change the world and a black club singer who is ready for her big break. Come along on their incredible journey to the ends of the airwaves - filled with laughter, soaring emotion and roof-raising rock 'n' roll. Winner of four 2010 Tony Awards including Best Musical and two 2015 Olivier Awards, Memphis features a Tony-winning book by Joe DiPietro and a Tony-winning original score with music by Bon Jovi founding member David Bryan. Tickets go on sale Friday, April 6th.

By 2009, when the musical MEMPHIS opened on Broadway, America had nearly 60 years since the Civil Rights Movement began in the 1950s. But, despite significant progress, headlines even today continue to affirm our society's failings in the areas of discrimination and prejudice. Monday night, when the house lights faded for opening night of MEMPHIS at Theatre Three, the crowd cheered. Although I was just as eager to support the company's newest production, I'd not considered how moved I would be by the historic, but still timely themes.

Memphis is set in the 1950s where rock 'n' roll was born: the seedy underground nightclubs, radio stations and recording studios of the musically-rich Tennessee city. With an original book and score by David Bryan (keyboard player, songwriter and founding member of Bon Jovi) and Joe DiPietro (I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change and All Shook Up!), it tells the fictional story of Huey Calhoun, a white radio DJ with a passion for R&B music and Felicia Farrell, an up-and-coming black club singer that he meets one fateful night on Beale Street. Despite the objections of their loved ones (Huey's close-minded mama and Felicia's cautious brother, a club owner), they embark on a dangerous affair. Filled with high-octane dancing, songs that perfectly capture the era, and an absorbing tale of fame and forbidden love, the show offers soaring emotion and roof-raising rock 'n' roll.

Theatre Three presents the Tony Award-winning rock 'n' roll musical MEMPHIS by David Bryan and Joe DiPietro, running April 28 - May 22, 2016, with opening night set for May 2. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the cast in costume below!

Theatre Three presents the Tony Award-winning rock 'n' roll musical MEMPHIS by David Bryan and Joe DiPietro, running April 28 - May 22, 2016, with opening night set for May 2. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the cast in costume below!