Memphis
Memphis is set in the places where rock and roll was born in the 1950s: the seedy nightclubs, radio stations and recording studios of the musically-rich Tennessee city. With an original score, it tells the story of DJ Huey Calhoun, a good ole’ local boy with a passion for R&B music and Felicia Farrell, an up-and-coming black singer that he meets one fateful night on Beale Street. Despite the objections of their loved ones (Huey’s close-minded mama and Felicia’s cautious brother, a club owner), they embark on a dangerous affair. As their careers rise, the relationship is challenged by personal ambition and the pressures of an outside world unable to accept their love.
Memphis is set in the harshly segregated Deep South of the 1950s. Racial tensions have boiled to the surface again, triggered by street violence and persistent protests over police killings of black males.
The message of this musical about the power of music to unite people across seemingly unbridgeable divisions remains just as real, and vital, in 2019.
National Premiere of Memphis (School Edition)
COMPANY: Youth
VENUE: Duchess Theatre, Long Eaton
DATE: Thursday 18th - Saturday 20th July 2019
Creatives
Producers: Kristian Cunningham & Shannon O’Donnell
Director: Katy MacLaughlin
Musical Director: Tom Bond
Choreographers:Kristian Cunningham & Shannon O’Donnell
Lighting Designer: Matt Cook
Sound Designer: Dave Dallard
Cast
HUEY CALHOUN Aiden Carson
FELICIA FARRELL Daya Khosse
DELRAY JONES Bailey West
GLADYS CALHOUN Emily Bridge
BOBBY Paige Sisson
GATOR Darcy Cole
MR.SIMMONS Bridie Mae O’Donnell
WHITE DJ Luiseach McAlesse
BLACK DJ Olivia Weaver
MR COLLINS Oliver Davidson
CLARA Nadia Potter
WAILIN’ JOE Harrison Ince
PERRY COMO Grace Collishaw
TEENAGE GIRLS Orlagh McAlesse & Chloe Elsom
BUCK WHLEY Daniel Lane
SINGING TRIO Olivia Weaver, Issy Smales & Nadia Potter
STATION MANAGERS Grace Collishaw, Lottie Ludlow & Izzy Massie
MOTHER & FATHER Chloe Elsom & Oliver Davidson
REVEREND HOBSON Abe Collishaw
ETHEL Anna Gray
MARTIN Ellis Rushton
FRANK DRYER Amy Brownhill
GAIL GRANT Luiseach McAlesse
PHOTOGRAPHER Maddie Atkins
WHITE MEN Oliver Davidson & Daniel Lane
STAGE MANAGER Olivia Thomas
ENSEMBLE Abe Collishaw, Amy Brownhill, Anna Gray, Chloe Elsom, Daniel Lane, Edie Peace, Ellis Rushton, Eve Lumley, Freya Thomas, Grace Collishaw, Harrison Ince, Holly Brownhill, Issy Smales, Izzy Massie, Lottie Ludlow, Luiseach McAleese, Maddie Atkin, Maisie Denney, Nadia Potter, Oliver Davidson, Olivia Thomas, Olivia Weaver, Orlagh McAleese, Pip Blackman, Sophie Ross & Suzannah Dewar.
Team
STAGE MANAGER Tom Bond
LIGHTING Matthew Cook
SOUND Dave Dallard
SET Tom Bond, Kristian Cunningham, Shannon O’Donnell & Millie Gilks
WARDROBE Karen Millward
PROPS Claire Collishaw
KTYCo CO-ORDINATOR Shannon O’Donnell
KTYCo CHAPERONES Jo Ross, Zoe Denney, Karen Brownhill, Jackie Stirland, Karen Thomas, Emma Lane, Jo Heathcote, Natalie Davidson & Jo West
FRONT OF HOUSE MANAGER Millie Gilks
BOX OFFICE Adrian Perkins
BUSINESS ADVISOR Alyson Hopcroft
PROGRAMME Kristian Cunningham
WITH THANKS Eve Leveaux & Derby Dance Academy, Claire Collishaw & LEOS Youth Group, Billy O’Donnell, Craig Anderson & Special thanks to Bob Rushton, Andrew Buxton, Samuel Holden, Emily May Corner, Millie Gilks, Sam Bird & Lydia Thacker. With Special Thanks to Matt Gray
