'Memphis' Lives in Us: The Official Love Thread — Page 7

TV alert/reminder: Chad Kimball sings 'Memphis Lives in Me' tonight (Wed., Oct 20) at 9 p.m. in 'A Broadway Celebration: In Performance at the White House' on PBS; check your local TV listiings. Hosted by Nathan Lane, the hour-long concert also includes Brian d'Arcy James, Audra McDonald, Idina Menzel, Karen Olivo, Tonya Pinkins, Elaine Stritch and much, much more. David Hinckley, the TV critic for the N.Y. Daily News, gave the show 4 stars!

Speaking of concerts, Danyelle Williamson (Montego's understudy), Besty Struxness and Dionne Figgins (all from 'Memphis') will join Kyle Dean Massey ('Next to Normal')and many others at the 'Living Proof' benefit. It will be held Sunday, Oct. 24, at 9:30 p.m. at the Time Out New York Lounge at New World Stages, 340 W. 50th St., NYC. The concert will 'honor the lives lost by tragic gay teen suicides.' Suggested donation is $5, and all proceeds will go to the Trevor Project and Live Out Loud, which both help gay youth.


Playbill.com: 'A Broadway Celebration'; includes the song list, too!

Updated On: 10/20/10 at 01:34 PM

TV alert: Donald Trump visits 'Memphis' tonight (Thurs., Oct. 29th). On the episode, 'The Apprentice' contestants will be at the Shubert Theatre to hold backers' auditions for 2 new musicals, and the judges will include producer Jon Yanover ('Memphis'), Daryl Roth and Kristin Chenoweth. (If you miss tonight's broadcast, CNBC usually reruns it on Friday night.)


Playbill.com: 'Memphis' meets 'The Apprentice'

Updated On: 10/28/10 at 03:46 PM

thanks wayman, seems like the cast hasnt skipped a beat!

I also noticed Todrick Hall in the ensemble, he had an awesome voice on American Idol but damn could he dance!

Hey, 'Memphis' fans! The filming kicked off last night (Jan. 18th) at the Shubert for Broadway Worldwide, and like Norma Desmond in 'Sunset Boulevard,' it was ready for its closeup. There were cameras at the back of the house, on the sides of the orchestra, and a camera on a boom anchored in the front mezzanine. Howell Binkley's lighting has been toned down a little for the filming, but this Tony-winning musical played as the crowd-pleaser it usually is (with tweaks in Sergio Trujillo's incredible choreography). If you haven't seen the show in a while, this week's a great time to revisit, especially with the extra electricity in the house.

The filming is taking place over five shows, culminating on Friday night (Jan. 21). It's being done by Don Roy King, a multi-Emmy-nominated director (and Emmy winner for 'Saturday Night Live'). He also knows his way around stage-to-screen transfers, having done 'Putting It Together' and 'Smokey Joe's Cafe.' We hear 'Memphis' was approached about being filmed last fall, long before the Tonys, and it will be released nationally in high-def, possibly the weekend of Mother's Day, and later on DVD.

Chad Kimball, Montego Glover and Co. are in showstopping shape, and a couple of performers even held their notes just a mite longer than usual. 'Memphis' will be reportedly the first Broadway musical to be filmed live and released in U.S. cinemas while still running on Broadway. Happily, that may help prime mainstream America for the national tour, which kicks off in the fall, but also help open the doors for more Broadway films that might reach audiences that might not make it to NYC. And for fans of 'Memphis,' it'll be terrific to have this remarkable cast captured on film.

Speaking of being captured on film, kudos to Chad, who just appeared on last night's episode of 'The Good Wife' on CBS. ...

Finally, a shoutout to a champion of 'Memphis' who introduced this show on the Tony telecast: quarterback Mark Sanchez, who's headed to the AFC championship game this weekend. Go Jets!


Hollywood Reporter: 'Memphis' headed to movie screens

Updated On: 1/19/11 at 11:47 AM

Hey Wayman, can you provide any info on basically the whole new ensemble? Just checked the website and it appears that Todrick Hall, Jennifer Allen, Kevin Covert, and more have all left. There are a bunch of new cast members, and a new Huey understudy, Justin Patterson of ALNM. Apparently theres also a new Felicia understudy coming in.

"It's so fun to see Bryan Fenkart get the twitch in his pants during 'Scratch My Itch."

It seems like he's on for Huey more than in his own ensemble track!

'Memphis' was on 'Good Morning America' yesterday (1/28/11), so if you missed it, I've posted a link below to the video clip. Chad and Montego also did a brief interview before the number to plug the fact that they were filmed last week, and that the national tour of 'Memphis' starts in the fall.

By the way, if you can't get enough of James Monroe Iglehart, he'll be spreading his 'Big Love' when he hosts 'Songs of Spirit,' a benefit concert for the One Healing Arts Company, on Monday, Jan. 31, at 7 p.m. at Joe's Pub, 425 Lafayette St. The show, which features original tunes by emerging musical-theater writers, is being directed by 'Memphis' producer Nick Demos and Carolyn D. Miller. Also on the lineup: Andy Mills (from 'Memphis'), Bobby Steggert ('Ragtime'), Sally Mayes ('She Loves Me'), Zak Resnick (The Broadway Boys) and many more. Tix, $20; (212) 967-7555.

Finally, a note to Kalimba: Daniel Watts IS back in 'Memphis'!




'Memphis' on 'Good Morning America'

Updated On: 1/29/11 at 02:29 PM

I believe that's Charlie Williams and no, he's left the show.

On Feb. 3, the watchmaker Audemars Piguet partnered with Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and the Tony Awards to host 1,100 students at their very first Broadway show. Through 'Inspire Change,' which was started by the producers of 'Memphis,' students from public schools and AIDS service organizations from the 5 boroughs surprised the cast by jumping to their feet and joining the finale, 'Steal Your Rock 'n' Roll.' The students had been practicing the lyrics and choreography for weeks. Bravo, kids, and hockadoo!

YouTube: Flash mob at 'Memphis'!

Updated On: 3/1/11 at 10:41 AM

A sneak peek at 'Memphis' on the big screen

Hockadoo, what a view! The other night, NCM Fathom and Broadway Worldwide offered a sneak peek of 'Memphis,' which is hitting over 500 movie theaters for an exclusive four-night run (April 28, 30 and May 3 at 7:30 p.m.; May 1 at 12:30 p.m.). And to quote Huey Calhoun, it looks 'fantastical.' And sounds sensational. It was shot in January 2011 on High Definition film at the Shubert, and Emmy-winning director Don Roy King ('Saturday Night Live') and Emmy-winning sound producer Matt Kaplowitz sure know what they're doing.

The whole show of the 2010 Tony-winning musical, and its tale of the birth of rock 'n' roll, and the love story of Huey, a white deejay, and Felicia, a black blues singer, are all there. (Plus, there's a making-of featurette that precedes the film, and a 15-minute intermission built-in.) The camera work and editing is very fluid, and complements Christopher Ashley's direction and Sergio Trujillo's dynamic dances. King keeps you focused on the human drama in each scene, often playing up the humor.

For instance, when Huey first enters Delray's, he says he came into the black nightclub to see if Felicia 'looked as pretty as she sounds.' One bar patron exclaims, 'Oh, sh*t!' That remark often gets lost in the bustle onstage, but since there's a single shot of the patron saying that, it gets a laugh. Similarly, when Huey disses Clara, the department clerk, about her musical tastes ('They ain't good records'), there's a quick cut to Clara as she shoots him a dirty look. Very funny.

The whole cast is ready for its closeups, and they amp up the power of the performances, such as Bernard J. Calloway in 'She's My Sister,' James Monroe Iglehart in 'Big Love,' Cass Morgan in 'Change Don't Come Easy' and Derrick Baskin in 'Say a Prayer.' The closeups are so compelling between Chad Kimball and Montego Glover. When Huey proposes to Felicia, you really can see the depth of his love in Huey's watering eyes, and Felicia's own conflicted emotions. It heightens the stakes and reveals the subtlety of Chad and Montego's scene work. And whether she's wailing away on 'Colored Woman' or he's belting 'Memphis Lives in Me,' they're astonishing. It's great to have this all preserved on film.

What 'Memphis' is doing is historic. The current Tony-winning musical has never been shown on hundreds of movie screens while it's still running on Broadway. It's an experiment, and how it plays out commercially, only time will tell. But for me, I'm thrilled that this film captures the stellar story, music and lyrics of Joe Di Pietro and David Bryan, as well as the heart, the humor and humanity of its incredible cast on Broadway.

I can't wait to see what other 'Memphis' fans have to say.

Until then, see ya' at the movies!



For info to theaters and showtimes for 'Memphiis'

Updated On: 4/27/11 at 12:12 PM

To the cast, creators, crew and fans of 'Memphis': Have a terrific Tony weekend. I'm so thrilled that 'Memphis' will be featured in this year's telecast, too. Meantime, hope y'all got to see the latest New York Times interview with Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez (who introduced 'Steal Your Rock 'n' Roll' at last year's Tonycast). Mark mentions 'Memphis' 3 times!

Has it really been a year since the Tonys? So much has happened. 'Memphis' is coming up on its 700th performance; the national tour starts this fall in, of course, Memphis, and I hear that the HDTV filming of the show, which was shown across the country, is heading for PBS. Hockadoo!

N.Y. Times: Mark Sanchez on the Tonys, 'Memphis' & more

Updated On: 6/10/11 at 01:22 AM

Kalimba, I'm told that Dan'yelle had taken a leave for several weeks, but she's returned. She's back as Felicia's understudy.

And speaking of Tonys, if you're wondering how much one is worth, read this Times story, and how it boosted 'Memphis'!
N.Y. Times: Just how much ia s Tony worth?