Audiences are invited to relive one of the most magical nights in rock and roll history, but this time with a decidedly festive twist. Bucks County Playhouse is presenting a special holiday version of the musical Million Dollar Quartet Christmas. With a book by Colin Escott and directed by Hunter Foster, who starred in the original production of Million Dollar Quartet on Broadway, this new Christmas version is inspired by the imagined story of four music icons who gather for an all-night jam session. The show previews Nov. 18, with an official opening night performance on Saturday, Nov. 19, at 7:30 p.m. Performances run through Jan. 1.
On Dec. 4, 1956, an unlikely quartet of Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins — all young artists in their 20s on the verge of superstardom — accidentally converged on Sun Records in Memphis. Million Dollar Quartet Christmas imagines an all-night jam session, now reset as a celebration of the most wonderful time of the year. The gang takes audiences on a musical journey through stories of Christmas past, present and future, with songs including rock ‘n roll holiday hits like “Blue Christmas,” “Jingle Bell Rock” and more. The show is performed live onstage by a cast of actors who play their own instruments.
“After breaking Playhouse box office records with our production of Million Dollar Quartet in 2018, we are bringing the boys back for a new holiday version of this musical that’s perfect for the whole family,” said producing director Alexander Fraser. “No one knows this show better than Hunter Foster, the original Sam Phillips on Broadway. Having directed nearly a dozen shows for us, we’re happy to have him back in the director’s chair, and we can’t wait to see what he’s got in store for this new holiday edition.”
The Playhouse cast includes Joe Boover as Elvis Presley, Tyler Michael Breeding as Johnny Cash, Jason Cohen as Jerry Lee Lewis and Sam Sherwood as Carl Perkins. They are joined by Margaret Dudasik as Dyanne, Bart Shatto as Sam Phillips, James David Larson as Brother Jay Perkins and Tucker Cruz Marshall as Fluke. Guiliana Augello, Brian Michael Henry and Sam C. Jones round out the cast.
The production will play the following schedule: Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m.; Wednesdays at 2 p.m.; Thursdays at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; Fridays at 8 p.m.; Saturdays at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.; and Sundays at 2 p.m. There are special holiday performances on Wednesday, Nov. 23, at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, Nov. 25, at 2 p.m.; Wednesday, Dec. 21, at 7:30 p.m.; and Friday, Dec. 23, at 2 p.m. There are no performances on Thanksgiving Day or Christmas Day.
Tickets are on sale now starting at $70. Special rates available for groups of 10 or more. Visit buckscountyplayhouse.org, call 215-862-2121 or stop by the box office at 70 S. Main St. in New Hope for tickets and more information.
