Get Yourself to Million Dollar Quartet at the Grove!

Photo credit: Million Dollar Quartet 2023 images by David Anthony Williams. Featuring Will Carr, Joshua Kilimnik, Kevin Owen Clarke. Lighting Design by Jon Cleveland, Costume + Prop Design by Alessia Urbani.

by Shannon Roszell

From one of the most provocative eras of music comes a completely evocative show. Million Dollar Quartet takes place in 1956 at Sun Records, where Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Elvis Presley all got their start. On this one particular day the stars aligned and all four musicians found themselves in the same place at the same time. Sun Records producer, Sam Phillips, hit record and a legendary jam session was captured that day. 

Few things are more captivating than getting to know the personalities of our favouirite artists especially how they feel about one another. Million Dollar Quartet delivers on that fascination and provides a high energy show, filled with incredible music that delights and intrigues from start to finish. I left the show thinking I could sit right back down and watch it over again.  

Unlike a movie, onstage there is nowhere to hide. We see your guitar string break, we can tell your mic isn’t working quite right and we love you more for it. This is what makes theatre magical. It was no surprise that the acting was solid but the musicianship was excellent across the board: each vocalist's impersonations of their characters were masterfully executed. I have to admit I went a little bit nuts when Will Carr as Elvis started to sing and Kaleigh Gorka as Dyanna is still giving us fever (IFKYK). Joshua Kilimnik and Kevin Owen Clarke stood out with their piano and guitar skills. 
Director and Theatre Co-founder, Christy Yael has delivered a thoroughly engaging and entertaining show that everyone should be sure to see this month. The next performances of Million Dollar Quartet are Thurs Aug 3 and Sat Aug 5. Tickets can be purchased online at grovetheatre.ca or at their box office at 2 Water Street.

Shannon Roszell is a local singer-songwriter. She recently released five singles off her debut album, Within the Shimmering Darkness, which is slated for release in 2023. shannonroszell.com