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Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Memphis in Seattle

In trying to manage our money (and our lives) one area we knew we could cut down on was entertainment, but recently we splurged—if you can call it splurging—and availed ourselves of the discount the 5th Avenue Theater gives to educators and took our daughter to see Memphis. What a wonderful treat that I could consume again and again!

This Joe DiPietro and David Bryan (Bon Jovi keyboardist and founding member) musical is loosely based on the life of Memphis DJ Dewy Phillips, one of the first white disc jockeys to play African American or “race” music for his white listeners around the same time that Elvis was being influenced by it. But Memphis is about more than the birth of rock ‘n roll.

This fast paced, energetic musical is about not only the birth of rock ‘n roll, but about the birth of hope and change. It is timely that it is being performed now. I got goose bumps listening to the beautiful voices of a wonderful cast sing about hope and change. Although all original music, it could well have been written in the 1950s. The costumes are accurate and the sets remarkable. It seemed like there were about 30 set changes, but they went so quickly and smoothly that you could have been watching a movie. The miking was perfect so you could actually understand the words the cast was saying and singing.

I cannot say enough good things about this musical and predict that eventually it will be one that high schools will perform with relish. If you can squeeze some live theater out of the budget or are an employee of a school take a trip to Memphis. You won’t be sorry.

8 comments:

JosephMcG said...

Sounds like you had a good time... thanks, Stephanie, for helping us stay aware of what is out there that can help us understand our past and our present...

Joseph McG

Stephanie Frieze said...

I think you would love it, Joseph. If you can get a group from your school to take advantage of the discount it would make a lovely excursion. Yes, I loved it!

Anonymous said...

I think you are right.. I can see many a high school doing this show. I have seen it twice... and I want to see it again. It was that good!

Stephanie Frieze said...

My husband wants to go again, too. We'll have to see if we've got that in the budget!

Kim Thompson said...

This sounds terrific! I LOVE the high quality theater, music, and art that comes to our lovely local area. I feel so blessed to live here. Don't you?

Stephanie Frieze said...

We are very lucky to have such an abundance of art available to us, Kim.

Anonymous said...

We went on Sunday for the matinee and loved it. Went again on Tuesday night and took my Dad and daughter this time (only $20 for return tickets). It was wonderful and full of energy. A great experience for my daughter who had never been to such a theater or musical. Worth the money for sure!!

Stephanie Frieze said...

It is wonderful that the 5th Ave. is doing so much to make it possible for people to go to the theater and keep actors and musicians working as well.