Preview: Sizzling show at Apollo Theater, extended through Jan. 5, 2014, recalls historic night that brought together Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash and Carl Perkins.

By Lawrence B. Johnson

It will hardly come as news to anyone who has seen the show, possibly several times, but “Million Dollar Quartet” – recalling a chance jam session that brought together Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash and Carl Perkins – has proved to be solid-gold entertainment.

The Chicago show will see its 2,000^th performance on July 11 at the Apollo Theater, which only extends “The Million Dollar Quartet’s” record as the longest-running Broadway show in Chicago theater history. (The production’s original cast parlayed the show into a successful run on Broadway.)

“Million Dollar Quartet” revisits a historical meeting of early rock and roll superstars on Dec. 4, 1956, at the recording studio of Sun Records in Memphis, TN. Elvis, Jerry Lee, Johnny and Carl all showed up on the same night to visit with their friend and advocate Sam Phillips, who owned Sun Records and whose vision had set all four singers on their paths to fame.

“It’s so upbeat, so positive and so much fun,” says Shaun Whitley, who has played more than 500 performances as Carl Perkins in the Chicago show. “People often ask, ‘Are you sick of it?’ Absolutely not. We have such a great time on stage. We get to be kids, we get to pretend.”

Upbeat is maybe putting it mildly. “Million Dollar Quartet” rips, with Lance Lipinsky’s Jerry Lee storming the piano keys and Brandon Bennett’s Elvis getting all shook up. Chris Damiano adds a dark likeness of Johnny Cash’s earthy voice and Whitley knocks out “Blue Suede Shoes,” which was a hit for Carl Perkins before Elvis recorded his off-the-charts cover.

“We try to make it different every night, which just naturally happens anyway since we’re playing live,” says Whitley, an Alabama native who grew up singing in church choirs and took up guitar in junior high school after studying piano and violin. “People tell me they’ve seen the show four or five times. Grandparents come back with their grandchildren, and kids bring their parents. This music crosses generations.”

The show’s hit list includes “Fever,” “Sixteen Tons,” “Who Do You Love?,” “Great Balls of Fire,” “Ring of Fire,” “Whole Lotta’ Shakin’ Goin’ On,” “Folsom Prison Blues,” “I Walk the Line,” and “Hound Dog,” as well as gospel numbers with the four guys singing in close harmony. Whitney Kraus Jones, as Elvis’ date, adds a female voice to the evening’s mix, and Tim Decker portrays Sam Phillips.

“Since the very beginning, Chicago has embraced ‘Million Dollar Quartet’ and we are grateful for the continued and enthusiastic support of our hometown audiences,” producer Gigi Pritzker said in a statement. “After five incredible years, 500,000 tickets sold, 2,000 performances, 6,000 guitar picks, and 500 cans of hairspray, it’s an absolute thrill for MDQ to take its place as the longest-running musical in Chicago history.”

Related Link:

• Performance location, dates and times: Details at TheatreinChicago.com  
• Cast bios: Read about the performers here

Photo captions and credits: Home page and top: Jerry Lee Lewis (Lance Lipinsky) lays down the beat for the foursome that came to known as the Million Dollar Quartet. Descending: The rockin’ band, from left: Jerry Lee Lewis (Lance Lipinsky) atop the piano, Carl Perkins (Shaun Whitley) in mid-air, Whitney Kraus Jones, bassist Marc Edelestein, Elvis Presley (Brandon Bennett, kneeling) and Johnny Cash (Chris Damiano, standing right). 

Tags: Apollo Theater, Brandon Bennett, Carl Perkins, Chris Damiano, Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, Lance Lipinsky, Million Dollar Quartet, Sam Phillips, Shaun Whitley, Tim Decker, Whitney Kraus Jones