"Memphis" deserves much more credit than it's getting here. The 2009-2010 Broadway season featured about a dozen new musicals. Among them: "American Idiot," "Come Fly Away" and "Fela!" - all of which got raves from the N.Y. Times. "Memphis" also got its share of raves. Michael Kuchwara of Associated Press called it "exhilarating ... the very essence of what a Broadway musical should be." John Simon of Bloomberg News: "I guarantee you a rambunctious good time, highlighted by rousing music and singing, spectacular dancing, and a witty, moving story."
"Memphis" won the Triple Crown of Best Musical awards from the Outer Critics Circle, the Drama Desk and the Tonys. It ran for nearly 1,200 performances, outlasting all of its competitors from that year. "Memphis" also was filmed for national showings (Fathom Events), and after it aired on PBS as part of the "Great Performances" series, it earned an Emmy. When it was produced in London, it received 8 Olivier nominations, matching its 8 Tony nominations, and it won 2 of them. It also won Best New Musical from WhatsOnStage (aka Theatregoers' Choice Awards).
You may not like "Memphis," but a lotta audiences loved it. That's not the track record of a Worst musical, but a Best one.
Updated On: 6/8/16 at 12:51 AM