Get an Insider's Look at Memphis

Memphis, an inspirational story finds root amidst the prejudice of the 1950s. Based on actual events, it is the tale of Huey Calhoun, a white radio DJ whose love of good music transcends race and airwaves. Memphis exudes all the exuberance, the emotion, the beauty, and the controversy of a wondrous, defining time in our history.

Huey Calhoun. Photo credit: Kyle Forman

Did you know ...

• Huey is only offstage for 10 minutes during the show, mostly during the opening number.
• The music of Memphis is written by Bon Jovi keyboardist David Bryan.
• Each woman in the cast wears 3 wigs – their microphone packs are hidden underneath them on top of their heads.
• They do 6-10 loads of laundry a day for the show.
• The radio station call letters mean something to the authors. WLXQ stands for David Bryan's wife, Lexi Quass; WDBJ is a combo of David Bryan and Joe DiPietro and WSAL is in honor of David's childhood friend, Sal the cop.
• Sal also appears as a character in Toxic Avenger, another musical written by Joe DiPietro and David Bryan.
• Mama's first name is Gladys, though it never is spoken onstage.
• “Music of my Soul” was the first song written by David Bryan and remains largely unchanged from its first version 9 years ago.
• 1300 people participated in the flash mob; 15 NYC schools were represented. It took 3 teaching artists one month to teach all of the students the choreography.
• Winner of four 2010 Tony Awards® including Best Musical, Best Original Score (Bon Jovi’s David Bryan and Joe DiPietro), Best Book (Joe DiPietro) and Best Orchestrations (David Bryan and Daryl Waters).
• Also the winner of four Drama Desk Awards® (including Best Musical) and four Outer Critics Circle Awards® (including Best Musical).
• Show description: Memphis takes place in the smoky halls and underground clubs of the segregated '50s, a young white DJ named Huey Calhoun fell in love with everything he shouldn't: rock and roll and an electrifying black singer. Memphis is an original story about the cultural revolution that erupted when his vision met her voice, and the music changed forever.

Come see Memphis Oct. 15-20! Tickets start at $50 and are available through the Fox Cities P.A.C. ticket office or Ticketmaster.