Philadelphia Style Magazine
  • Parties
  • People
  • Food & Drink
  • Home & Real Estate
  • Style & Beauty
  • More
    • Culture
    • Lifestyle
    • Watches & Jewelry
    • Magazine
    • Video
    • GreenGale Network
    • Media Kits
  • Digital Edition
  • Contact Us
  • Advertising Info
Sign Up     

Parties

See More
Read More
Nicole Miller's VIP Meet and Greet with Perry Milou
Read More
Autograph Brasserie's Galentine's Day Event
Read More
The Bridges of Madison County Opening Night Party

People

See More
Read More
Table Talk with Alicia Vitarelli
Read More
Talking Heads
Read More
What Taraji P. Henson Wants

Food & Drink

See More
Read More
5 Ramen Restaurants to Get You Through the Chilling End of Winter
Read More
5 Restaurants with Valentine's Day Menus for You and Your Sweetheart
Read More
7 Instagram Accounts to Follow for Philly Food Inspiration

Home & Real Estate

See More
Read More
5 Creative Ways to Bring Flowers into Your Home
Read More
5 Ways to Tie Spring Into Your Home Before It's Actually Here
Read More
Color Wash

Style & Beauty

See More
Read More
How to Wear the Pantone Color of the Year
Read More
7 Tips for Prepping for the Oscars
Read More
5 Ways to Treat Yourself this Valentine's Day
Culture
Read More
Lifestyle
Read More
The Main Line
Read More
Atlantic City Confidential
Read More
Watches & Jewelry
Read More
Magazine
Read More
Video
Read More
GreenGale Network
Read More
Media Kit
Read More

Search Our Site

Theater: Felicia Boswell Lights Up Memphis

by dorothy cascerceri
photography by joan marcus
|
January 17, 2012 | Lifestyle

Share

1 - Theater: Felicia Boswell Lights Up Memphis
Felicia Boswell

Two decades ago, Broadway director Christopher Ashley got his first taste of Philadelphia (literally) when he directed plays at the Philadelphia Theatre Company. “I did a lot of cheesesteak eating,” he says with a laugh. “I’m not proud of it, but I think I went to 40 different cheesesteak places.”

Now Ashley is returning to Philadelphia to take another bite out of the theater scene with the national tour of the Broadway musical Memphis. The show, which won four Tony Awards in 2010, including Best Musical, is loosely based on a true story about 1950s DJ Dewey Phillips. Set in Memphis, Tennessee, the play traces the struggle and triumph of white DJ Huey Calhoun in his quest to get the angelic voice of underground black singer Felicia Farrell aired on the radio. Calhoun sparks even more controversy when he falls in love with Farrell. “Huey is an extraordinary character,” says Ashley. “His bullheaded single-mindedness really changed the face of what music is like in America. The elements of music and race work together to tell the story, and the way the music changes is very intertwined with the changing rules about race.” Bryan Fenkart, who was born in Langhorne, was tapped to play Huey for the tour after serving as the character’s understudy for two years on Broadway, a role he says is an honor to portray. “I think it is an inspiring story for anybody who has that spark in the back of their mind that maybe they could make a difference in the world,” he says.

The female lead, Felicia Boswell, showcases her powerful voice as Farrell, and the Alabama native says she shares more similarities with her character than just their names. “Her story is very parallel to my life, being from the South and wanting to record songs and dating outside of my race,” she says. In fact, the gorgeous performer, who appeared at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts in June 2010 as part of the Dreamgirls tour, has a direct link to a pioneer in the civil rights movement. “Rosa Parks and my grandmother were second cousins,” she says. “I remember when she would come into town and stay at my grandmother’s house. I knew she was great, but I had no idea how great she was.” In addition to the story behind Memphis, the music, especially the finale, “Steal Your Rock ’n’ Roll,” is powerful in its own right. Composed by Bon Jovi keyboard player David Bryan and Joe DiPietro, the soundtrack is initially what drew Ashley to work on Memphis a decade ago. “The show has an amazing score that really captures the early days of rock ’n’ roll and the influences of R&B, from early Motown and from gospel,” he says. “But it has a very contemporary feeling to it.”

While Ashley hopes to avoid overindulging on cheesesteaks while in Philadelphia, Fenkart, who grew up in North Jersey, hopes to steer clear of the sports fans. “They can be intense,” he says with a smile, “They are the most passionate and aggressive fans you will ever come across.” Memphis runs from January 17 to 22 at the Academy of Music, 240 S. Broad St., 215-893-1999; kimmelcenter.org.

Tags: culture theater december 2011/january 2012 memphis performance philadelphia theatre company felicia boswell
Categories: Lifestyle



Around the Web

All Calendar Culture Food & Drink Home & Real Estate Lifestyle Magazine Parties People Style & Beauty Video Watches & Jewelry


Behind the Scenes with Modern Luxury


POPULAR POSTS

Read More

January 23, 2019

Fabric of Life
Read More

January 22, 2019

Retreat and Recharge
Read More

January 28, 2019

Art Adventures: Pat Steir brings Waterfalls to the Barnes

Behind the Scenes with Modern Luxury




Read the digital edition from Modern Luxury

View Digital Edition

 

 

Click here to read  
the Digital Editions

or Subscribe to the Print Edition:

SUBSCRIBE

  • Contact Us
  • Advertising Info
  • Digital Editions
  • Online Ad Specs
  • Print Ad Specs
  • Press
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
    • Aspen
      • Aspen
      • Aspen Peak
      • Epic Life
    • Atlanta
      • The Atlantan
      • Jezebel
      • Modern Luxury Weddings Atlanta
      • Modern Luxury Interiors Atlanta
      • Charity & Social Datebook Atlanta
    • Boston
      • Boston Common
      • Modern Luxury Weddings Boston
      • Modern Luxury Interiors Boston
    • Chicago
      • CS
      • NS
      • Michigan Avenue
      • Modern Luxury Weddings Chicago
      • Modern Luxury Weddings North Shore
      • Modern Luxury Interiors Chicago
      • Men's Book Chicago
      • Modern Luxury City Guide Chicago
      • Charity and Social Datebook Chicago
    • Dallas
      • Modern Luxury Dallas
      • Modern Luxury Weddings Dallas
      • Modern Luxury Interiors Texas
      • Charity and Social Datebook Dallas
    • The Hamptons
      • Beach
      • Hamptons
    • Hawai'i
      • Modern Luxury Hawaii
      • Ala Moana
    • Houston
      • Houston
      • Modern Luxury Weddings Houston
      • Modern Luxury Interiors Texas
      • Charity and Social Datebook Houston
    • Las Vegas
      • Vegas
    • Los Angeles
      • Angeleno
      • Los Angeles Confidential
      • Modern Luxury Weddings California
      • Modern Luxury Interiors California
      • Charity and Social Datebook Los Angeles
    • Miami
      • Miami
      • Ocean Drive
      • Modern Luxury Weddings South Florida
      • Modern Luxury Interiors South Florida
      • Charity and Social Datebook Miami
      • Styled
    • New York
      • Manhattan
      • Gotham
      • Charity and Social Datebook Manhattan
    • Orange County
      • Modern Luxury Orange County
      • Modern Luxury Weddings California
      • Modern Luxury Interiors California
      • Charity & Social Datebook Orange County
    • Palm Beach
      • Modern Luxury Palm Beach
    • Philadelphia
      • Philadelphia Style
    • San Diego
      • Modern Luxury San Diego
      • Modern Luxury Weddings California
      • Modern Luxury Interiors California
      • Charity & Social Datebook San Diego
    • San Francisco
      • San Francisco
      • Modern Luxury Weddings California
      • Modern Luxury Interiors California
      • CityGuide
      • Charity & Social Datebook San Francisco
    • Scottsdale
      • Scottsdale
      • Modern Luxury Interiors Scottsdale
    • Silicon Valley
      • Modern Luxury Silicon Valley
    • Washington, D.C.
      • DC
      • Capitol File
      • Modern Luxury Weddings Washington
      • Charity and Social Datebook DC
    • Watches
      • Tourbillon