Inspired by ELVIS PRESLEY, JOHNNY CASH , JERRY LEE LEWIS , and CARL PERKINS
Originally developed and produced by Relevant Theatreicals, John Cossette Production and Northern Lights, Inc. at the Goodman Theatre, Robert Falls, Artistic Director - Roche Shulfer, Executive Director and transferred to The Apollo Theatre, Chicago, IL, 2008 Produced by the Village Theatre, Issaquah, Washington, Robb Hunt, Producer - Steve Tompkins, Artistic Director, 2007 and Seaside Music Theatre, Daytona Beach, FL, Tippin Davidson, Producer - Lester Malizia, Artistic Director, 2006
On December 4, 1956, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Elvis Presley played together for the first and only time and became the “MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET”. Inspired by an actual event.
Setting
Sun Records Studio, December 4, 1956.
Musical Numbers
Blue Suede Shoes................................................................. Carl, Johnny, Jerry Lee, Elvis
Real Wild Child................................................................................................... Jerry Lee
See You Later Alligator............................................................................... Carl, Ensemble
Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On................................................ Jerry Lee, Carl, Johnny, Elvis
the cast
(in alphabetical order)
Liam Brown (Jay Perkins)
Drayton Entertainment: Debut. Liam began playing the drums at the age of 9 and quickly developed a natural aptitude for music. Growing up in a musical family, at age 13, he expanded his skills to the bass, which remains his primary instrument. He studied music at Mohawk College in Hamilton, Ontario, focusing on jazz, funk, and various genres under the guidance of Clark Johnson and Will Jarvis. Liam further studied under Grammy-winning bassist and composer Moto Fukushima. Liam is an active performer and composer, playing in several projects, including the funk big band World’s Tallest Man Saves Dolphin, his original jazz fusion band McBrown, (in which his composition Au Fish won for the Best Contemporary Jazz Composition), amongst many others. Additionally, he serves as the musical director for the Average Pop Band.
Matt Cage (Elvis Presley)
Drayton Entertainment: Elvis Presley in Million Dollar Quartet. Other theatre: Ensemble in Flashback Fever (Mayfield Dinner Theatre); Elvis Presley in One Night With The King (Mayfield Dinner Theatre); Elvis Presley in Million Dollar Quartet (Mirvish, Stage West, Royal MTC, Western Canada Theatre, Theatre Aquarius, NWT Theatre, Mayfield Dinner Theatre). Thank you for supporting live theatre! Connect with Matt on Instagram @themattcage or visit www.mattcage.com to stay updated on his latest news and projects!
Tyler Check (Carl Perkins)
Drayton Entertainment: The Buddy Holly Story, You’ll Get Used To It, Kings & Queens of Country, Million Dollar Quartet, Marathon of Hope. Other theatre: Million Dollar Quartet (Mayfield/Stage West/Grand/Mirvish); Once (TIP); Forever Plaid (Starvox); Jersey Boys (TIP/Charlottetown). Tyler is a performer, producer, writer, podcaster and audio engineer originally from Kingston. Tyler is currently producing several projects for local Toronto artists as well as producing his own music. If he’s not doing one of those things, you will find him either playing or thinking about playing Dungeons & Dragons. Talk to him about D&D…I dare you…@tylerbcheck.
Joshua Kilimnik (Jerry Lee Lewis)
Drayton Entertainment: Debut. Other theatre: Million Dollar Quartet (Persephone Theatre, TheatreTO, The Grove Theatre); A Perfect Bowl of Pho (Toronto Fringe); Falsettos (Bowtie Productions); Into the Woods (Hart House Theatre). Film/TV: Odd Squad (PBS Kids); Sago Mini Friends (Apple TV+); Backstage (Family Channel/ Disney); Bruno and Boots trilogy (YTV). Joshua (he/him) is a co-founder of Shifting Ground Collective, a musical theatre company dedicated to platforming Toronto’s emerging artists. Learn more at shiftinggroundcollective.com. Find him on Instagram at @officialjoshuak!
Brad Rudy (Sam Phillips)
Drayton Entertainment: General Waverly in Irving Berlin’s White Christmas, Bob in Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, Fiddler on the Roof, The Sound of Music, Walter Hobbs in ELF, Juror #10 in Twelve Angry Men, West Side Story, Whose Under Where?. Other theatre: Ted Narracott in WarHorse (Mirvish/Toronto); Padre in A Pack of Thieves, Ray in Sugar Road, Frank in Educating Rita (Lighthouse Festival); Cogsworth in Beauty and the Beast, The Father, Dinner With Friends (Theatre Aquarius); over sixty productions/twenty-six seasons (Stratford Festival) including Bill Sikes in Oliver!, Sergeant of Police in The Pirates of Penzance. Founding member of Alternative Theatre Works in Stratford. “Life is short; make it sweet.”
Jack Ryckman (Fluke Holland)
Drayton Entertainment: Debut! Other theatre: First Date (Drury Lane Theatre). Jack Ryckman is thrilled to be making his debut with Drayton Entertainment as “Fluke” Holland in Million Dollar Quartet A recent graduate of Mohawk College’s music program, Jack is a well-versed and experienced drummer and is eager to bring his musical talent to this production. Instagram @Jack_Ryckman.
Adam Stevenson (Johnny Cash)
Drayton Entertainment: Crazy For You, Les Misérables. Other theatre: Jafar Disney’s Aladdin (National Tour); Captain Von Trapp, Sound of Music, Johnny Cash, Million Dollar Quartet (Grand Theatre); Play that Goes Wrong (Charlottetown Festival); Pollyana, Maggie, Ring of Fire, Home For the Holidays, Forever Plaid, The Sound of Music, Evita, Wizard of Oz (Theatre Aquarius); Ross Petty’s Robin Hood (Elgin Theatre); Young Frankenstein, Spamalot, California Dreamin (Stage West); Race Day (Lighthouse Festival); Plaid Tidings (Neptune Theatre); The Wedding Singer (Mayfield Theatre). Thank you to everyone at Drayton Entertainment and to Kate, Sam and Frankie. Cheers!
Emma Vickers (Dyanne)
Drayton Entertainment: Debut! Other theatre: Wednesday in The Addams Family Musical, Liesl in The Sound of Music, The Rocky Horror Show, The Wizard of Oz (Capitol Theatre); The Little Girl in The Adventures of The Little Girl and the Wind (performance nominated for a TNS Merritt Award), The Hobbit (Festival Antigonish Summer Theatre); Elf! The Musical, TYA School Tour (x2) (Magnus Theatre); TomorrowLove, The Beloved (Highland Arts Theatre); Seeds of Change (Neptune Theatre TourCo). Film/TV: Kids Vs. Aliens (RLJE/ Shudder); Monica’s News (Second Wave Films); Aversion (Shocked Pictures); Diggstown (CBC). Thanks to all who make theatre possible everywhere!
the creative team
Alex
Mustakas (Director)
As Founder of Drayton Entertainment, Alex has directed over 120 productions for this award-winning theatre organization and other theatre companies across Canada, including Over the River and Through the Woods, The Full Monty, Rock of Ages, The Crooner, We’ll Meet Again, It Runs in the Family, Sorry, I’m Canadian 2, You’ll Get Used To It! ... The War Show, Rocky: The Musical, Rock of Ages, Million Dollar Quartet, the world premiere of Marathon of Hope, Legends of Rock ‘n’ Roll, Spamalot, Les Misérables, and others. Alex holds a Master’s Degree in Arts Administration from City University in London, England, and an Honorary Doctorate from Wilfrid Laurier University. He is the recipient of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award for Media & Entertainment, the Queen’s Diamond & Platinum Jubilee Medals, the Maggie Bassett Award from Theatre Ontario, and the Governor General’s Meritorious Service Medal for his lasting impact on Canadian arts and culture.
Tyler Check (Music Supervisor)
Drayton Entertainment: The Buddy Holly Story, You’ll Get Used To It, Kings & Queens of Country, Million Dollar Quartet, Marathon of Hope. Other theatre: Million Dollar Quartet (Mayfield/Stage West/Grand/Mirvish); Once (TIP); Forever Plaid (Starvox); Jersey Boys (TIP/Charlottetown). Tyler is a performer, producer, writer, podcaster and audio engineer originally from Kingston. Tyler is currently producing several projects for local Toronto artists as well as producing his own music. If he’s not doing one of those things, you will find him either playing or thinking about playing Dungeons & Dragons. Talk to him about D&D…I dare you…@tylerbcheck
Beckie Morris (Set Designer)
Drayton Entertainment: Naked Radio, Doris and Ivy in the Home, The New Canadian Curling Club, Jonas & Barry in the Home. Other Theatre: Appropriate (co-design The Coal Mine), Sweet Delilah Swim Club, Halfway There, Where You Are,On the Air, Prairie Nurse, I’ll be Back Before Midnight (Lighthouse Festival); Cinderella…if the Shoe Fits, Beneath Springhill, Lunenburg, The Gentleman Clothier, Little Women, They’re Found in Trees, Sugar Road, Miracle on 34th St,Stag & Doe, Queen Milli of Galt (Theatre Orangeville). Thank you as always to my beautiful and always supportive family! www.beckiemorrisdesigns.ca.
Rachel Berchtold (Costume Designer)
Drayton Entertainment (selected): Cinderella: The Panto, Crazy For You, A Christmas Carol: The Panto, Kiss, Me Kate, Peter Pan: The Panto, Sh-Boom! Life Could Be a Dream (2023), Mamma Mia!, Annie, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Sleeping Beauty: The Panto, Disney’s Newsies, Holiday Inn, The Drowsy Chaperone, Million Dollar Quartet, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Sister Act, Cinderella, Anything Goes, Anne of Green Gables, The Music Man, Snow White: The Panto, The Wizard of Oz, Les Misérables, Mary Poppins. Other theatre: Million Dollar Quartet (Stage West Calgary/Mirvish Productions); The King and I, Crazy For You (Theatre Under the Stars). Thanks always to Jennie, Jess and Alex.
Jeff JohnstonCollins (Lighting Designer)
Drayton Entertainment (selected): Lights: Show Stoppers! (1998), Me & My Girl (1999), Dads, the Musical (2001), Twist & Shout (2005), Legends of Rock ‘n’ Roll (2007), Miss Saigon (2007), Dance Legends (2010), Spamalot (2013), Canadian Legends (2015), Rock of Ages (2017), Million Dollar Quartet (2017), Mamma Mia! (2022). Technical Director/Lights: Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Camelot (North American Tours). For over 30 years, I have created set & lighting designs for theatres across Canada, toured numerous productions, and operated a scene shop in my hometown of Hamilton. Thank you to the entire Drayton Family for creating the magic of live theatre. Love and thanks to the light of my life, my wife Susan for her constant support and encouragement. Enjoy!
Charles Russell (Stage Manager)
Drayton Entertainment: Over the River and Through the Woods, An Inspector Calls, Sh-Boom! Life Could Be a Dream, Buddy –The Buddy Holly Story, Fiddler on the Loose, A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline, Grease, The Miracle Worker, Jack and the Beanstalk: The Panto, Hairspray, Kings & Queens of Country, Million Dollar Quartet, The 39 Steps, All Shook Up, Red Rock Diner, Anything Goes, Sexy Laundry, The Music Man, The Crazy Time, The Wizard of Oz, Look No Hans!, Godspell (U.S. National Tour), Oliver!, The Love List, Blue Suede Shoes, Harvey. Other theatre: The Wizard of Oz (Charlottetown Festival); Rules and Regulations for Hanging out the Wash, Extraordinary, Canada In Love (Young At Heart Musical Theatre for Seniors).
Daniela Olmos (Apprentice Stage Manager)
Drayton Entertainment: Halfway There. Other theatre: Dorrie’s Mom in Dark Tales, Stage Manager for Migraaants!; ASM for Birds, Stage Manager for Fahrenheit 451. Film: Dina in Pide un Deseo (short film). Daniela is an English Literature major from Concordia University who has dedicated many years to theatre and the dramatic arts both onstage and behind the scenes. Additionally, Daniela currently works as a writer and research assistant for the Bogota Fashion Film Festival (BOGFFF) and as a freelance writer.
the authors
Colin Escott
Born in England, Colin Escott lives near Nashville, Tennessee. He is the author of Good Rockin’ Tonight: Sun Records and the Birth of Rock ‘n’ Roll, the first in-depth account of the Sun Records story. His book Hank Williams – The Biography has been adapted into the movie I Saw the Light, starring Tom Hiddleston and Elizabeth Olsen. His multi-CD box set, The Complete Hank Williams, won a Grammy, and another of his productions, B.B. King – King of the Blues, was nominated for a Grammy.
Million Dollar Quartet received three Tony nominations, including Best Book and Best Musical. Escott was part of the writing/producing team adapting the show for CMT/Viacom. The first season aired in 2016.
Floyd Mutrux
Floyd Mutrux apprenticed at the Alley Theatre in Houston and worked at Second City in Chicago; he attended Columbia University. He has conceived, written, directed, or produced 50 films, including Dusty and Sweets McGee; Freebie and the Bean; Aloha, Bobby and Rose; The Hollywood Knights; American Hot Wax; Dick Tracy; American Me; Blood In, Blood Out; There Goes My Baby; and Mulholland Falls. With his wife Birgitte, he is preparing a new film Moon Over Memphis (a rock-and-roll Field of Dreams.) He also cowrote the musical Baby It’s You! With Colin Escott and helped adapt Sun Records, the new television series based on Million Dollar Quartet. Million Dollar Quartet received three Tony Award nominations in 2010, including best book and best musical.
