Million Dollar Lunch

Million Dollar Lunch

UPDATE: EAST LANSING - Acclaimed Broadway musical "Million Dollar Quartet" is at the Wharton Center this week, and cast members performed a preview concert Tuesday afternoon at the Christman Building in downtown Lansing.

The musical portrays the true events of December 4, 1956, when Sam Phillips, known as the "Father of Rock 'n Roll", brought four legendary musicians together at the Sun Records storefront in Memphis.

Phillips had launched the careers of Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins, and so he thought it would be fun to bring them together to "jam" while they were all in town at the same time. The resulting jam session is now one of the greatest in history. It was the first and only time the four icons, later deemed the "Million Dollar Quartet," played together.

"It's much different than playing a made-up character," says Cody Slaughter, who portrays Presley. "With this, I want to portray Elvis as he was but also put my own spin on it."

Martin Kaye, who plays Lewis, agrees.

"If you have any preconceived notions about what Broadway is, throw them out the window before this show," says Kaye. "It's completely different than any other!"

One reason for this is the fact that the characters actually play their own instruments, which makes the lunch preview in Lansing resemble a 1950s rock concert.

Slaughter hopes the lunch preview, which ended up being standing-room-only, convinces people to come see the full musical.

"It's like no show you've seen," he promises. "Everyone always has a great time!"

ORIGINAL STORY: EAST LANSING - Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins in downtown Lansing? It sounds crazy, but we'll tell you why it's not. Watch the story Monday on Meridian Magazine.

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