A Chat with Elvis (or Cody Slaughter) from Million Dollar Quartet, running this week at the Kauffman Center
The story behind Million Dollar Quartet, onstage through Sunday at the Kauffman Center, is so unbelievably awesome that it’s hard to believe it’s actually true. On Tuesday, December 4, 1956, at the legendary Sun Studios in Memphis, Tennessee, Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash and Jerry Lee Lewis all coincidentally ended up in the studio at the same time. Acknowledging the rarity of the situation, the four decided to head into the recording booth together to lay down a few country songs and spirituals.
The Broadway interpretation of this historic day definitely takes a few liberties, but those are done for maximum enjoyment — so that we can hear a few of the artists’ greatest hits and feel a little bit of the drama of Sun Studios in those days, with the owners simply trying to keep the lights on and the artists working. We caught up with Elvis, played by 20-year-old dead ringer (and lifelong fan) Cody Slaughter, ahead of this week’s performances. Tickets cost $25-$65 and are available for purchase at the Kauffman Center box office or online.
