Review: ‘Million Dollar Quartet’ sends off Persephone’s 50th with style
(left to right at front of stage) Joshua Kilimnik, Tyler Check, Frankie Cottrell and Jacob Hemphill star in Persephone Theatre’s production of the jukebox musical “Million Dollar Quartet.” (Photo by Danielle Stasiuk Photography)
Matt Olson
April 28, 2025
The jukebox musical Million Dollar Quartet can be summarized by the phrase — and not without some irony — “a little less conversation, a little more action.”
But by the almighty power of rock and roll does Persephone Theatre deliver on that action in their production of the musical, ending their 50th season with the flash it deserves.
The musical follows the real-life event of the same name: Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash and Jerry Lee Lewis all found themselves at the Sun Record Studios in Memphis, Tennessee for an impromptu recording session. Producer Sam Phillips, the head of Sun Records, gave all these performers their start — and this one session would be the only time all four of these rock and roll icons would record together.
There’s a little more to the plot, mostly about expiring music contracts and rock and roll never fading away, but it honestly doesn’t matter. The great majority of this show is music, so what matters is the music. And these performers are all stupidly, almost unbelievably, talented at — well — music.
It’s hard to say what calls Tyler Check (Carl Perkins), Jacob Hemphill (Johnny Cash), Frankie Cottrell (Elvis Presley) and Joshua Kilimnik (Jerry Lee Lewis) to theatre instead of full-time music careers, but we the audience are much better for it. The combative chemistry of Check and Kilimnik adds some depth to the first act, and Hemphill’s deep Johnny Cash tones were just delightful to hear. And experiencing Cottrell’s attitude and dance moves as Elvis was just a delight.
