You’ll love this “Million Dollar Quartet” at Tibbits.

  

  Run don’t walk to catch the outstanding musical Million Dollar Quartet at Tibbits Opera House in Coldwater. It’s a lovely 90 minute drive from Ann Arbor, and well worth a day or evening at this historic theater. 

     You might have read one of my reviews of MDQ in the past – I’ve seen five productions in the past several years, but it is a show I love with a great premise: based on a real jam session at Sun Recording Studio in 1956, manager Sam Phillips brings together his contract musicians Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Elvis Presley (along with his girfriend du jour) for one day only. It was recorded, and later a documentary. There’s some scheming about contracts, but that is all unessential next to the music, all performed by the actors themselves.

     Playing out on John Charles lovely studio set, under the direction of Paul Kerr, the outstanding performers give us a lesson in mid-50’s early rock and roll (and in Carl Perkins case his easy-going rockabilly sound). Kevin Ludwig is exellent as Elvis to the point that I couldn’t imagine anyone else playing the part. His girlfriend Dyanne (strong voiced Jessica Vanek) is also terrific belting out some girl tunes and singing occasional backup. Tarif Pappu is a solid Carl Perkins (his brother Jay played by Orion Vandenberg plays a mean bass), Zachary Tate is spot on as Johnny Cash (he also serves as Musical Director), and Mitchell Wiley is the best Jerry Lee Lewis I have ever seen in the many productions of this musical that I have attended. Rounding it out is drummer Brady jacot who plays a funny Fluke Holland. Chad Tallon ties it all together as owner Sam Phillips and he is a strong actor holding his own amidst the musicians.

     You’ll be nostalgia bound with the musical score, but you will leave enthralled by the performances in this exceptional Million Dollar Quartet (plus some).

Million Dollar Quartet continues at Tibbits Opera House, Coldwater MI through June 21st. Tickets at tibbits.org or 517-278-6029. Photo courtesy Tibbits Opera House.