A great crowd of excited Patrons attended Strauss Theatre’s first in-person show of the season Thursday night. Everyone attended loved the show! “Great show..loved the music I grew up listening to”, Bill Rambin. “Every actor did a fantastic job of portraying these legendary recording artists”, Vickie Krutzer. Although we had a little rain, many party tents were assembled and protected our audience. Weather is PERFECT for the rest of the run.
Million Dollar Quartet will be presented Friday and Saturday night at 6:30pm and Sunday at 2pm at Kiroli Park in West Monroe. For tickets and information call our box office at 318-323-6681 or click HERE for online tickets.
Final rehearsals for Million Dollar Quartet promise a great show underneath the Kiroli Park stars this week. Strauss is proud to present our first in-person musical in partnership with Kiroli Park and the City of West Monroe. Director Josh Madden and the talented team of actors/musicians are ready for a live audience. You couldn’t ask for better weather and we are ready to see you at MDQ!
Million Dollar Quartet will be presented on October 15-18 at Kiroli Park in West Monroe. For tickets and information call our box office at 318-323-6681 or click HERE for online tickets.
What started out to be a regular recording session at Sun Records turned into one of the most exciting musical events of the young rock and roll era. On that December 4, 1956 afternoon Sam Phillips, head of Sun Records, had hired backup musicians for the newly established country singer Carl Perkins. In that group was an up and coming star pianist-singer-rocker named Jerry Lee Lewis.
As the afternoon went on, Elvis Presley, with a girlfriend, stops by for a visit, followed by Johnny Cash, all budding artists who had recorded for Sun Records. And what do musicians do when they get together — play and sing, well, some other things too, but we are interested in the playing and singing. Luckily the recording engineer kept the tape running to capture this magical moment in music history. Phillips called a reporter friend to come over, and it was supposedly that reporter’s enthusiasm for this group’s performance “that could sell a million” that turned it into “The Million Dollar Quartet.” At least, that’s how the story goes.
In 2006 “The Million Dollar Quartet” as a staged musical made its first appearances in regional theatres across the country, slowly making its way to Broadway in 2010 for a good run, followed by a successful London appearance. Audiences raved at having a “ring side seat” for one of the most memorable afternoons in rock and roll ending with one of the biggest musical flourishes imaginable.
Strauss’ production will introduce a number of new artists to our stage – a group of talented professionals recruited by director Josh Madden — to bring the legendary performers to life one more time. Strauss is excited to have Josh return to its stage after the masterful job he did as the “errant brother” in Smoke of the Mountain. And to have him draw on his wide knowledge of talent in the area is quite exciting. In addition to seeing the show live at the Kiroli Bandstand, Strauss members will be able to stream a live performance. Call Donna at Strauss at 318-323-6681 for more information.
Director Josh Madden shares an update for our upcoming show, Million Dollar Quartet on KTVE.
Come see Million Dollar Quartet on October 15-18 at Kiroli Park in West Monroe. For tickets and information call our box office at 318-323-6681 or click HERE for online tickets.
We’re moving forward with MDQ at Kiroli Park. Volunteer crews work on Sunday and Monday in preparation for this weekend.
Clean-Up at Kiroli Park
Come see Million Dollar Quartet on October 15-18 at Kiroli Park in West Monroe. For tickets and information call our box office at 318-323-6681 or click HERE for online tickets.
Million Dollar Quartet will be a great time for all! Rehearsals are going very well. You know this music! Make plans for next weekend at Kiroli Park.
Come see Million Dollar Quartet on October 15-18 at Kiroli Park in West Monroe. For tickets and information call our box office at 318-323-6681 or click HERE for online tickets.
Strauss Theatre is gearing up for a blockbuster season musical premiere of Million Dollar Quartet. MDQ director Josh Madden – “Rehearsals are going very well…we’re excited to bring this show to Kiroli Park.” Sets are scheduled to be moved from Lamy Lane to the park after the storm. “Once the hurricane passes…we’re headed out to complete rehearsals at the park.”
Come see Million Dollar Quartet on October 15-18 at Kiroli Park in West Monroe. For tickets and information call Donna at the box office at 318-323-6681 or click HERE for online tickets.
Originally from the small community of Goodwill, Louisiana, Josh Madden graduated from ULM in 2003 and has been a Monroe resident for over 20 years. Very active in the local music scene, he has headlined and spearheaded many events such as The Annual Bob Dylan Jam, The John Lennon Birthday Celebration, and Woodstock: A 50th Anniversary Tribute. He has also performed with the Monroe Symphony Orchestra as a special guest artist for their Elton John and Billy Joel Tribute and their 2017 Holiday Concert. In the spring of 2018, Madden stepped onstage as an actor for the first time in 20 years for “Smoke on the Mountain” at Strauss. In the last two years, he has become an award winning screenwriter with four separate scripts receiving accolades across the country from New York to Los Angeles. His short film debut directorial effort “Death Song” was also just an official selection for the Liftoff First-Time Filmmakers Showcase.
Come see Million Dollar Quartet on October 15-18 at Kiroli Park in West Monroe. For tickets and information call Donna at the box office at 318-323-6681 or go online at StraussTC.com.
Mike Martinez started playing drums at the age of 11 and had his first band Ace’s High with a couple of neighborhood friends when he was 13 years old. A few years later, Mike began playing with metal bands such as Kamikaze, Legion, and several others, and had an extended stint with the band Heaven, touring with them through Texas, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana. Also teaching drum lessons locally for several years, Mike has performed many times as drummer for the Memphis Mafia Showband with Elvis Tribute Artist Todd Martin and with Josh Madden for tribute shows ranging from Elton John, The Beatles, The Band, and Bob Dylan.
Come see Mike as Fluke in Million Dollar Quartet on October 15-18 at Kiroli Park in West Monroe. For tickets and information call Donna at the box office at 318-323-6681 or go online at StraussTC.com.
Growing up in Rayville, Louisiana, Bill Boles fell in love with playing the bass when he heard the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show. After moving back home from LSU, Bill was a founder of Boysengirls, AUX (Kevin Gordon), ZuZu’s Petals, Cocodrie, Paul Amy and his Piroque Playboys, Zen Cinema (which opened several times for Better Than Ezra) and Firesteed. He spent several years playing for Louisiana Music Hall of Fame inductee Doug Duffey and local rockabilly and swamp pop legend Kenny Bill Stinson (with whom he once opened for Jerry Lee Lewis). In 2003, Bill took over for Tillman Franks (Elvis’ bass player and local manager) in the Louisiana Hayride Band. Bill was appointed to the Louisiana Music Commission in 2005, and has played the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival over a dozen times with three different bands as well as venues from the Boston Folklife Festival to the Conga Room in Los Angeles.
Come see Bill as Brother Jay in Million Dollar Quartet on October 15-18 at Kiroli Park in West Monroe. For tickets and information call Donna at the box office at 318-323-6681 or go online at StraussTC.com.
