Conditions in 1950's Memphis, Tennessee were decidedly black and white, with no fifty shades of grey. For disc jockey Huey Calhoun, a naive and wet behind the ears high school dropout, the time was ripe for adventure. He unwittingly became a catalyst for change. Wandering into an underground nightclub of Negro musicians, he immediately identified with the startling new sounds and made the courageous decision to bring them to the radio air waves. It was definitely a ready-or-not moment and that steeped in tradition and prejudiced city didn't know what hit it.
To immerse yourself in the mood and the music, head over to the Downtown Cabaret Theatre of Bridgeport weekends until Sunday, October 11 where the joint will be jumping. With music and book by David Bryan (Bon Jovi) and Joe DiPietro (I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change) and choreography by Sergio Trujillo (Jersey Boys), get ready for the lowdown jive of rhythm and blues and rock and roll to break excitedly into the light of day.
Calhoun's ultra-conservative radio station doesn't take easily to Huey's daring and adventurous spinning platters, especially when he puts his new girl friend Felicia Farrell on the air. The city doesn't take easily to these winds of change and push back big time but Huey perseveres in his quest, a modern day Don Quixote who is not easily discouraged.
Hold on to your bobby socks as great music swirls up to the rafters. You'll find yourself levitating from your comfortable cabaret seats, as you snack on your goodies. Don't forget to bring food and drinks along to share while you enjoy the show. Eli Newsom serves as the Producing Artistic Director of the Main Stage Theatre who is presenting this Tony Award-winning show "Memphis."
For tickets ($23-28), call to the Downtown Cabaret Theatre, 263 Golden Hill Street, Bridgeport at 203-576-1636, option 0 or online at www.MyCabaret.org.
Performances are Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 5 p.m. and 8:15 p.m. and Sunday at 5 p.m.
Watch as Huey fights the good fight to bring his newly discovered sounds to a public that doesn't realize immediately the great advances that are being offered so freely and happily.
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