photo credit: Scott Smeltzer/SCR

Written by Patrick Chavis

Million Dollar Quartet is playing now at South Coast Repertory, September 13 – October 19, 2025.

This is a rocking and rolling tribute to Sun Records and small companies trying to do big things in a world being dominated by bigger corporations.

A juke box musical that’s not just cramming in songs for nostalgic value, performances that make you take a double, triple take, once they open their mouths, and a finale well worth waiting until the end. Shh… don’t let anyone know I told you. I don’t like spoilers. That being said, you’ll find all of this at Million Dollar Quartet at South Coast Rep.

Story:

While obviously dramatized to some extent, this story is based on a real event and a famous photograph featuring some of the early pioneers of Rock’ n Roll: Elvis Presley (Rustin Cole Sailors), the Man in Black, aka Johnny Cash (Chris Marsh Clark), Carl Perkins (Armando Gutierrez), and Jerry Lee Lewis (JP Coletta). In Million Dollar Quartet, we watch these legends meet at the label, and the man, Sam Phillips (Michael Manuel), who propelled these little-known acts at the time into stardom. A former gas station in Tennessee transformed into a musical powerhouse that changed the trajectory of music.

Chris Marsh Clark Armando Gutierrez, Ana Marcu, Wyatt Wireman (0bscured), Rustin Cole Sailors, Michael Manuel and JP Coletta in SCR’s 2025 production of Million Dollar Quartet, book by Colin Escott and Floyd Mutrux, original concept and direction by Floyd Mutrux, directed by James Moye.

History is messy. Understatement, I know. I  like this show because it doesn’t gloss over the exploitation of marginalized people, African Americans in this case, and their music, with the aims of profit in a segregated society. It highlights the challenges of economics and the crushing power of corporations on the smaller outfits. It’s a reminder of the importance of music and art and its transcendent nature, through any hollow measurement of worth. It’s also good music, and a story that seems to flow seamlessly throughout the production.

The playwrights Colin Escott and Floyd Mutrux, using a transitional moment in the label’s history to tell this story, provide quite a bit of drama but also validity for why everything is going on in the story.

Acting/Songs:

Terrific performances overall, but “Fever” from Ana Marcu, who plays Dyanne, Elvis Presley’s former girlfriend, was the surprising favorite. She sings every syllable with a sultry voice and presence that does justice to the song.

The temperature went up a few degrees in the room, I think.

Armando Gutierrez, Ana Marcu and Rustin Cole Sailors in SCR’s 2025 production of Million Dollar Quartet, book by Colin Escott and Floyd Mutrux, original concept and direction by Floyd Mutrux, directed by James Moye. Photo by Scott Smeltzer/SCR.

Is Johnny Cash in the building? By the gods, does Chris Marsh Clark capture the grisly, deep voice from Cash, with classic tunes like “Folsom Prison Blues” and “I Walk the Line.”

JP Colleta as Jerry Lewis holds his own among these talented musicians with his eccentric energy, bringing a ball of fire and fun to the combo on stage. Colleta can really rock.

With all of these strong personalities on stage, Michael Manuel’s performance as Sam Phillips is the crucial character and presence that reigns them in. With a thick accent, attitude, and vulnerability, Manuel exposes what made the man tick.

Final Thoughts:

More than a concert-type show, it’s an extravaganza.

Tip your bartender; this is most definitely a top-tier jukebox musical.

Review

9.1 Overall

0 Users (0 votes)

Story9.2

Acting8.8

Set & Design9

Costumes8.8

Entertainment9.5

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• Story
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Exceptional Show! OCR Recommended! 

A Tad more to say: 

Let’s not forget about this fantastic lighting, set design, and costume design on this stage, which also brought a lot of fire. A recording studio design from Efren Delgadillo, Jr, and Brandon PT Davis, with colorful and piercing light from Lonnie Rafael Alcaraz and fitted and functional wear for each of the performers from Kish Finnegan.