OLIVER SEYMOUR-MARSH TO PLAY CARL PERKINS IN HIT WEST END MUSICAL ‘MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET’

MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET tells the electrifying story of the night in 1956 when Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis came together to make music and ended up making history.

MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET stars Bill Ward as Sun Records founder Sam Phillips, Ben Goddard as Jerry Lee Lewis, Derek Hagen as Johnny Cash, Francesca Jackson as Dyanne, Michael Malarkey as Elvis Presley and Oliver Seymour-Marsh* as Carl Perkins. *From Monday 28 March 2011.

MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET features over 20 classic hits including: Blue Suede Shoes, Folsom Prison Blues, Fever, Down By The Riverside, Sixteen Tons, I Walk The Line, I Hear You Knocking, Great Balls Of Fire, Hound Dog and Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On.

MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET is directed by Eric Schaeffer, with a book by Colin Escott and Floyd Mutrux, and was originally directed and conceived by Floyd Mutrux. The creative team also includes: Derek McLane (scenic design), Jane Greenwood (costume design), Howell Binkley (lighting design), Kai Harada (sound design) and Chuck Mead (musical arrangements and supervision).

MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET is produced by Relevant Theatricals, John Cossette Productions, American Pop Anthology, John Gore, Thomas B. McGrath, Joseph Smith and Michael McCabe.

MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET has been playing at Broadway's Nederlander Theatre since March 2010 and at Chicago's Apollo Theatre since October 2008. The first North American tour will launch in October 2011.

Million Dollar Quartet tickets on sale now!

PRINCIPAL CAST INFORMATION

Bill Ward (Sam Phillips)

Bill Ward played ‘Charlie Stubbs’ in Coronation Street from 2003-2007, winning 2 British Soap Awards, 2 Inside Soap Awards and multiple award nominations including ‘Best Actor’. His recent theatre roles include ‘Sir Lancelot’ in Monty Python’s Spamalot in the West End; ‘Jimmy Porter’ in Look Back In Anger for Northern Stage; Ibsen’s The Lady From The Sea at the Manchester Royal Exchange and ‘Prospero’ in The Tempest for the Guildford Shakespeare Company. His numerous recent television appearances have included ‘Ruthless Rufus’ in Robin Hood (BBC1); ‘Rob Towler’ in The Bill (ITV1); Doctors (BBC1) and Cold Blood (ITV1).

Oliver Seymour-Marsh (Carl Perkins)

Oliver Seymour-Marsh starred as ‘Buddy Holly’ in Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story on UK national tour and also played the role for Moonlight Musicals in Lubbock, Texas. He starred in Dreamboats and Petticoats on UK national tour and has made numerous appearances at the Queen’s Theatre in Hornchurch including Aladdin; The Mysterie of Maria Marten and A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum. He made his West End debut in Million Dollar Quartet.

Derek Hagen (Johnny Cash)

Derek Hagen’s London theatre credits include ENRON, directed by Rupert Goold; Carousel, directed by Lyndsay Posner; Gone With the Wind, directed by Trevor Nunn and Wonderful Town, at Grange Park Opera, directed by Anthony McDonald. His television and film appearances include: D-Da; Amazing Grace and The Tiger and the Snow.

Ben Goddard (Jerry Lee Lewis)

Ben Goddard played ‘Joe Gillis’ in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Sunset Boulevard and ‘Arnaud du Thil’ in Martin Guerre, both directed and staged by Craig Revel Horwood at the Watermill Theatre in Newbury. Sunset Boulevard transferred to the West End’s Comedy Theatre where it received 4 Olivier Award nominations including Best Company Performance.

Michael Malarkey (Elvis Presley)

Michael Malarkey is making his West End debut playing ‘Elvis Presley’ in Million Dollar Quartet. He was born in Beirut, Lebanon and raised in Yellow Springs, Ohio. He trained at LAMDA and made his professional stage debut in Laurie Sansom’s acclaimed productions of Eugene O’Neill’s Beyond The Horizon and Tennessee Williams’ Spring Storm at the Royal & Derngate in Northampton, which transferred to the National Theatre.

Gez Gerrard (Jay Perkins, Bass)

Gez Gerrard has been playing Rockabilly music since he was sixteen years old. In that time he has toured, performed and recorded in venues all over the world (from Las Vegas to the West End). He is a singer, guitarist, bassist and blues harp player and has worked as a solo artist, bandleader and session musician.

Adam Riley (Fluke, Drums)

Adam Riley has performed and recorded with an array of artists such as King Salsa; Cubana Bop; Tanita Tikaram and Down to the Bone. He also wrote and performed a duet for Gary Husband in the Rhythm Sticks Festival 2000. Adam's television appearances include comedy series Bo Selecta as Craig David’s long-suffering drummer, ‘Colin’.

Francesca Jackson (Dyanne)

Francesca Jackson starred as ‘Petra’ in A Little Night Music opposite Leslie Caron and Greta Scacchi at Le Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris. Her other theatre appearances include Dreamboats and Petticoats (Playhouse Theatre and UK tour); Can’t Smile Without You and Tonight’s The Night (UK Tours). Francesca was one of the finalists in the BBC’s I’d Do Anything.

Justin Brett (Alternate Johnny Cash)

Justin Brett is making his West End debut in Million Dollar Quartet. His recent theatre appearances include Robin Hood (Theatr Clywd); ‘Dick Barton’ in Dick Barton Special Agent; ‘Captain Tempest’ in Return to the Forbidden Planet (Oldham Coliseum and Tour) and Blue/Orange (Octagon, Bolton), for which he was nominated ‘Best Actor’ at the 2006 MEN Awards. Television includes Peep Show; Pulling and Gory Greek Gods. Films include War Horse; Gulliver's Travels and The Fallen.

Matthew Empson (Jerry Lee Lewis at certain performances)

Matthew Empson is making his West End debut in Million Dollar Quartet. He began singing and playing piano at the age of eight and by fourteen he was playing solo sets in Jazz clubs. He soon formed his own band, joined several others and subsequently played in Las Vegas.

Kevin Mains (Elvis Presley at certain performances)

Kevin Mains is making his West End debut in Million Dollar Quartet. He trained at Langside College in Glasgow and his recent theatre credits include Romeo and Juliet (Open Book Theatre); The Pillowman; The Lieutenant Of Inishmore; One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest; Mary Queen Of Scots Got Her Head Chopped Off and Sugar (XLC). Television includes Zig Zag Love with Robert Carlyle; River City and How Do I Get Up There?

[posted by Honza, 23/03/2011]