‘Million Dollar Quartet’ Finds New Home at Harrah’s Las Vegas

The Tony Award-nominated jukebox musical “Million Dollar Quartet” will begin an opened ended run at Harrah’s Showroom in Las Vegas early next year.

The first show will first be held February 4, 2013, and is based on the true story of when Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins all came together to record at Sun Studios one day in the late 1950s.

The day in question was December 4, 1956, and production notes say that “an auspicious twist of fate brought Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Elvis Presley together. The place was Sun Records’ storefront studio in Memphis. The man who made it happen was Sam Phillips, the ‘Father of Rock ‘n’ Roll,’ who discovered them all. The four young musicians united for the only time in their careers for an impromptu recording that has come to be known as one of the greatest rock ‘n’ roll jam sessions of all time.”

Additionally, notes say, the musical “brings that legendary night to life with an irresistible tale of broken promises, secrets, betrayal and celebrations featuring an eclectic score of rock, gospel, R&B and country hits.” Those hit songs include “Fever,” “Great Balls of Fire,”  “Sixteen Tons,” “Who Do You Love?” “Blue Suede Shoes,” “Matchbox,” “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Going’ On,” “Hound Dog” and “Folsom Prison Blues,” among others.

“Million Dollar Quartet” was first produced in Chicago, before later being performed on Broadway and then, later, Off Broadway. Levi Kreis won a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical, and the play was nominated for Tony Awards for Best Musical and Best Book of a Musical. A national tour is currently on going, as is the original Chicago production.

Casting for the Las Vegas version of the show has yet to be announced.