Hey Memphis Fans!

(And with those first three words I can officially put a big fat check mark on my bucket list next to “Write on the blog of a brand new Broadway Show”. Hockadoo!)

My Name is Charlie Williams and I’m in the ensemble of this little diddy we call MEMPHIS. Last Monday was my official Broadway debut and I have to tell you it was an unbelievable night.

Needless to say that making my Broadway debut was also another check mark on the old bucket list. For those of you who are scratching your heads right now at the words “bucket list”, I’m not talking about the crappy 2008 movie staring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman. I’m talking about my own “bucket list” of things I have to do before I die/ kick the bucket. But I digress-

We are officially out of the daily grind of creating and opening a new Broadway show, and into the daily grind of …. doing a Broadway show. That’s 8 shows a week people! So I guess you might say- Same Show. Different Grind.

We are all having a blast and really feeding off the energy of the audiences, who have been going head over heels for the show every night.

**Side note- Please watch your step in the Shubert Theatre. We don’t want anyone literally going head over heels.

Last Night was our first Tuesday night performance and everything went really well but I do feel that it is my duty to inform you of this fact-

TUESDAY NIGHT SHOWS OF MEMPHIS START AT 7:00 PM NOT 8:00 PM.

This isn’t an early Halloween trick or me trying to be funny on the blog.

This is a fact.

So if you buy tickets for a Tuesday night show, just know that the curtain goes up an hour earlier than usual. Crazy right? I wish I had some great Broadway insider reasoning as to why it’s necessary to start the show at 7:00 instead of 8:00 but alas, I don’t. But I can tell you this, if you do end up showing up at 8:00 for Tuesday show you will wonder how the entire audience got seated before you, and why there is a whole lot of jump roping going on onstage. You’re late.

I’m going to move onto the real reason why I’m here and leave the rest of the backstage blogging to the weekly Covert Report.

Memphis is doing something REALLY REALLY COOL! We are raising money for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids. Most of you have probably been to a Broadway show where they make a speech about the organization after the curtain call and then cast members wait at the doors of the theatre with buckets for any donations you are willing to give. Well not only our we doing that, but we are also selling some really cool things and all the profits go to the Broadway Cares organization which helps people all over the country living with HIV/AIDS.

Broadway Cares also provides support to others facing a variety of health issues in our industry through the Phyllis Newman Woman’s Health Initiative and the Al Hirschfeld Free Health Clinic of The Actors Fund, as well as supporting over 400 AIDS and family service organizations nationwide: Food banks, health clinics and housing program, reaching tens of thousands in need.

When you come see MEMPHIS you have the opportunity to buy the following items – (remember 100% of the profits go to the Broadway Cares Charity):

-MEMPHIS posters signed by the ENTIRE Broadway Cast- $100
(These posters are beautiful and would look great framed)

-Broken Records from the show Signed by our two leads Chad Kimball and Montego Glover- $20
(These are halves of old 45 records that have actually been used in the show. Each record is signed and dated with the performance that is was used in. This is your chance to actually own a part of the show! We are also selling the first preview performance record and the opening night record for $50 each since they are extra special)

-Carols For A Cure CD- $20
(Carols for a Cure is a CD put out by the broadway community each year. Its a great holiday CD with lots of your favorite Broadway shows providing the vocals. It’s never too early to think of stocking stuffers)

AND NOW FOR THE GRAND FINALE…………………. DRUM ROLE PLEASE……

At every Saturday night performance from October 31st through December 5th we are having a live auction onstage after the curtain call!

What are we auctioning off you ask?

Our Leads!

You can’t keep them forever, but you can have them for a coffee/dessert date after the show!

This Saturday October 31st (yes, it’s halloween) our very own DERRICK BASKIN will be on the auction block. He plays the character of Gator. You might have also seen him the original casts of The Little Mermaid and …Spelling Bee.

You can cast your bid for you and a friend to go on your very own coffee/dessert date with him after show. Ask him about the show, his character, his career, his favorite color, anything you want to know! The date will be right across the alley from the Shubert Theatre at Junior’s Restaurant. Now that’s what I call an awesome Halloween, seeing the hottest new show on Broadway and then being able to sit down with one of it’s stars for the inside scoop on how it all goes down!

So when you come see MEMPHIS and bring your cash, checks, and major credit cards! We are selling the signed show posters, the signed broken records, and the Carols For A Cure CD after every show until December 6th, but you can only bid for a date with your favorite lead after the Saturday night shows!

And remember that 100% of the profits from all these items go to Broadway Cares/ Equity Fights Aids. If none of these items are your cup of tea, we will always have cast members waiting after the show with donation buckets. Every little donation helps, so come see MEMPHIS and support a great cause.

Until Next Time!

-Charlie