School of Theatre Alums Featured in Tony-award winning musical Memphis

Music Theatre alums Montego Glover (c/o ’96) and Kevin Covert(c/o ’92) are performing in Memphis, a musical that combines Broadway splendor with the roots of rock. Other alumni participating behind the scenes include alum Steve Rankin (MFA Acting, c/o ’77) as the production’s Fight Director, Hair Supervisor Michelle Rutter(BFA Design Technology, 1995), Associate Wardrobe SupervisorFred Castner (BA Theatre, 1985: MFA Costume Design, 1990), and Scenic Design Intern Caite Hevner (BFA Design Technology, 2006).

The best of the Broadway season were honored during the live CBS telecast from Radio City Music Hall of the 2010 Tony Awards. Memphis, which took home 4 2010 Tony Awards including Best Musical, was one of the top performers at the awards gala. The show won 4 2009-2010 Outer Critics Circle Awardsand 4 Drama Desk Awards just weeks before the Tony Award winners were announced. Montego was awarded Outstanding Actress in a Musical for her role as singer Felicia Farrell by both the Outer Critics Circle and the Drama Desk.

Memphis, an interracial love story set in 1950s Tennessee, beat out the edgy American Idiot, based on the band Green Day’s music, Fela! about Afrobeat legend Fela Kuti and Million Dollar Quartet, another musical about early rock ‘n roll in the South and nabbed the Tony Award for best musical and was clearly a crowd pleaser during their live performance at the event. Memphis also picked up the trophies for Best Score, Best Orchestrations and Best Book of a Musical.

A tour of “Memphis” is set to open in Memphis in fall 2011 and has already been booked for 2 years. To find out more about the 2010 Tony Awards, please click here.

Banner Photo Credit: Broadway Worldwide