Stage openings: Musical's message, story prove very timely, indeed

"Memphis" is a new musical about the birth of rock 'n' roll that takes place in Memphis in the 1950s, where demented DJ Huey is spinning the music of black and white America together for the first time.

Not only is this show a product from the author of "I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change," but it boasts music from the composer-keyboardist of Bon Jovi.

"Memphis" opens Tuesday and runs through Feb. 15 at The 5th Avenue Theatre.

The folks at The 5th are billing "Memphis" as a topical choice, what with the inauguration of African-American President Barack Obama as a sign of our society reaching a milestone in racial equality. But the musical reminds audiences just how far we've come by returning to Beale Street and the segregated South of the 1950s.

"Memphis" takes off from the fictionalized life story of white radio disc jockey Huey Calhoon, who first shocks a city by playing black music on mainstream radio, and later publicly proclaims his love for the beautiful black singer who inspires him, according to press materials.

The show arrives in Seattle fully-loaded with a creative team that includes Joe Di Pietro ("I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change"), Sergio Trujillo ("Jersey Boys" and "Guys and Dolls") and a musical score developed by Bon Jovi rock superstar David Bryan.

According to his bio, Bryan was a musical golden boy who went to Rutgers University where he was a pre-med student before he auditioned and was accepted into the Juilliard School of Music. Then, he got the call from Jon Bon Jovi about a record company deal. Bryan chose Bon Jovi.

In his time off from recording and touring, Bryan began a career as a composer and lyricist of musicals. In "Memphis," he's written an original score brimming with gospel, rhythm and blues and early rock 'n' roll.



"Gee's Bend": The stories of the women of Gee's Bend, Ala., are woven together in a patchwork about the African-American journey just as the rags, scraps and bits of thread are pieced into quilted works of beauty.

"Gee's Blend" opens Wednesday and runs through Feb. 28 at Taproot Theatre in Seattle.

A local actor raised in Woodinville and Clearview is shining in this production. Geoffery Simmons is playing the role of Macon. According to his bio, Simmons has been performing in the Seattle area for the past four years. He also sang backup for Mariah Carey in 1996. Another fun fact is that he's the son of football legend Ahmad Rashad. More to the point, Simmons is getting excellent reviews with critics predicting him to be performing on Broadway within the decade, according to press material.

This regional premiere of Elyzabeth Gregory Wilder's "Gee's Bend" includes a series of special events, including a special appearance by several quilters from Gee's Bend, Ala., at the post-play discussion on Feb. 18.

During the time the play is set, the people of Gee's Bend are so poor they reuse scraps of fabric to create quilts and put newspaper on their walls to keep out the drafts. Sadie is then inspired when she encounters the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and is determined to take a stand for equality, no matter the cost.



"The Misanthrope": This is a musical 1990s version of Molière's brutally honest character Alceste, the type who pours on the scorn as only a modern-day misanthrope can.

Previews continue tonight and the show runs through Feb. 8 at the DownStage Theatre in Seattle's Wallingford neighborhood.

Adapted by Lauren Goldman Marshall and based on a concept by Alan DiBona, the story asks the question: What happens when your brutal honesty comes back to bite? Alceste's darkest fears become a reality as the world he has constructed crumbles around him. This "rock 'n' roll" variation on the classic comedy, directed by Jessica Stepka, shows us a modern take on this social misfit and his battle for true love.

"End Days": This is a quirky comedy that mixes religion, family and science together with Elvis, Jesus and Stephen Hawking. The show opens with previews starting Thursday and running through Feb. 22 at Seattle Public Theatre.

The focus is on 16-year-old Rachel Stein, who is having a bad year and on top of that, the Apocalypse is coming on Wednesday.

The story, told by Deborah Zoe Laufer, follows Rachel's family, whose father won't change out of his pajamas and whose born-again mother is a bit too devoted to Jesus. Add to that Rachel's new neighbor who has fallen for her and has an Elvis fixation.



"Guilty Conscience": The Acts of God Drama Troupe is presenting this bit of sweet comedic whodunit today and Saturday that comes with dessert.

The mystery by Jeffrey Totey revolves around the 65th birthday of Rose Schoflender, who invites all her stepchildren to her mansion to celebrate for the weekend; this could be Rose's last birthday.

The show rounds up the usual suspects of a butler, maid, widow and greedy in-laws and adds in the usual elements of stormy weather and power outages.

Totey, of Lake Stevens, has written five full-length plays and describes this one like a Clue game come to life.