'Memphis' Lives in Us: The Official Love Thread — Page 4

05/05 -- Broadway.com just posted this! They did a wonderul job covering Chad Kimball as he went to the 2010 Tony Award “Meet the Nominees” press junket today. I LOVE the pics!

http://www.broadway.com/shows/memphis/buzz/broadwaycom-exclusive-memphis-star-chad-kimballs-whirlwind-new-life-tony-award-nominee/

Justin time to make a movie of 'Memphis'?

Joe DiPietro recently confirmed that there was interest from a few studios into making a film of 'Memphis,' and now the N.Y. Post's Page Six says Justin Timberlake, who just saw the show, was overheard telling David Bryan he'd like to turn it into a movie. Hmmm. Would he produce and play Huey? Who would be Felicia on film? I'd love to see Chad and Montego on-screen, but Broadway actors seldom get to re-create their roles in Hollywood.

N.Y. Post: Timberlake's secret plans for 'Memphis'

Updated On: 5/9/10 at 05:26 PM

Hey, 'Memphis'-heads! If you wanna sponsor Charlie Williams on this Sunday's AIDS Walk New York, just go to link below. I'm sure Charlie would be thrilled to get more support!

I mistakenly posted the incorrect link earlier. Sorry!

Here's the right one ...


AIDS Walk NY: Charlie Williams

Updated On: 5/13/10 at 11:10 AM

Broadway.com is featuring an exclusive music video from 'Memphis,' starring Chad Kimball and the ensemble singing 'Radio.' It includes coverage from their show and cast recording session and new footage shot for this feature. Hockadoo!
Broadway.com: 'Music of Memphis' video - 'Radio'

I am so pleased that it won the Drama Desk for Outstanding Musical. I have been so turned off by all the negative posts here regarding Memphis. Memphis is a wonderful show.

Mis-read indeed Wong, I lose.

Updated On: 5/25/10 at 05:13 PM

Chad Kimball's been a Celebrity Blogger all this week for Playbill.com. If you haven't seen his posts, here's a link. He talks about 'Memphis' and what a busy, busy week he's had. ... He and Montego deserve a prize alone for doing 8 shows a week, and still doing a marathon of events during awards season. Luckily, it looks like a labor of love.
Playbil.com: Celeb blogger Chad Kimball

FreakyFreak, I've had the opportunity to meet David Bryan a few times during awards season, and he's such a wonderful and friendly guy. Ditto for Joe DiPietro. And though David's a rock star, he comes across as such a regular guy. Here's a video link to an interview he did with Jim Kerr and Shelli Sonstein on Q104.3. David discusses 'Memphis,' plays 'Memphis Lives in Me' and mentions how he'll miss his first Bon Jovi show in 3 decades, so he can attend the Tonys.

Q104.3 Morning Show: David Bryan

Updated On: 5/30/10 at 12:33 PM

Congrats to Charlie Williams (yellow trunks) for making the cover of Next magazine (May 28th) in a photo spread about the boys of Broadway Bares strutting their stuff in summer swimwear. Broadway Bares, the burlesque benefit for Broadway Cares, is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a show called 'Strip-opoly,' on Sunday, June 20, at Roseland in New York City. See www.bcefa.org.


Next magazine: Broadway Bares essentials

Updated On: 6/1/10 at 10:27 AM

Brava to Montego, who looked radiant and knocked 'em dead at the Ford's Theatre Gala on Sunday. Alyssa Rosenberg, who writes for the Capital Comment Blog at Washingtonian.com, reports: 'Montego Glover's stirring rendition of 'Colored Woman,' the song from the Broadway show 'Memphis' that helped her win a Tony nomination this year, was particularly powerful and poignant. 'Mama told me there are limits for dark-skinned girls in this light-skinned world,' she sang to the Obamas, who were seated in the front row. And when she was done, she acknowledged the First Couple, her hands over her heart.'
Life.com: Montego Glover in the color purple, on the red carpet

I just got back from the rehearsal this morning for tonight's Tonys. WOW! If you want to be totally surprised, stop reading this posting NOW! ...

I won't give away too much, but I'll confine my comments to 'Memphis.' Wait'll you see how they put together 'Steal Your Rock 'n' Roll' for the telecast. Constantine Maroulis, star of 'Rock of Ages,' Twittered: 'Memphis' number crushed it!!' Plus, it's introduced by a celebrity fan of the show who's a Jet-setter. And you'll see another celebrity wish 'Memphis' Bon chance!

During the rehearsal, performers often act as stand-ins for the actual Tony nominees, so the camera knows where to find their seats and shoot them. But when the mock ceremony was held for the category of Best Actor in a Musical, Chad slipped into his real seat, so he appeared on-camera. It was kinda funny.

Wow, what a schedule Chad, Montego and Co. keep today. First, they had to get up early enough for the 9 a.m. rehearsal at Radio City, which lasts until 12:30 or so. Then they race to the Shubert to do a special 2 p.m. Sunday matinee. (Usually, it's at 3 p.m.) After that, they run back to Radio City, where Chad is part of the opening of the Tonys, too. It's a medley of pop music hits from new Broadway musicals. After the cast does their 'Rock 'n' Roll' number, they get bussed back to the Shubert, and then they wait to get bussed to Radio City again, for a possible finale. Hockadoo to the creators, cast and crew!

Whatever wins tonight, it's been a fun and fantastical ride!

Updated On: 6/13/10 at 02:20 PM

Yay, Memphis! I've been a fan of this show since previews and it's so awesome to see the team being rewarded for all their hard work. Loved their Tony performance (but tsk, tsk to the tech folks) and I truly hope that it will make even more people head over to the Shubert.

By the way, I saw their matinee on Tony day and they were all on fire! It was probably the best performance I've seen so far. Can't wait to see it again on Tuesday... first post-Tony performance! Congrats, Memphis boys & girls!

Lotsa happy news at the Shubert: A few days ago, Gordon Cox in Variety reported that 'Memphis' 'logged the biggest rise on the Main Stem [Broadway] last week - and that was before the B.O. could register any sales spike from Sunday night's award wins. 'Memphis' ($692,982), which picked up 4 kudos, including top tuner, stepped up abaout $160,000 (or 29%) over the prior sesh. Daily advance sales were said to have picked up 400% in the wake of the kudocast.' Meantime, I hear ever show since the Tony telecast has been nearly soldout.

Update: Thanks to the Tony win, 'Memphis' last week cracked the top 10 of highest-grossing shows on Broadway, and its increase ($138,089) was the highest one among them all.

'Memphis' also got a gift the other day: 200 cupcakes and a congratulatory note from Will and Jada Pinkett Smith, the co-producers of 'Fela!' Very classy!

We asked a few cast members about their Tony night:

J. Bernard Calloway (who plays Delray): 'Oh, man. It was out of this world. When we went out on the stage, the nerves went away, and the excitement took over. I looked out at the audience and saw Will and Jada, and whoa, Jay Z and Beyonce. ... And after we won Best Musical, I didn't stop crying until we got back to the theater. I was so full of joy.'

James Monroe Iglehart (who plays Bobby): 'I was so excited when we won Best Musical that I literally ran into Antonio Banderas backstage. I tackled him. And he was like, 'Congratulations on winning the Tony,' and I'm 'Thank you, thank you, I'm so sorry.' And then the audience started clapping along with 'Steal Your Rock 'n' Roll.' It really was a dream come true.'

Chad Kimball (who plays Huey): 'When they announced Douglas Hodge's name (for Best Actor), my heart didn't skip a beat. You know what? It's cliche, but just being nominated, you've already won. But when the category of Best Musical came up, I had butterflies. It was so cool to win. And when the audience clapped along, I couldn't believe that almost everyone was clapping on the 2 and 4. Everyone was so jazzed and you could feel it.'






BroadwayWorld.com: Photos from 'Memphis' post-Tonys party

Updated On: 6/21/10 at 05:22 PM