UNT Business Students Shine Modern Light on MDQ Members

Trivia Treat!

University of North Texas’ College of Business Shines Modern Light on the Business of the Members of MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET

Presented by Dallas Summer Musicals

(March 2, 2012 – Dallas, TX) Students from the University of North Texas’ College of Business embraced the challenge from Dallas Summer Musicals (DSM) to shine a modern light on the business of MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET’s four rock ‘n’ roll icons: Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins, who came together through an auspicious twist of fate on December 4, 1956. Sam Phillips, the “Father of Rock ‘n’ Roll,” who was responsible for launching the careers of each icon, brought the four legendary musicians together at the Sun Records storefront studio in Memphis for the first and only time. The resulting evening became known as one of the greatest rock ‘n’ roll jam sessions in history and is the basis for this electrifying musical.

“These four artists and their musical creations generated a large sum of revenue throughout their lives and beyond,” said Vicki L. Goodwin, Ph.D., Professor and Chair, Department of Management, College of Business, University of North Texas. “Putting an exact figure on something like this is difficult, but from our students’ research we found that during the mid-fifties artists such as Jerry Lee Lewis could earn as much as $10,000 per performance; a large sum of money in an era when a new home cost roughly $11,000 (approximately $90,000 today) and a new car cost $1,900 (approximately $16,700 today) (Source: www.thepeoplehistory.com).” Fresh from Broadway, MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET comes to the Music Hall at Fair Park, presented by Dallas Summer Musicals, March 6-18.

**To see their full research, visit www.dallassummermusicals.org/shows_milliondollar.shtm**

Cast members include: Derek Keeling as Johnny Cash, Cody Slaughter as Elvis Presley, Martin Kaye as Jerry Lee Lewis and Lee Ferris as Carl Perkins. Dallas native, Christopher Ryan Grant, is thrilled to be playing back in his home town as the “Father of Rock ‘n’ Roll,” Sam Phillips. The cast also features Kelly Lamont as Dyanne, and musicians Billy Shaffer (Fluke, drums), and Chuck Zayas (Jay Perkins, bass).

Single tickets, priced from $15-$75, are on sale now at The Box Office, 5959 Royal Lane, #542 in the Preston/Royal Shopping Center. Tickets are also available by calling Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000 or online at www.ticketmaster.com. For groups of 15 or more, please call 214-426-GROUP.

Mini-packs of any three or more season shows are also on sale at a discount at The Box Office, 5959 Royal Lane, #542 in Dallas. Subscribers may also order tickets to the season specials RAIN and MAMMA MIA! ($12-$70 each), and may order by mail or in person at The Box Office, by phoning 214-346-3300, by faxing 214-691-7386, or online at www.dallassummermusicals.org . For groups, please call 214-426-GROUP.